Marlene F Watson

Why are so many African Americans unhappy in their relationships, in their families and in their own bodies? Facing the Black Shadow is an intimate look at how black families, couples and individuals struggle against the pervasive belief in black inferiority - the "black shadow." This groundbreaking book offers a new way to challenge that belief and move from self-blame and self-hate to understanding and empowerment. Written by Dr. Marlene F. Watson, who is one of the country's foremost African American couple and family therapists, Facing the Black Shadow is filled with memorable stories and examples from her therapy practice and her own personal journey. With unflinching honesty and a tender eye, she tackles some of the most taboo topics in the African American community: skin-tone privilege and favoritism in black families; the long-term effects of the multigenerational legacy of slavery; the self-hate black people feel when they look in the mirror. Far from being a depressing book, Facing the Black Shadow offers a path for wholeness and happiness. Readers will find practical advice, step-by-step exercises and inspiration to transform their relationship to their own "black shadows" and find inner peace, connection and healing.

"This unique text uses one common case to demonstrate the applications of a wide range of family therapy models. Readers will find it useful when studying for the national family therapy licensing exam, which requires that exam takers be able to apply these models to case vignettes. The authors, all of whom are practicing family therapists, apply their chosen model of family therapy to a single, hypothetical case to highlight what each model looks like in practice. Beginning therapists will find the exposure to new ideas about therapy useful, and will be better able to establish which approaches they want to explore in more depth. Experienced therapists and supervisors will find it useful to understand what "those other family therapists" are doing, and to meet the challenge of supervising those from different perspectives. Family Therapy Review is the practical tool therapists need to make sense of the field, and meet the varied challenges their clients present"--