What factors did you consider when choosing a particular intervention?

Part 1

 

• Week 2: Family therapy vs. feminist family therapy approach

After viewing the video and reading the article Feminist Family Therapy for Treating Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, what differences and similarities do you see between the traditional systems approach to family therapy and the feminist family therapy approach?   Remember to cite the readings (using in-text citations) in your posts and include a reference list APA style at the bottom of the post. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

Part 2

 

• Week 2: The home based treatment approach

Do you believe the home based treatment approach as described in the journal article reading was effective?  Why or why not?  As the counselor, what might you have done the same?  What might you have done differently as the counselor?   Remember to cite the readings (using in-text citations) in your posts and include a reference list APA style at the bottom of the post. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

Part 3

 

What feelings did you experience during the exercise that you completed at the start of this week’s lecture, on your spirituality/religion, ethnicity, and gender being changed?  Remember to cite the readings (using in-text citations) in your posts and include a reference list APA style at the bottom of the post. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

Part 4

Week 2: Reflection Paper

Imagine that you are about to embark on a family therapy journey with a family of a cultural background that differs from your own, be it race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.  The readings have challenged you to find out as much as you can about the family’s background so that you are equipped with the information needed to form an effective working relationship with this family.  Include answers to the following questions to guide the flow of your paper.

Your paper should be 3 pages in length.  Please use APA format and cite the references that you find while researching the family’s background.

You will need to include a cover page APA style, 3 page paper APA style, and Reference page APA style. You will not need an abstract page for any paper for this course, do not include the abstract page.

• What family did you choose?
• How is this family different from your own?  For example, how are their values and beliefs different?
• What rules do this family follow and how are these rules different from the rules that you and your family follow?
• What family roles exist?
• Are there any similarities that exist between you and this family?
• What information about the family will you need to process through your “cultural filter” in order to be most effective when working with the family?
• What aspects of working with this family do you find most challenging?
• How do you intend to overcome these challenges?
• What aspects of working with this family do you believe may be comfortable for you?
• What are the family’s issues?
• On which “level”, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem does the family issue need to be addressed?
• Is the family an “open” or “closed” system?
• What interventions would you use with this family?
• What factors did you consider when choosing a particular intervention?
• What do you believe the family would most appreciate from you as a counselor and why?
• What do you believe the family would least appreciate from you as a counselor and why?

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa6_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/documents/20200121APA6SamplePaper.pdf

Week 2: Overview

Multicultural Considerations for the Family Unit

Any discussion on families must take into consideration the gender, culture and ethnicity of the family unit, as well as the system in which it exists.  To ignore any of these vital components of the family structure would be a form of disregard for the family’s true identity.  In order to completely understand the impact that gender, culture and ethnicity, as well as the system in which we exist have on us, I ask that you complete the guided imagery exercise below.

Exercise: Imagine that your religion/spirituality, ethnicity, and gender have all been changed and you have been issued a new religion/spirituality, ethnicity, and gender.  Think about how you might be received differently by the world.  Think about new ideas that you may have to become acquainted with.  Think about how this change in your religion/spirituality, ethnicity, and gender might affect your identity.  Consider if this would change who you are at your core.

 

We will revisit this exercise later in our activities for the week where you will be challenged to process what this experience was like for you and asked to share how you are left feeling after the exercise.  These feelings are important for us to understand in our work with clients so that we become more aware of the need to acknowledge the role that gender, culture and ethnicity as well as the system in which the family exists, plays in the family’s overall functioning.  These issues must be considered in treatment and not…….discarded.

In another activity this week, you will be invited to share your experience working with a family whose cultural background differs from your own.

Please read the following for this week as well as All Week 2 Online Course Materials:

· Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2013): Chapters 3 and 4

· Journal Article:  Connery, L., & Brekke, J. (1999). A home-based family intervention for ethnic minorities with a mentally ill member. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 17(1-2),149-167. doi:10.1300/J020v17n01_09 

· Journal Article:  Blumer, M., Papaj, A., & Erolin, K. (2013).  Feminist family therapy for treating female survivors of childhood sexual abuse.  Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 25, 65-67 

· Media: Here are instructions on how to access these videos.

· The Legacy of Unresolved Loss: A Family Systems Approach (2006)  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

· Counseling the Multiracial Population: Couples, Individuals, FamiliesLinks to an external site.

