Blog Assignment #6

1. Counselors need to fully understand the importance of spirituality for African American women and should feel comfortable openly discussing religious and spiritual beliefs. 
2. In order to increase self-worth, African American women need to be encouraged to foster spirituality and include religious leaders in treatment. 
3. A strong therapeutic alliance is essential to keeping black men in therapy, and counselors should pay special attention to the development of rapport. 
4. Counselors should be aware of possible historical mistrust due to the history of racism and they should not shy away from race topics in counseling. 
5. It is important that counselors do not lose sight of the individual and that they remember that each client is different. 

According to Alain Dang and Somjen Frazer, through census data collection they have found that there are 85,000 black gay households, which make up 14% of same-sex couples of all races. While black heterosexual and black same-sex couples have many differences, such as a gap in income averages they also share some similarities. Both black heterosexual and black same-sex couples face racism, create and sustain stable families, and have children despite defying stereotypes. They are also more likely than their white counterparts to rely on public sector domestic partner health insurance and less likely to own a home. 

In “The Choice to Be Gay,” Leonard Pitts responds to a mother who wrote in to him asking for advice about her gay son. Pitts responds by questioning why anyone would actively make the choice to be gay when there are multiple repercussions such as being ostracized by society and their family, and living in fear. No one wants to experience homophobia, ridicule, hatred, and estrangement, and therefore being gay is not a choice.