Psychiatric Bulletin (2004) 28: 186. doi: 10.1192/pb.28.5.186
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2004) 28: 186
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Racial Identity, White Counsellors and Therapists
Tuckwell, G.
Deenesh Khoosal
Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Teacher in Psychiatry, Brandon
Mental Health Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW
Buckingham: Open University Press, 2002, £16.99 hb, 188 pp., ISBN
0335-21021-X
This book, written by a school teacher turned counsellor, aims to address
anxieties facing white counsellors and psychotherapists, working with clients
from other racial groups. It explores issues and processes associated with
race and racial identity and also offers a framework for extending the
understanding of race on the sense of self. As such, it is one of the few
books available to do so as most of the existing literature concentrates more
on understanding the different cultural groups, the impact that their race has
on them, their experience of society and the impact of racism on them. Fewer
people from Black and other minority ethnic groups are known to be referred
for talking therapies. Even less is known about how they respond to these
treatments - whether it is from white therapists or from the small (but
growing) band of black therapists. The publishing of this book is therefore
timely.
This book discusses frankly the eurocentric model of white supremacy and
domination, which influences important attitudes relating to superiority and
inferiority. It proposes a broader and deeper understanding, which should take
account of intra-psychic, interpersonal and sociopolitical factors. The author
argues that practitioners need to recognise their own racial attitudes and
counter-transference reactions in relation to clients, as collective beliefs
about white supremacy can be damaging. The case for the role of supervision
and training to help develop racially aware practice, is well-made and well
accepted by all practitioners.
It is a shame that the style of the book could deter novices to this field
as it coherently brings together world-wide expert views and current thinking
in this complex field. A shame too, because it is a refreshingly honest
attempt to grapple with much that is never openly spoken about, but that
nevertheless exists. I particularly found the summing up section at the end of
each chapter useful as this promotes reflective practices. This book will
probably be avidly sought by experts in the field of counselling and
psychotherapy rather than the majority of the readers of this journal because
of its specialist stance.