 

Week 2: Lecture

Multicultural Issues in Families

When you think about multiculturalism, you may consider diversity as it relates to ethnicity, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Multicultural issues influence family practices, but also influence the counselor’s work with the family.  Counselors must be able to handle the challenges involved with acknowledging the significance of a family’s culture while also avoiding the pit fall of stereotypes, which could ultimately lead to a misdiagnosis.  Your readings for this week will consist of Chapters 3 and 4 from the textbook, as well the journal article entitled, “A Home-Based Family Intervention for Ethnic Minorities with a Mentally Ill Member.”  Lastly, please review the videos entitled, “The Legacy of Unresolved Loss:  A family systems approach”, “Feminist Family Therapy”, as well as “Culturally Sensitive Family Therapy”.

As you review the videos assigned for this week, notice the differing viewpoints between the feminist approach to family therapy and the systems-based approach. Also, make note of the true definition of homophobia, which is actually about a fear of perception.

As you watch the videos begin to think about the role that a culturally sensitive family therapist plays in working with a family and the difference this makes in the family’s ability to trust the counseling process.

In addition, the readings on gender, culture, and ethnicity in family functioning are geared towards encouraging counselors to learn as much about a client’s culture as possible, in order to adequately address the presenting issues without discarding the family’s background, as demonstrated in the introductory guided imagery exercise. As you review this portion of the readings, pay attention to the way in which ethnicity patterns influence the family’s traditions, beliefs, how they think, feel, and work. This is important since counselors must be attuned to their own values and beliefs so that they can comfortably acknowledge and consider the client’s.  This vital component of family counseling can be seen with culturally sensitive family therapy, which will be explored next.

Culture-Sensitive Therapy

Culture Sensitive Therapy holds counselors accountable for examining their own cultural values in an attempt to avoid projecting their beliefs onto clients who may be of a different cultural background.  With this process, comes awareness that the traditional white middle class cultural perspective may not be shared by all families. For instance, you will encounter families who are not only of a different ethnicity, but the family members may even be of different racial and or religious backgrounds.  You will watch a video on Culturally Sensitive Family Therapy which explains that culture sensitive therapy begins with the mindset of the therapist. As you watch this video, think of ways in which a culturally sensitive therapist may be challenged to reevaluate her/his assumptions and stereotypes about cultures that are different from her or his own.

As you read the section on gender, culture, and ethnicity in family functioning pay close attention to the importance of being a gender sensitive therapist by helping clients to recognize and understand the messages that they received about gender roles as they grew up. Think about the aspects of being a culturally sensitive counselor that come easily to you and some that may prove to be a bit more challenging for you. Also, notice that the text encourages counselors to become familiar with culturally appropriate interventions in preparation for their work with diverse clients.

We have spent time discussing the influence that multicultural issues have on the family unit, but it is also important to examine the community in which a family exists as a component of the family’s culture.  Families are impacted by the communities in which they live, likewise, the families that exist within a community also impact the community as a whole.  This concept of family and the communities they create will be explored next.

 

The Family and the Community

Families are inevitably connected to social systems.  The way in which a family connects to these social systems can provide the counselor with information on the family’s ability to successfully function as a unit.  For instance, it is important for counselors to recognize that family members while connected to each other are also connected to  larger systems, such as neighborhoods, institutions, social class, as well as other ethnic and cultural communities.  Recognizing the impact that these systems have on the family’s functioning will play a critical role in helping the counselor to address the family’s issues.

The readings this week discuss systems theory, which provides the counselor with a repertoire of interventions, as well as a framework from which to view family interactions.  At this point, you will have already reviewed the video on a family systems approach as it relates to unresolved loss.  However, you will also find that it is also relevant for this discussion of family systems as it demonstrates application of the systems approach.

As you begin to read the section on Chapter 4, and attempt to gain a clearer understanding of systems theory, notice the parallels drawn between the family and human body.  It is important to notice the illustration provided in the readings of the way in which a family who has two children does not just add a new member when another child is born.  The family itself is different and their way of interacting changes.  Pay attention to the role that family rules play on helping each family member learn what is expected of him/her.

Notice that the readings go on to explain that Family rules provide insight on the family’s values, which is imperative for counselors to understand, in order to effectively work with families.  Review the distinction between descriptive and prescriptive metaphors as they relate to family rules. In addition, note how the readings caution counselors against becoming consumed with whether or a not a family follows the correct rules, but that the counselor’s focus should instead be on ensuring that rules are clearly communicated to all family members.

Review the concept of family homeostasis.  Deepen your understanding of this concept by focusing on the aspect of the reading that explains family stability as being rooted in changed.  Think about the family’s ability to promote change within its members while maintaining a sense of balance within the unit.

