Psychiatry - November 2008 - (Page 37)

[PSYCHOTHERAPY ROUNDS] SERIES EDITOR: PAULETTE M. GILLIG, MD, PhD Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. Biracial Identity Development and Recommendations in Therapy by RAUSHANAH HUD-ALEEM, DO, and JACQUELINE COUNTRYMAN, MD From the Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Psychiatry (Edgemont) 2008;5(11):37–44 ABSTRACT Identity development is an important area with which therapists who work with children should be familiar. The number of biracial children in the United States is increasing, and although this may not be the reason that a child presents for therapy, it is an area that often should be explored. This article will review the similarities and differences between Black and White racial identity development in the United States and address special challenges for the biracial child. Recommendations for treatment in therapy are reviewed. INTRODUCTION The 2000 census showed that there are more than 4.5 million married and unmarried couples in the United States of whom the two members were from differing racial or ethnic groups. In the last census, 6.8 million people or 2.4 percent of the US population endorsed two racial categories. Of these 6.8 million people, 42 percent of them were under the age of 18.1 The number of multiracial children in the US is rapidly increasing in comparison to previous census data. Identity development and specifically biracial identity development is an important area. Even if biracial issues are not the main focus of the therapy, the biracial child may benefit from exploring this area and having some intervention, if needed. EDITOR’S NOTE: All cases presented in the series “Psychotherapy Rounds” are composites constructed to illustrate teaching and learning points and are not meant to represent actual persons in treatment. ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: Raushanah Hud-Aleem, DO, Wright State University, Department of Psychiatry, Elizabeth Place, 627 Edwin C Moses Blvd., Dayton OH 45408; Phone: (937) 223-8840; Fax: (937) 223-0758; E-mail: raushanah.hud-aleem@wright.edu KEY WORDS: biracial, identity development, therapy interventions [NOVEMBER] Psychiatry 2008 37

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Psychiatry - November 2008 Editor's Message Editorial Advisory Board Contents PsychRx Letters to the Editor Measuring Adverse Events in Psychiatry Nonsuicidal Self Injury in Adolescents Relative Tolerability of Alzheimer's Disease Treatments Biracial Identity Development and Recommendations in Therapy Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: Just an Urban Legend? Three Risk Management Basics Journal Watch Classified Advertising Information for Authors

Psychiatry - November 2008

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