Therapeutic practice in multi-racial Britain

Abstract

Abstract Service planners and providers of mental health services (including therapy and counselling) claim that their services are being restructured so as to become more sensitive to the needs of users—irrespective of race and cultural background. This paper is one step towards that goal. It aims to (i)challenge assumptions and beliefs held by mainly white, mainstream therapists and counsellors; (ii) question the therapeutic practice which is based on white, middle-class ideology; (iii) raise awareness of a ‘black’ perspective in therapy and counselling and (iv) provide some practical guidelines for transcultural counselling.