The need to respond effectively to every troubled child or young person has never been greater as the world witnesses a period of global anxiety. Increased migration, terrorism, ethnic conflict, globalisation and the widening gap between rich and poor nations are producing psychological consequences requiring skilled attention. Political reactions to the needs of refugees and asylum seeking families inflict emotionally damaging racist abuse and public persecution.

Culturally Competent Therapy offers a timely response in these highly charged circumstances. This accessible, practical book provides:

- a synthesis of psychodynamic and systemic theories for effective work with black and other ethnic minority families
- a focus on developing a realistic, socially inclusive practice
- an examination of the psychological impact of religious and spiritual culutral beliefs
- an exploration of the use of world myths, fairy tales and legends in therapeutic work
- an understanding of cultural differences and similarities in child and adolescent development

Culturally Competent Therapy is an essential text for all qualified or trainee counsellors and psychotherapists, and anyone who works in the caring professions.

Introduction
Cultural Competence
Similarities and Differences
Integrating Theory, Skills and Values
Socially Inclusive Practice
Assessment and Intervention
Religion and Spirituality
Fairy Stories, Myths and Legends
Evaluating Practice and the Evidence-Base
Bibliography

STEVEN WALKER is Programme Leader in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at Anglia Polytechnic University. He gained an MSc in Social Work and Social Policy at the LSE and qualified as a family therapist in 1992 after studying at the Tavistock Institute and the Institute of Family Therapy. He has undertaken research and has published many scholarly papers and books on the subject of children and young people during his twenty years of public service.