Jose’ & Sabrina
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Paint the Picture:Strategies for Counseling African
American MenPresented by:
Sabrina D. BlackAbundant Life Counseling Center
at the
AACC World Conference: Truth & GraceNashville, TN
September , 2009
Workshop Objectives:• Paint a picture of what it is like to be a black man
in counseling by increasing the level of cultural awareness and cultural specific dynamics in counseling; as well as the African American viewpoint towards counseling.
• Paint a picture of guidelines to follow when counseling men and the issues/problems they present.
• Explain the Empowerment Model – “Paint the Picture” for use with counseling Men
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PICTURE # 1
The BLACK MAN in Counseling
Questions of Identity• To be a MAN
– Gender Roles– Gender Socialization
• To be a BLACK Man– Issues of Race and Oppression– Issues of Strength and Survival
• To be a Black Man who has a PROBLEM in need of Christian Bible-based counsel
• To be a Black Man who has a problem in need of biblical counseling that is provided by a WOMAN.
• To be a Black Man who has a problem in need of biblical counseling that is provided by a Woman or Man who knows how to “Paint the Picture.”
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The Male Expectation Conflict
• Counseling / Therapy Expectations
• Discuss abstract concepts
• Transparency• Auditory style of
learning• Language of emotions• Collaborative
• Societal Expectations
• Demonstrate concrete concepts
• Stoic• Visual style of
learning• Non-emotional• Independent
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Impact of Historical Roots
• In order to adequately counsel African Americans it’s necessary to understand the impact of their historical roots:
• Slavery • Emancipation• Segregation• Jim Crow• Civil Rights
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Results of Research
Research on the black family has followed five main themes:
• The poverty-acculturation theme• The pathology theme• The reactive apology theme• The black nationalist theme• The proactive-revisionist theme
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The De-evolution of The Black Man
• What pictures / visuals /scenarios come to mind?
• The African Man• The Enslaved Man• The “Negro” aka Colored Man• The Black Exploitation Film (P, H, DD)*(Tim Jackson 1995)
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The Re-evolution of the Black Man
• What pictures / visuals /scenarios come to mind?
• The Broken Man• The Educated Man• The Working Man• The Entrepreneurial Man• The Family Man
(Tim Jackson 1995)(c) www.drsabrinablack.com
PICTURE # 2Counseling
The BLACK MAN
Vibes
• Vibes – refer to the way in which a person comes across to others
• Attuned to verbal / nonverbal clues• Keeping it Real / Bottom Line
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General Responses to Counsel
• I HEAR (what you are saying)• I FEEL (where you are coming from)• I SEE (what you are saying)• I SENSE (what you mean)
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Value Orientation
• Time Present• Activity Doing vs Being• Relational Collateral• Person-Nature Harmony• Language Vocal / Demonstrative• Family Inclusive/Extended
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African American View
Counseling is viewed as:• Expensive• Lengthy• For them not us• Counselor will not relate culturally• Racial oppression• They will not acknowledge my spirituality
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Counseling African Americans
• Unconditional /Genuine Positive Regard• Renewing the Mind / Reframing• Brief Solution-Focused• Application / Doing• Needs-driven
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Men Counseling Men
• Be prayerful• Be professional• Be partners
– Work together on what is present– Wisely confront and challenge
• Be purposeful (understanding the power of men)
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Women Counseling Men
• Be prayerful• Be professional• Be polished
– Get to the point– Make the information practical
• Be purposeful (understanding the position of men)
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Women Counseling Men
Women counseling men need to be careful not to:
• Emasculate• Castrate• Dominate• Stimulate or• Alienate
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The Man in the MirrorSolving the 24 Problems Men Face
Identity Problems
Relationship Problems
Money Problems
Time Problems
Temperament problems
Integrity Problems
Rat Race Broken Relationships
Biblical Viewpoint
Making Decisions
Pride Cost of Integrity
Lifestyle Children Financial Strength
Setting Priorities
Fear Secret Thought Life
Christianity Wife Doing God’s Will
Anger Accountability
Search for Significance
Friends Independence
Purpose Avoiding Suffering
Job Contentment
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Picture # 3Empowerment Model
PAINT THE PICTURE
Empowering Men Through Counseling: Paint the Picture
• Painting the Picture is a powerful tool used to engage and empower men to experience positive change in the process of counseling by combining verbal and non-verbal communication which opens new pathways for learning.
• Utilizing various means to “paint the picture” in counseling (i.e., drawing, diagrams, parables, Biblical stories and characters, movies, etc.) this reduces anxiety, increase positive regard and leads to freer expression of feelings, beliefs and behavior that would normally be ignored or kept inside.
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Paint the Picture
• Using parables with familiar settings and characters, Jesus caught the attention of his audience and was able to deliver his message. Jesus connected things of the culture with things of the Kingdom.
• Movies – modern day parables – can be used to help prepare men to hear biblical truths.
• By introducing timeless truth with memorable visual images, the lessons of your counseling can have lasting impact.
(Jim Eichenberger) (c) www.drsabrinablack.com
Paint the Picture
• Remember that men are visual• Painting the picture allows men to visually
see what you are saying; see what they are saying; and see what God is saying.
