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Black Churches as Therapeutic Systems: A Group Process Perspective

Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 239 Greene Street, New York, NY 10003; phone: (212) 998-5552; fax: (212) 995-4358 mml30{at}is2.nyu.edu

Patricia M. Carey, PhD

Student Services and Public Affairs, New York University

Roxanna Anderson-Scott, PhD

Department of Psychology, Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina

This article examines Black churches as therapeutic systems that provide psychological and physical support to African American communities. Systems theory and group relations theory are used as conceptual frameworks to discuss Black churches as indigenous community resources. Instrumental to a systems approach is an understanding of Black churches and the religious experiences they support as part of a dynamic process that may vary across churches while maintaining certain basic similarities. It is also important to explore how Black churches may function differently from one another in addressing the needs of their membership and surrounding community. Consequently, a group process perspective is used to examine how roles and functions of the church may vary as they relate to their particular congregation. Examining the role of Black churches as supportive networks provides invaluable information to professional health providers who are interested in working with Black churches as community-based organizations.

Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 25, No. 6, 778-789 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/109019819802500607


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