Abstract
Ethnic, cultural, social class and community issues are important factors in the relationship between behavior health counselor and the African American client-a role not often understood or fully appreciated by treatment providers of different ethnic backgrounds. President Obama has taken several initiatives to provide more open conversations pertaining to mental health issues. This paper addresses some of the challenges confronting the nation when professional treatment is provided to low income inner-city communities. Severe substance abuse and dependence, problem gambling and criminal behavior and the intersection thereto are considered from the standpoint of improving factors of cultural sensitivity resulting in more effective treatment.
Highlights
In the field of chemical dependence treatment, counselors have rejected a client’s need to talk about race related issues
What is underneath the presenting problem in the symptoms associated with substance abuse is some combination of these core issues: many loses, self-hate, bottled up emotions, pain caused by racism, I agree with Saunders that emotional and family/social abandonment has played a role in the self-hatred of African Americans males
Some of the trends in the African American community have persisted over recent decades
Summary
In the field of chemical dependence treatment, counselors have rejected a client’s need to talk about race related issues. Saunders [5] provides the tip of the Iceberg Model in the treatment of African American males He claims that the presenting problem is often the tip of the iceberg. What is underneath the presenting problem in the symptoms associated with substance abuse is some combination of these core issues: many loses, self-hate, bottled up emotions, pain caused by racism, I agree with Saunders that emotional and family/social abandonment has played a role in the self-hatred of African Americans males. Fred Dyer has made an important contribution to the substance abuse and dependence in inner-city Chicago its initiation during adolescence He posits the following risk factors for adolescent drug and alcohol use [1]: 1. He posits the following risk factors for adolescent drug and alcohol use [1]: 1. Laws and norms favorable toward behavior
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