Why Choose Family Therapy? An Online Qualitative Study of African American Adult Self-Reports About Their Experiences that Brought Them to Family Therapy

Abstract

Previous research on African Americans’ engagement in family therapy has focused on barriers to treatment. This qualitative study examines the experiences of African Americans who choose to attend family therapy. We utilized a pattern second cycle coding process to analyze survey data from 39 African American adults who attended family therapy. The findings generated five themes that describe the participants’ experiences that brought them to family therapy, (1) life experiences that led to family therapy, (2) perceptions of therapy, (3) positive experiences that encouraged participants’ use of family therapy, (4) factors that caused participants hesitancy in attending family therapy, (5) change in perception concerning family therapy. The final theme was generated by exploring participants’ perceptions of family therapy before and after engaging. Thirty-four participants reported positive beliefs about therapy after receiving family therapy. In addition, participants’ coping mechanisms before entering therapy are detailed to provide insights into how they managed issues before deciding to engage in family therapy. We offer recommendations for engaging African Americans in family therapy and implications for future research.