Culture and Identity

Anita Jones Thomas, PhD, is a counseling psychologist with specializations in multicultural counseling and family therapy, and is currently an Dean and Professor of the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. She received a bachelor's degree in human development and social policy from Northwestern University and a master's degree in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago. Her doctorate in counseling psychology was received from Loyola University Chicago. Her research interests include critical consciousness, and racial identity, racial socialization, and parenting issues for African Americans. She has also conducted training seminars and workshops on multicultural issues for state and national professional organizations in counseling and psychology, hospitals, and corporations and has served as a consultant for human service organizations. Dr. Thomas has served and chaired the Committee on Children, Youth, and Families of the American Psychological Association, and the Task Force on Resilience and Strength and Black Children and Adolescents, and is on the board for the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice. Sara Schwarzbaum, EdD, LMFT, LCPC, is a retired Professor in the department of Counselor Education and a coordinator of the Master's in Couple and Family Counseling Program at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. She is also the founder of Couples Counseling Associates in Chicago. She has a master's degree in clinical psychology from Buenos Aires, Argentina and doctoral degree in counseling with an emphasis in family therapy from Northern Illinois University. She has written articles that have appeared in the Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today and other publications. She is a consultant, trainer, and presenter at state and national conferences where she frequently conducts workshops on clinical issues with Latino clients, the multicultural competency of clinicians, psychotherapy with immigrants and families, and marriage counseling.

Preface 1. Framework Human Development Development of the Self Contextual Dimensions of the Self Shifting Selves SECTION I: RACE/ETHNICITY 2. Julie's Story: So What if I'm a Black Woman? Julie's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Julie 3. Butch's Story: Who Am I? Butch's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Butch 4. Beth's Story: I Am 100% Jewish Beth's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Beth 5. Maribel's Story: When Are You Going to Have Kids? Maribel's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Maribel SECTION II: IMMIGRATION/ACCULTURATION 6. Vu's Story: I Am an American Vu's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Vu 7. Esteban's Story: Still Uprooted Esteban's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Esteban 8. Maria Luz's Story: Here We Are Not Free Maria Luz's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Maria Luz 9. Teresa's Story: I Didn't Want to Go to Church on Sunday Teresa's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Teresa SECTION III: RELIGION 10. Frank's Story: Hearing God's Voice Frank's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Frank 11. Bob's Story: The Good Christian Son Bob's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Bob 12. Katie's Story: Catholic and Jewish: How Can It Be? Katie's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Katie SECTION IV: SOCIAL CLASS 13. Carla's Story: One More Mile Carla's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Countertransference Toolbox Activity--Carla 14. Anthony's Story: From Radical to Bohemian to Suit to Me Anthony's Story Content Themes Clinical Applications Toolbox Activity--Anthony Appendix References Index About the Authors

"The manuscript is, indeed, very easy to read - the personal narratives really get you into the experience of the writer...The wonderful richness of the personal narrative is a grand strength, and providing Clinical Applications that address the narratives helps get the reader to think beyond just simple "difference."...This book offers so much in the way of personal narrative and helping students to understand the lives of those who are different. This is an enriching addition to the existing multicultural textbook arena." -- Suzanne Degges-White "Culture and Identity: Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists, by the prominent psychologists Anita Jones Thomas and Sara Schwarzbaum, is a brilliant revolution in our way of looking at culture and identity through an understanding of diverse people's diverse life stories. Reading each character's story helps us learn how distinct each individual life is and how rich and diverse our world is. It packs rich and diverse information derived from firsthand, and intimate stories. This book would surely benefit countless readers at different levels and stages, students, teachers, people who want to know about their cultural background and identity, therapists, and the list goes on." -- Ruth Chao