For counselors, clients, and anyone else who is willing to hear the unspoken and see the overlooked.
This book offers a counselor's insight into the unspoken issues in Black American life.
American treatment systems overlook some of the most salient issues in Black mental health. The global social justice movement brought attention to obvious issues, but all challenges of living Black are not obvious. Much remains deeply embedded in overlooked historical factors, overlooked identity issues, overlooked clinical bias, overlooked losses, and overlooked strengths.
LaVerne Collins brings those unspoken issues of Black life to the forefront of counseling conversations. The author looks deep into Black identities and unhides the psychological impact of Black racialization. The book considers the emotional weight of the historical presumption of guilt and the impact of shorter lifespans.
The book invites counselors to reverse the deficit narratives associated with Black families, Black resistance, and the Black church and see these as overlooked strengths.
Collins unearths the hidden sorrow, disenfranchised grief, and ambiguous losses imposed by racism. Each chapter brings overlooked and unspoken considerations into view; helping counselors develop culturally-sensitive case conceptualizations and interventions and helping clients receive the best care from their counselors.
Foreword by Dr. S. Kent Butler, Past President, American Counseling Association
Praise for "OVERLOOKED" from industry leaders
"A must read..."
"A must-read book for counselors, therapists, and other helping professionals who work with Black and African American clients in a variety of settings.
Overlooked uses excellent workmanship to shine light on often overlooked and critical issues that help illuminate life in Black America. Through Dr. Collins, we have been given a phenomenal gift designed to enhance our multicultural and social justice counseling practices."
— Taunya M. Tinsley, PhD, DMin, NCC, LPC
Author of Four Quarters: A Cultural and Developmental Approach to Transforming your Spiritual Autobiography
"I feel seen..."
"I feel seen! Let's get this book into the hands of every mental health professional who works with Black clients. It is a powerful unveiling of the nuances of the Black experience that must be addressed to effect change." #OverlookedNoMore
— LaTonya M. Summers, PhD, LCMHC, LMHC
Founder of the Black Mental Health Symposium and
Founder of Black Mental Health Today Magazine
"Powerful resource"
"This powerful resource will spark a revolution and open doors for unlearning dangerous past behaviors toward ALL cultures...
Collins sees into a forgotten past, to reveal and bring to the forefront a new view on how counselors may have a genuine impact in the lives of the unvoiced.....This extraordinary textbook provides us with a new love language. Counselors should be thrilled and eager to learn about it and the actionable ways to ensure we see the mission and accomplish the intended results with cultural humility."
Excerpts from the Foreword by
--S. Kent Butler, Ph.D., NCC
Past President and Fellow, American Counseling Assoc.
Book Launch Event, Atlanta, GA
