ABSTRACT
In this book we have emphasised the importance of diversity for family therapy practice (see Points 14, 15, 16 and 79). All the contexts in which family therapists work will entail diversity and the issues that it raises. In Part 8 we highlighted the importance of cultural competency for family therapists. It is however also important that family therapists are aware of issues of diversity within all aspects of the everyday practice of therapy. Diversity is not only an issue about practice with minority ethnic families, it is ubiquitous. Family therapists should be careful in assuming that they share beliefs about families, beliefs about values and beliefs about appropriate behaviour with the families they are working with. This is where curiosity and the respectful use of questions becomes a technology for understanding and exploring diversity. It is also important that therapists are open to be changed themselves by the news they receive. Burnham (1993) has talked about the social GRRAACCES as an aide to recognising the variety of issues of diversity within clinical practice: gender, race, religion, age, ability, class, culture, ethnicity and sexuality. Burnham's acronym begins with the phrase `social' because, as systemic therapists, family therapists are aware of the in¯uence of social constructs upon the individual. Hence, the concepts of power and oppression are vital in understanding how some of the issues of diversity are experienced (McGoldrick and Hardy 2008).
