Promoting Black Women's Mental Health

"Promoting Black Women's Mental Health celebrates the strengths and complexities of Black women in American life. Many misunderstand and mischaracterize Black women, and under appreciate their important contributions to families, communities, and the nation. In this book, a team of Black women mental health practitioners and scholars discuss a range of conditions that impact Black women's self-concepts and mental health. Drawing on a study of Black women across the United States, authors explore the social determinants of Black women's mental health and wellness and Black women's girlhood experiences. The book also explores Black women's stereotypes, their traumas, how they shift in relationships, and images that affect their racial and gender identity development. The book draws on scholarly and popular sources to present Black women's strength and challenges. Authors include commentary, case examples, reflection questions, and resources to improve practitioners' capacities to help Black women clients to recover, heal and thrive"--

Introduction; Part I. Black Women in Context: 1. Our Black Women and Psychotherapy Study; 2. Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health for Black Women; 3. Black Girlhood: Developmental Experiences of Black Women; 4. Stereotypes of Black Women: Clinical Implications; 5. Black Women and Trauma; Part II. Therapy Contexts: 6. Therapist Cultural Self-Awareness; 7. Building Strong and Effective Alliances with Black Female Clients; Part III. Core Themes in Black Women's Stress and Distress; 8. Strong Black Woman Persona: Mental Health Impacts; 9. Shifting in Black Women: Clinical Implications; 10. Black Women's Mothering and Caregiving; 11. Black Women's Romantic and Intimate Relationships; 12. Appearance Prejudice and Discrimination Against Black Women; Part IV. Helping Black Women Recover and Thrive; 13. Improving Black Women's Physical Health and Wellness; 14. Black Women's Inner Healing and Resources for Thriving; 15. Black Women's Spiritual and Religious Coping; Conclusion; Appendix; About the Authors and Contributors; Index.