During your review of the section on feedback loops, be mindful of the fact that negative and positive feedback loops are not necessarily good or bad, based on the “positive” or “negative” descriptors alone.  Instead, both positive and negative feedback loops may be necessary for the family’s stability.  Review the example of children in a family growing into adolescence as an example of positive and negative feedback loops.

Subsystems are identified as the parts of the overall system which carry out particular functions within the system.    Notice that the most enduring subsystems are the spousal, parental, and sibling subsystem.  The spousal subsystem teaches the children about male-female relationships by modeling this interaction.  Similarly, the parental subsystem teaches children how to deal with authority.  Each system is a part of a larger suprasystem which contains smaller subsystems.  Boundaries help to differentiate subsystems from one another.  Therefore, the boundaries within a family must be clearly delineated in order to avoid instability within the system.  A system containing boundaries that are not easily crossed is consider closed, while an open system allows information to flow continuously to and from the outside.

In keeping with  our discussion on social systems that influence families, it is important to note a theory of social ecology proposed by Bronfenbrenner, which holds that while an individual is embedded in a family, that family is also embedded in another system, such as a neighborhood, which is then embedded in another system.  These systems are comprised of the micro, meso, exo, and macrosystems.

As you read the critiques of the systems theory, think about how it differs from feminist family therapy.  Also, use the videos on these two approaches to guide your conceptualization.  One of the discussion questions also prompts you to respond on this.

 

 

Video # 1: The Legacy of Unresolved Loss: A Family Systems Approach (2006

https://webster.kanopy.com/video/legacy-unresolved-loss

 

Video #2: Counseling the Multiracial Population: Couples, Individuals, Families

https://search-alexanderstreet-com.library3.webster.edu/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C1778780

 

Abstract / Summary

This video presents the worldview experiences of interracial couples, multiracial individuals, and multiracial families including transracial adoptive families. It also makes clear suggestions for action in the interview. Six vignette live demonstrations showcase typical issues such as: concerns and challenges faced by the multiracial population, acceptance and respect by society and family, questions of identity, positive identity development, and navigating cultural worldview differences.

Field of Interest

Counseling & Therapy

Author

Kelley R. Kenney; Mark E. Kenney

Copyright Message

Copyright Microtraining Associates.

Content Type

Counseling session

Duration

1 hour 15 mins

Format

Video

Publisher

Microtraining Associates

Place Published / Released

Alexandria, VA

Release Date

2002

Subject

Counseling & Therapy; Psychology & Counseling; Health Sciences; Multicultural Counseling; Race; Aconselhamento Multicultural; Asesoramiento Multicultural; Counseling & Therapy; Biracial populations; Racial identity; Family counseling; Role play; Multicultural counseling

Clinician

Kelley R. Kenney; Mark E. Kenney

Keywords and Translated Subjects

Aconselhamento Multicultural; Asesoramiento Multicultural

 

Video Transcripts

 

Microtraining Associates presents

MARK KENNEY Counseling – The Multi-Racial Population; Couples, individuals, families. Presented by Dr. Kelley R. Kenney, Mark E. Kenney.

00:25M. Ed., NCC, LPC With special acknowledgements to: Dr. Jo Cohen-Hamilton Everyone who submitted photos Microtraining Associates Dr. Allen Ivey Dr. Mary Ivey Ms. Elizabeth Robey. To our daughters …. Olivia & Elena Kenney To our friend …. For mentoring & support.. Dr. Beatrice Wehrly produced by Milan Productions

DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY Hi! I’m Kelley Kenney, a professor and counselor at Kutztown University, where I’ve been for 17 years. I teach graduate students in the Department of Counseling and Human Services.

01:10MARK KENNEY And I’m Mark Kenney. I’m a counselor as well and director of Rainbow Support Network, a consulting and training service. I’m also a teacher of courses on diversity and gender identities.

01:20DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY Mark and I have been together as a couple for 17 years. We met and began dating in 1984. A major concern and question at the start of our relationship and up to the point of our marriage had to do with the respect of, and acceptance of our relationship by others in our lives, specifically, our families . As Mark and I have listened to and worked with other interracial couples and families, we’ve discovered that we were not alone in this concern, which is one of the reasons why we decided to do this videotape.

01:55MARK KENNEY Kelley and I have been married for 13 years and we have two girls, ages six and ten. Our involvement in work on this topic is related to our personal journey as a couple and as a family. We have a variety(ph) of positive and challenging experiences over the years that have been enhanced to our growth and development as a couple and as a family.

