American Family Therapy Academy Releases Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter

BOSTON - March 22, 2016 - PRLog -- The American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA), in keeping with a core commitment to social justice and equality, has published a position statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. We see this movement as a catalyst for positive change that has, through grassroots mobilization, compelled our nation to confront a profound lack of progress in race relations.

We celebrate the work of Black Lives Matter as it struggles against public complacency fed by the misconception that the most challenging steps toward racial equality are behind us. We support its call to action, which demands the affirmation of lives diminished and marginalized by the intersections of oppressive institutions and underlying assumptions of privilege. We support the movement's emphasis on intersectionality, which we as mental health professionals regard as critical to effective interventions with clients and communities.

Assumptions based in white privilege are present in psychotherapy regardless of the setting or the social status of the participants, from private practices to agencies serving clients of lower socio-economic class. In the context of our work as clinicians, educators, program planners, and researchers, this movement calls us to be accountable to address issues of dominance, oppression, and inequality with our clients. We are called to consider race and privilege meaningful and relevant areas of inquiry in proactive clinical interventions.

We are committed to learning from and supporting groups such as Black Lives Matter. As professionals with expertise in systemic, contextual thinking, we are uniquely positioned to expand our individual and collective efforts to end structural racism, promote healing, and minimize the residual effects of oppression on those most marginalized in our society.

AFTA joins Black Lives Matter in calling for policies, laws, and the allocation of resources to address problems of our society rooted in racism.

To read the full position statement, please visit www.AFTA.org