Racial Structure and Radical Politics in the African Diaspora by Georgia A. Persons

Author:Georgia A. Persons [Persons, Georgia A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781412810456
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
Published: 2009-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Application of the African Model of Positive Mental Health and NTU Therapy in Clinical Practice with Clients of African Descent

Paula A. Moore

Since the inception of Black Psychology, the notion of conducting research and providing effective culturally sensitive treatment for those of African descent has gained momentum over the years. Recognizing the need for effective and appropriate treatment not only generates a meaningful experience for the client of African descent, but also creates treatment that has a lasting positive effect. The lack of culturally sensitive treatment in research and therapy has left clients of African descent feeling misunderstood, and has resulted in ill directed treatment plans and misdiagnoses. Furthermore, this approach may prove to be a greater source of stress for the client than their presenting stressor(s). In response to the ongoing need for culturally sensitive theory and treatment, this chapter will explore the African Model of Mental Health positive mental health (consciousness, competency, and connectedness) concurrently with NTU (pronounced: in-to) therapy within the context of the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in children. The introduction of the model is an attempt to inform and influence the utility of these theoretical and treatment approaches.

Much of the difficulty with finding culturally sensitive treatment is because historically the majority of treatment developed is done so by employing the Eurocentric approach. The tendency to subscribe to the Eurocentric approach is in response to the origins of contemporary psychology being European and the academic move to teach psychology in the universities from a European perspective. This places budding psychologist, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, in a position that limits their view of assessment and treatment. Implicitly they are taught to continue to promote the notion that Euro-centricity is the barometer for which other ethnic groups should measure their success, failures and strivings. The Eurocentric approach towards psychotherapy is one that emphasizes the Eurocentric worldview (Kambon, 1998). This world-view is grounded in individuality whereas the Afrocentric worldview engenders collectiveness. Furthermore, the Afrocentric view is one that aspires towards peace, harmony, and balance (Wilson, 2004). The Afrocentric view may strike many as foreign because for the masses of African descendants, acculturation to the Eurocentric view is one that is experienced more often than the Afrocentric view more natural (Kambon, 1998). The attempt to acculturate to principles that are innately foreign has engendered a negative self-concept for those of African descent and a belief that they are of an inferior nature thus impeding their growth, personal acceptance and progression as a group (Curtis, Beatty, Booth, Pope and Davis, 1998).

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