Biblical Counseling with African-Americans: Taking a Ride in the Ethiopian's Chariot

By Clarence Walker

Book Overview

This book is a practical and biblical guide for all who engage in counseling African-Americans. Its purpose is to set forth the issues, principles, and interventions of counseling, especially in terms of marriage counseling and family therapy. Clarence Walker provides a framework for the book in the biblical story of the apostle Philip and the Ethiopian charioteer as recounted in the book of Acts. In Walker's view this story involves the same issues that confront African-Americans today. Specifically, in Part 1 Walker sees seven challenges that Philip faces as a "Christian counselor" - Ethnicity . . . - Socio-economics - Gender . . .- Environment - Sexuality . . . - Religion - Power -- Part 2 builds on this foundation to develop ten biblical principles for an effective therapeutic process -- all recognizable in the interaction between Philip and the Ethiopian. These include -- - Directive engaging . . . - Explorative questioning - Affective joining . . . - Positive terminating - Active listening . . . - Cooperative involving -- Part 3 explains biblical techniques for treatment. Five approaches are offered to use with couples, and three are presented for counseling individuals.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310587115
• ISBN13: 9780310587118
• Release Date: November 1992
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

A Fine Contribution to the Genre

"Biblical Counseling with African-Americans" is an excellent contribution to multi-cultural counseling from a Christian perspective. Walker integrates biblical theology, research on African American culture, and his own extensive counseling practice to weave together a very practical and thorough book. Some books of this genre tend to be heavy on theory or on methodology. Walker nicely balances the two, linking understanding to practice. The book is now a little dated in terms of research works quoted (most coming from the 70s and 80s), but besides that it has withstood the test of time. Reviewer: Dr. Robert W. Kellemen is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction." He has also authored "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."

An In-Depth, Right On-Target Book

This is truly one of Dr. Clarence Walker's finest and most in depth analysis/studies of individuals and their relationships with others from a TRUE Biblical perspective with Biblical resolutions. Any person who is serious about counseling with African-Americans should read this book. Add it to your library as a reference tool.