ABSTRACT
The interests of black and white therapists have led to some invigorating questions that are, from time to time, aired at professional conferences designed to address issues around culture and ethnicity. Cross-cultural work with families has to extend beyond the differences that exist between all families to consider the differences and influences of religion and ethnicity, with the subtle meanings they might have for family life. Each-to-their-own majority therapy can at times seem restricted, insular, and self-contained. The means of escaping from the circularity of sameness to contemplate issues of hierarchy, power, or difference or even the assumption of sameness in majority therapies has very creative potential. The obvious benefit of same–same therapy for those in minority groups is the fact that to some extent the therapist will have some experiences that mirror those of the patient. If taken seriously, however, a great contribution can be made by minority therapies to the body of systemic and psychodynamic theories.