02:15DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY Our professional involvement in this topic began in 1992, when I began conducting research with interracial couples, specifically Black-White couples. During the course of talking with couples, I discovered that the counseling profession had done very little to address the needs of this population. In 1996, Mark and I began working with the American Counseling Association regarding how they could begin to address the needs and concerns of this population and raise the consciousness and awareness of the counseling profession and human services professions on how to competently and sensitively work with the multi-racial population.

02:55MARK KENNEY We began with what is now a special interest group in the American Counseling Association called, “The Multiracial/Multiethnic Counseling Concern Interest Network.” We continue to do conference programs, workshops and professional development institute all geared to educating the profession. In 1998, with Dr. B. Wehrly, we began writing a book, which was published August 1999 through SAGE Publications entitled, “Counseling Multiracial Families.” Since then, we continue to do with work within our profession, conducting workshops, publishing articles and book chapters. We are motivated to do this by our own family circumstances as well as families that we have met through both our professional and personal interactions. These interactions have shown us that there’s a need for better understanding regarding the realities of personal journeys and everyday experiences of the multiracial population.

03:50DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY In terms of the purpose of this videotape, the Counseling and Human Services professions have only recently begun to look seriously at the issues and concerns of the multiracial population. This tape series is meant to provide some additional insights and awarenesses about the multiracial population that will speak to the issues, concerns, challenges, and strengths of the population.

04:15Defining and Understanding the Multi-Racial Population: The Need for Multicultural Competence

DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY In talking about the multiracial population, it is important to talk about and define who the population includes. First, there are interracial couples. These are couples in which the partners are of two or more different socially designated social groups. This includes heterosexual as well as gay/lesbian couples. Multiracial individuals: This include individuals whose parents are of two or more different racial backgrounds. And finally, multiracial families: These are families composed of interracial couples and their multiracial offspring; single parents, including gay and lesbian individuals with biological offspring who are multiracial; families in which a cross-racial or trans-racial adoption or foster care arrangement has occurred; and gay and lesbian couples or single individuals who have adopted trans-racially or providing foster care or have gone through a circuit pregnancy process or artificial insemination process which results in the birth of a multi-racial child.

05:35MARK KENNEY In this segment, we will review common myths and stereotypes of the multi-racial population. First, interracial couples: People who partner interracially are rebelling against family; men of color partner with White women because they represent ideal female beauty; people of color partner with Whites for status; Whites partner with people of color because they are sexually exotic; Whites partner with people of color because they feel guilty about White racism and want to get back at a racist society; men of color partner With white women because they can assert more control over them; women of color partner with White men because men of color are sexist and chauvinistic; only people of colors support interracial unions. Second, multi-racial individuals. Multi-racial individuals are doomed to a life of conflicting cultures and unfulfilled desires to be one or the other. Multi-racial children are messed up and confused. Given a choice, multi-racial children choose a minority identity. Multi-racial individuals are sexually immoral and out of control. Multi-racial people are beautiful, handsome, and exotic. Third, cross-racial or trans-racial adopted or foster care multi-racial families. Only well-meaning White people adopt cross-racially. Whites adopt cross-racially in an attempt to resolve guilt about White racism. Children who are adopted cross-racially lose their racial identity. People of color who were adopted by Whites are confused about their racial heritage and background.

07:15DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY In this next segment, we will discuss the salient issues and concerns from members of the multi-racial population. A concern that cuts across all three groups within the multi-racial population is the level of societal, community, family, respect, acceptance, and understanding that is experienced. A major concern for couples is the development of a positive identity as a couple. The major issues or concerns for families are the development of a healthy family structure and the development of a positive identity as a family. Finally, the salient issue or concern for multi-racial individuals, as well as for cross-racial adopted individuals, is the development of a positive racial and ethnic identity and self-concept. In this last segment, we will discuss the importance of multicultural counseling competence in working with the multi-racial population. Multicultural counseling competence requires the counselors and helping professionals be aware of their own cultural values and biases, be aware of their client’s world view, and develop culturally, appropriate intervention strategies. In working with the multi-racial population, it is important that counselors and helping professionals examine their values, attitudes and beliefs about interracial couples, multi-racial individuals, multi-racial families, and cross-racial adoption. Counselors and helping professionals must also be open to becoming fully aware of the world view and experiences of interracial couples, multi-racial individuals, multi-racial families, and cross-racial adoptees and their families . Finally, strategies utilized in working with interracial couples, multi-racial individuals, multi-racial families, and cross-racial adoptees and their families must take into account their different world views and experiences.

