Multicultural Therapy: A Practice Imperative

In this book, distinguished psychologists Melba J. T. Vasquez and Josephine D. Johnson offer a carefully constructed overview of the history, theory, and practice of multicultural therapy, with case examples and ties to current events that bring the text to life.

While multicultural competence in psychotherapy has become part of the mainstream fundamental knowledge and skill set required for effective practice, now more than ever, it requires increased understanding and sophistication on the part of the professional. The multiculturally competent therapist must be prepared to address their own behaviors and cultural assumptions, those of their clients, and the relationship between the two. The book covers the development of multicultural competence and cultivation of cultural humility; explores relationships with other major systems of therapy; and analyzes its applications, effectiveness, and limitations. Chapters discuss the therapeutic process, integrating multiculturalism and social justice, and multiculturalism in education, training, and professional development.

This book pays particular attention to racial and ethnic identities, while additionally exploring the intersectionality of a variety of strands of identity that are also aspects of individuals' experiences. The authors emphasize that a commitment to multicultural therapy is inextricably interwoven with a commitment to social justice, which recognizes that living in an unjust system creates many of the problems individuals must address.