ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ways in which family therapists can understand the notion of diversity—and more specifically on the self of the therapist. Although minority populations are ever increasing in the United States, therapy and therapy models continue to be dominantly based on white values delivered by white therapists. Psychotherapists have used many words to talk about the idea namely: culture, ethnicity, multiculturalism, intersectionality, and diversity. The chapter explores topics of multiculturalism and diversity from the perspective of what culture the client originates. The field of psychotherapy has shifted to a focus on cultural or multicultural competencies. Family therapy's focus on multiculturalism has two main constructs. The first is based on cultural diversity—therapists respect and privilege the client's cultural preferences. The second multicultural construct is around social justice—the therapist attempts to understand the effects of power differentials where one group is granted entitlements at the expense of other groups.
