Though important strides have been made in the last three decades in the research efforts on African Americans, there continues to be a lack of significant new understanding about the impact of the African American culture on the therapy process and dynamics. This volume provides an in-depth analysis of the counseling literature pertaining to African American clients. Specifically, the analysis includes a review of the different variables (client, counselor, counseling process, and assessment) that have received the bulk of research attention. This sets the stage for the presentation of a counseling model for African American clients. The authors discuss philosophical premises upon which the model is based and suggest specific counseling strategies and interventions related to the model. Case study material is integrated throughout the chapters, focusing on individual and group approaches.This volume is an important work for counseling professionals as well as for students in social work and counseling programs. 

 Thomas A Parham, Ph.D. is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Counseling and Health Services and Director of the Counseling Center, as well as an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Parham received his Bachelor's degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. He completed his Master's degree in Counseling Psychology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is licensed to practice psychology in the state of California. Dr. Parham is a Past President of the National Association of Black Psychologists. He is also a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association. He is Past President of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (a division of ACA). He is also a member of the Orange County Chapter of the 100 Black Men, where he has served as Chair of the Education Committee. He is the architect of the "Rites of Passage" program for the 100's "Passport to the Future" program and for the Los Angeles-based "College Bound" program. For the past twenty years, Dr. Parham has focused his research efforts in the area of psychological nigrescence and has authored many articles in this area. Research in the area of racial identity development remains his primary focus. He is co-author of the 2nd and 3rd editions of the book entitled, The Psychology of Blacks: An African-Centered Perspective (Prentice Hall) and the author of the book entitled, Psychological Storms: The African American Struggle for Identity(African American Images, 1993). He has also produced several videotapes on the topics of counseling African American clients and youth and violence that are available through Microtraining Associates, Inc. of North Amherst, MA. Among his many honors and awards are included his selection as an American Psychological Association Minority Fellow in 1979 through 1982; the 1988 Research/Scholarship Award from the national Association of Black Psychologists; 1989 Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association's Minority Fellowship Program; election to Fellow status of Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) and Division 45 (Society for Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues) of the American Psychological Association; and his election to the status of "Distinguished Psychologist" by the Association of Black Psychologists in 1998.

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