• Painting the picture allows men to place themselves in a situation as one of the characters.
• Painting the picture allows men to be a participant, an observer and the counselor
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Paint the Picture
• Thank you to the many poets, storytellers, and musicians who have served to awaken deeper parts of me that cannot be reached by logic, intellect, or propositional thinking.
(Verne Becker - The Real Man Inside)
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Paint the Picture• Artistic ability isn't required when you paint the picture in a
counseling setting. "Anyone can make marks on paper. The results can be surprising, and the discoveries that the art provides can be illuminating.”
• For starters, it's easier to express troubled feelings through art than through talk because art allows distance. We might not be able to talk about how we feel, but we can talk about how the person that we drew feels.
• While working with images, we're also less likely to censor ourselves. We are accustomed to using words to communicate, just not about ourselves.
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Biblical Stories and Counseling
• Character Studies • Ask the counselee to identify some of his
favorite Bible characters or stories.• Ask them to share the text and/or read the
scriptures in session. Paint the picture.• Ask the counselee to identify ways in
which they are like the main character and different. What lessons can they learn from their situation?
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Biblical Stories and Counseling
12 Ordinary Men (The Disciples)
• Simon (called Peter)• Andrew (his brother)• James (son of Zebedee)• John (James brother)• Phillip• Bartholomew• Thomas• Matthew (the tax collector)• James (son of Alphaeus)• Thaddaeus• Simon (the Zealot)• Jusas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus)
12 More Mighty Men
• Adam• Abraham• Isaac• Jacob• Joseph• David• Joshua• Moses• Sampson• Paul• Barnabas• Timothy
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Paint the PictureParables of Christ from the book of Matthew
a. Wise and foolish builders. Mt 7:24-27. b. Children of the bride chamber. Mt 9:15. c. New cloth and old garment. Mt 9:16. d. New wine and old bottles. Mt 9:17. e. Unclean spirit. Mt 12:43. f. Sower. Mt 13:3-23; Lu 8:5-15. g. Tares. Mt 13:24-30,36-43. h. Mustard-seed. Mt 13:31,32; Lu 13:19. i. Leaven. Mt 13:33. j. Treasure hid in a field. Mt 13:44. k. Pearl of great price. Mt 13:45,46. l. Net cast into the sea. Mt 13:47-50. m. Meats defiling not. Mt 15:10-15. n. Unmerciful servant. Mt 18:23-35. o. Labourers hired. Mt 20:1-16. p. Two sons. Mt 21:28-32. (c) www.drsabrinablack.com
Paint the PictureParables from the book of Jeremiah
The almond rod and the boiling pot Jeremiah 1:11–19
The marred girdle Jeremiah 13:1–11
The wine bottle Jeremiah 13:12–14
The potter and the clay Jeremiah 18:1–10
The broken bottle Jeremiah 19:1–13
The two baskets of figs Jeremiah 24:1–10
The cup of fury Jeremiah 25:15–38
The bonds and yokes Jeremiah 27–28
The hidden stones Jeremiah 43:8–13
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Paint the PictureParables from the book of Ezekiel• The living creatures Ezekiel 1:1–28• The eaten scroll Ezekiel 2–3• The tile Ezekiel 4:1–17• The shaved head and beard Ezekiel 5:1–17• The temple wickedness Ezekiel 8:1–18• The writer’s inkhorn Ezekiel 9–10• The great escape Ezekiel 12:1–28• The vine branch Ezekiel 15:1–8• The harlot wife Ezekiel 16• The great eagle Ezekiel 17:1–24• The plucked up vine Ezekiel 19:10–14• The two sisters Ezekiel 23:1–49• The boiling cauldron Ezekiel 24:1–4• The prophet’s dead wife Ezekiel 24:15–24• The cedar in Lebanon Ezekiel 31• The unfaithful shepherds Ezekiel 34• The valley of dry bones Ezekiel 37:1–14• The two sticks Ezekiel 37:15–28•
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Paint the PictureBox Office MoviesYear Movie Theme Scripture1930 The Invisible Man Conversion, Fresh Start Acts 9:1-191930 Gone with the Wind Endurance, Inner strength Isaiah 50:4-111940 Casablanca Priorities, choices Luke 10:38-421940 Meet John Doe No Unimportant People Luke 2:8-181950 Strangers on a Train Our Plan vs God’s Plan James 4:13-171950 Vertigo Overcoming Fear 1 John 4:13-181960 Pink Panther God’s care, omniscience Psalms 139:1-181960 The Graduate Hope for the Future Isaiah 42:1-91970 American Graffiti Following God Acts 16:4-101970 Star Wars Called by God Luke 5:1-111980 Raiders of the Lost
ArkGod of Might Psalms 105
1980 Back to the Future From Gloom to Joy Isaiah 9:1-71990 What About Bob The Answer Isaiah 11:1-91990 The Fugitive Seeking the Lost Luke 15:11-32
Jim Eichenberger Box Office Bible Studies Volume 1
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Resources Available
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Resources Available
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