ABSTRACT
African-centered reality therapy is presented as a viable alternative for those who wish to consider a different way to work with the African-American family. This approach is designed to prevent disequilibrium and, when it occurs, to restore balance. It is an approach for intervention and prevention. To improve intervention and prevention, we must expand our vision of the family. The social work profession has a traditional philosophical and practice foundation based on individualization and dependence. Using the concepts that are implicit to individual-focused models, practitioners, although claiming a strengths perspective, continue to label families. These labels are generally pathological and non-need fulfilling. This has allowed those who practice to blame the victims, resulting in family destabilization.
