Mary J. Maher writes for all those interested in the dynamics of racism, from professionals in counseling, group analysis and psychotherapy working in multiracial and multicultural societies to those exposed to racism who need help in dealing with the impact of their experiences. She also addresses the concept of victims becoming perpetrators if support is not given to contain the process. Herself a group analyst, the author experienced at first-hand racial discrimination within the system, but rather than succumb has instead produced an enduring and proficient work that draws heavily on personal experience. Combining years of counseling skill with a natural compassion, she makes the subject of racism approachable, thus motivating all those wanting to explore the issues. For people whose experience of broken attachments crosses racial lines, this book is possibly the first to use Bowlby’s Attachment Theory as a framework for understanding racism. In her endeavor to create harmony among differing cultures, Maher has written an insightful must-read for working with, and understanding, people of diverse races. "M.J. Maher makes an outstanding contribution which clearly reflects the insights of my father, John Bowlby, and his groundbreaking work on Attachment Theory. Maher’s seminal work has thoroughly caught the spirit of how disrupted family bonds combined with racial discrimination can create such a lasting impact. I commend this book to all those involved in this most important field." - Sir Richard Bowlby "We must read this impressive book. Here we have a serious attempt to change the psychoanalytic world. There is a bridging across from the psychotherapeutic context to qualitative research, and links are made with approaches to subjectivity in psychoanalysis. This is also 'action research', for it aims to change the world at the same time as it interprets it."
- Professor Ian Parker, Department of Psychology , Manchester Metropolitan University
Table of Contents:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FOREWORD: Ian Parker INTRODUCTION
PART I: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS?
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: What is racism?
CHAPTER TWO: The impact of internalized racism on delivering therapy
CHAPTER THREE: The struggle to complain about racism
CHAPTER FOUR: The black mother as a container
CHAPTER FIVE: The internal investigation
CHAPTER SIX: A push into the wilderness: the exile experience
CHAPTER SEVEN: First Employment Tribunal: white domination
CHAPTER EIGHT: The return of the prodigal daughter: depressive position
CHAPTER NINE: The white couple as a container
CHAPTER TEN: The straw that broke my back
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Second Employment Tribunal: Black-on-Black betrayal
CHAPTER TWELVE: Betrayal and regression
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Consequences of complaining about racism
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: What’s in a name?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Analysis of the second Employment Tribunal
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Third Employment Tribunal: the return of the spirit
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Forewarned is forearmed
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: The cutting of the umbilical cord
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Making use of the black container PART II: ABANDONMENT: HIDE AND SEEK UNTIL YOU FIND YOURSELF
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWENTY: Personal history of abandonment
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: Sam’s death: my past and present collide
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: Hide and seek game
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: Reaction to abandonment: the loss of Ruby
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR: Mother’s death: the impact of planned absence
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: Obediah’s death: the impact of unplanned absence
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: Reaction to the group ending: unspeakable rage
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: Disillusionment: the attack of the absent breast
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: Finding themselves: pain is gain
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: Where is the hope in therapy?
CHAPTER THIRTY: Celebrating the final separation
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: Finding myself: the halls of mirrors
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: Celebration of two cultures PART III: CAN PSYCHOTHERAPY PENETRATE BEYOND SKIN COLOUR? TRAINEE COUNSELLORS’ RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS OF SKIN COLOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: Choice of the research topic
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: The grounding theories
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE: The history of skin colour
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX: The minority identity development model
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN: The White identity development model
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT: Psychoanalytical interpretation of racism
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE: Qualitative methodology
CHAPTER FORTY: Procedure
CHAPTER FORTY ONE: Research findings: important qualities of a counsellor
CHAPTER FORTY TWO: Research findings: important awareness qualities of a counsellor
CHAPTER FORTY THREE: Analysis of predictable findings
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR: Analysis of unpredictable findings
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: Reflexive analysis
CHAPTER FORTY SIX: Discussion of findings
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN: Issues for training and clinical practice
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT: Methodology evaluation
CHAPTER FORTY NINE: The vignette: working with racism in therapy
CHAPTER FIFTY: Reflections PART IV: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE: What I brought to the personal development group
CHAPTER FIFTY TWO: Learning styles
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE: Personal Development Group in action
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR: Personal development meetings
CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE: Reflecting on working on the research CONCLUSION
ADDENDUM
APPENDIX I: Stephen Lawrence
APPENDIX II: The video presentation
APPENDIX III: Research questionnaire REFERENCES
INDEX
| 
