Training on the Person of the Therapist for Work with the Poor and Minorities

It is noted that therapy with underorganized, poor families, especially those of minority races & cultures, must be designed to address their special needs. An ecostructural approach is described that pays special attention to the internal organization of a family as well as the family's relationship to its social context. Any model of therapy for the poor must address: (1) the immediacy & concreteness of their problems, (2) the structural organization of the family, (3) the values of the family & its community, (4) the community resources of the family, & (5) the links between family & community. It is contended that training therapists to work with these families requires a special focus on the person of the therapist since the work calls for a high level of therapeutic activity &, therefore, a relatively intense involvement of the therapist not only with the family, but also with its community. Specific guidelines are offered for such training. 15 References. Modified AA