Psychotherapy and Black Female Identity Conflicts

Abstract

In the author's clinical experience Black women clients often seek therapy for similar personal interpersonal problems as all other clients, but treatment material is often focused on identity related difficulties. This paper will review relevant literature on identity development theories and models. Previous research concluded that internalization of the negative racial attitudes of the dominant culture resulted in poor self-esteem for Black children. Later research has shown that cognitive development is in fact very flexible. Black children do not necessarily develop poor self-esteem, since they can compartmentalize negative racial stereotypes while maintaining a positive self-concept. Coping with negative racial attitudes is nevertheless a painful and frustrating experience that impacts on the identity development of Black women. The role of families, personal relationships and the larger historical, cultural and economic influences are explored in light of their impact on Black women's identity issu...