09:25Introduction to the Vignettes

DR. KELLEY R. KENNEY In the next section of this tape, you will see a series of vignettes that provide illustrations and examples of some of the issues that members of the multi-racial population come into counseling to address. You will notice that some of these concerns are related to the many external pressures that interracial couples, multi-racial individuals, and multi-racial families experienced as they attempt to navigate the world around them. The counselors will demonstrate multicultural sensitivity and awareness by utilizing strategies that imperil clients and assist them in drawing from their strengths, in dealing with and resolving the challenges and difficulties they face.

10:40Vignette #1: Multi-racial Individual

MARK KENNEY Laura is 23 years old and a professional meeting planner. Her mother is Native American and her dad is of Italian heritage. Her parents raised her by allowing her to identify with all of her backgrounds. She also has a system of supportive, extended family and friends . She had initiated counseling due to current difficulties in her work life experience with people who are struggling with her identity. She travels to many different places in United States and the world. People have been making assumptions about her identity based upon their world view and not inquiring about her identity. She is feeling frustrated with this situation. This is Laura’s third counseling session. She has discussed family background and personal history. She has already informed us about her life growing up as a multi-racial ethnic person. At the end of the last session, Laura shared her work experience with us. Now, we will start the third session.

11:40MARK KENNEY Hi, Laura. We spent the first few sessions getting to know each other. But it seemed at the end of the second session, you really wanted to discuss this work life experience and difficulty that you’re having in your work life.

11:55LAURA Uhm.

MARK KENNEY Where would you like to start with that?

12:00LAURA Recently at work, it seems that some of my co-workers are having trouble identifying my ethnicity and then dealing with it. Uhm, as you know, I’m a meeting (inaudible ) planner and I travel all over the world and stay the few (inaudible ) for short periods of time. While I’m there, there was people that questioned me, who were assumed I’m the soulmate(ph)(inaudible ). (crosstalk)

12:22MARK KENNEY Uh hmm.

LAURA We don’t come out and ask me. And then, he was disagree with me. It’s just kinda get a little frustrating.

12:25MARK KENNEY Uh hmm. I hear that some agitation in your voice as you begin to talk about this experience, I’m wondering if you can share with me one specific incident, maybe a recent one so I had a better understanding of what you’re going through.

12:40LAURA Lately, I’ve been, uhm, in Miami, Florida, and as I was setting up a registration table for a conference, I was speaking with the woman (inaudible ) hotel then she had asked me if I was Latino. And then I said, “No, I’m not. I’m Native American and Italian.” And she said, “Oh, are you sure? Because you really look like my cousin .” And I said, “No, I’m sure. And this is what I’ve been, and (inaudible ), I’ve always been.” She really kept questioning me if that’s what I was.

13:05MARK KENNEY Uh hmm.

13:10LAURA And I just was amazed that she didn’t believe me.

MARK KENNEY Uh hmm. Yeah. I’d under(ph), you showed amusement. I also get a sense of the frustration and, and aggravation… (crosstalk)

13:15LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY …with having to defend yourself and, ah, I’m just wondering if that really goes to the core of your being.

13:25LAURA Yeah(ph). It’s hard to believe that they’re not gonna believe me when I say them something. My parents raised me to know both of my backgrounds, you know, very well, and be very open with them. And I wanna think some really lives(ph) here discovering yourself then you’re not.

13:35MARK KENNEY Uh hmm. Well, why don’t you share with me about how did your parents , ah, raised and, and present this multi-racial identity to you as you were growing up?

13:50LAURA Since I was little, we always went to cultural events, had family gatherings where almost have little cultural events at them. Uhm, and topic was always open for conversation. We traveled, ‘coz half of my family is on, uhm, in the west. (crosstalk)

14:05MARK KENNEY Uhm.

LAURA (inaudible ) last year so we went back and forth and went to different things there and spent time with my different families . It’s just been very open.

14:15MARK KENNEY Okay. Well, you know, I’m wondering if there’s any experience that you can draw from your family of origin or maybe some other past-related experiences that can help you in this current situation.

14:25LAURA Well, I’m not really sure. I just know that I, I grew up in a very small town and, and everybody knew who we were and they knew what we were, what we were. (crosstalk)

14:35MARK KENNEY Uh hmm.

LAURA And no one had a problem with it. No one questioned it. No one said anything. And now, people are starting to question me and it’s just kind of different and I think it’s because it’s not what I’m used to.

14:45MARK KENNEY Ah, okay. So what I’m hearing from you, this is also of a new experience. People questioning your identity… (crosstalk)

14:55LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY …coming out openly and questioning your identity, uhm, and that’s because you’d come from a very supportive, uhm, environment and community where it was really a not issue, and just fully accepted. Then necessarily(ph) in the one case that it was a person of color who was, ah, questioning your identities. So, I’m wondering if, whether the frustration is, is being in an environment where people may have different views about racial identity.

15:15LAURA Uhm, well, this past incident, yes. It was a person of color but over the years, it’s been anybody. I’ve been pushed by a different types of people, it’s not just one group of people that has the issue with it. It can be anybody.

15:30MARK KENNEY Uh hmm. So, again, it, it’s sort of you’re learning into a new environment and running into this issue about racial identity. That really it didn’t exist. (crosstalk)

15:40LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY Ah, prior to you stepping out of that community. Now, that you’re done with your graduate studies and in your first career position, this has really placed you in an environment where maybe you need some additional knowledge… (crosstalk)

15:50LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY about racial identity and its meaning in our society. I’m wondering if you would be interested in, in looking at any books or articles, ah, possibly use some websites that, ah, provide information on sort of the history or understanding about racial identity in our society.

16:10LAURA Yeah. That’d be good. Uhm, if I help, some of things it doesn’t gonna change over time.

16:15MARK KENNEY Well, I’d, I’d, I think, you’re correct in our observation. Uhm, this is a very difficult topic, ah, for our society and, uhm, as you might know in this last census, we were able to check off as many, (crosstalk)

16:25LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY ah, identities as you would like, which was the first time ever experienced. And so, it does present difficulty for other people, uhm, and for yourself. So, I’m wondering also if, if we can provide, ah, give you some websites that involve, ah, interaction between people with, ah, multi-racial identities and backgrounds and discussing, ah, this topic ‘coz sometimes it helps, ah, not to feel so alone. I’m wondering if you’d be interested in seeing if anything resonates with one of those websites for you.

16:55LAURA Yeah. I mean, great.

MARK KENNEY Okay. What would I do is I’ll put together this resource list for you for next week and have you take a look at it and again choosing things that resonate for you, ah, that you feel might be beneficial increasing your knowledge level. But that’s a whole week away. And, ah, I know you gotta run into this situation, ah, again possibly within our next meeting. So, what do you think you could do right now, ah, to handle this situation?

17:25LAURA I think the best way is, if I’m approached, explain what I am and it’s almost leaving it up to them. I cannot do so much. And if they question and have a problem with it, that’s up to them.

17:40MARK KENNEY Okay. So I’m sort of you hearing that, right here you doing is sort of putting beyond this on the, of the other person… (crosstalk)

17:45LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY …and you only taking control over what you have of yourself and you’re helping sense of yourself.

17:50LAURA Uh hmm.

MARK KENNEY And that’s nothing but what the best that you can do right now. Uhm, before we end, ah, today though, I would like to find out from you, what is it that you’re walking away from or meeting today? What are you taking with you today?

18:00LAURA It, being here makes me realize that I know who I am, that’s the right thing, and that I don’t have a problem with my identity and it’s other people’s view, and I want to learn more about that so I can deal with them better because they’re the ones that have the issue, not me.

18:20MARK KENNEY Okay. Well, it sounds like you are taking some good points with you to build a good foundation to increase your knowledge. And, and down the road, we can also maybe help you develop some alternative, ah, skills to handle these situations in the future. Great work. We’ll see you next week at the same time.

18:35LAURA Okay. Thanks.

Vignette #2: Interracial Couple with Child

MARK KENNEY Our next vignette is a married interracial couple with a nine-year-old child. Don is 42 years old and White, Irish and Italian. He is looking to advance his career. He is also a devoted husband and father. He feels that this is the time to make the move before his marketability begins to decrease. He works in the computer field. He is very focused on making this move but feels resentful that his spouse is not totally supporting him. The most recent interview offer is from an out of state company, which is far from family and is not a very diverse community. Roberta is 42 years old and Black, African heritage. She is a professional in the financial world. She is also a devoted wife and mother. She understands her husband’s career goals but sees a very different outcome for herself and her daughter . She has concerns regarding this move due to the loss of closeness to family, lack of diversity in this other community, and the impact on her daughter .

19:45MARK KENNEY Hi, Roberta and Don. At the end of our last session, we began to talk about the possibility of your career opportunity in the interview and I guess I’m wondering if that’s where you’d like to start today as a conversation.