Overlooked - by Laverne Hanes Collins (Paperback)

About the Book

This book examines the unspoken realities of Black life in America. Intended for therapists who are not afraid to explore the impact of historical and contemporary issues, the book uncovers some deeply buried sources of pain and survival in Black experiences. It's time to bring the backstory to the counseling forefront. Overlooked no more!

Book Synopsis

American treatment systems overlook some of the most salient issues in Black mental health. The global social justice movement brought attention to obvious issues, but all challenges of living Black are not obvious. Much remains deeply embedded in overlooked historical factors, overlooked identity issues, overlooked clinical bias, overlooked losses, and overlooked strengths. LaVerne Collins brings those unspoken issues of Black life to the forefront of counseling conversations. The author looks deep into Black identities and unhides the psychological impact of Black racialization. The book considers the emotional weight of the historical presumption of guilt and the impact of shorter lifespans. Collins unearths the hidden sorrow, disenfranchised grief, and ambiguous losses imposed by racism. Each chapter brings overlooked and unspoken considerations into view; helping counselors develop culturally-sensitive case conceptualizations and interventions. The book invites counselors to reverse the deficit narratives associated with Black families, Black resistance, and the Black Church and see these as overlooked strengths.

Review Quotes

"A must-read book for counselors, therapists, and other helping professionals who work with Black and African American clients in a variety of settings. Overlooked uses excellent workmanship to shine light on often overlooked and critical issues that help illuminate life in Black America. Through Dr. Collins, we have been given a phenomenal gift designed to enhance our multicultural and social justice counseling practices." --Taunya Marie Tinsley, PhD, DMin, NCC, LPC, author of Four Quarters: A Cultural and Developmental Approach to Transforming your Spiritual Autobiography

"I feel seen! Let's get this book into the hands of every mental health professional who works with Black clients. It is a powerful unveiling of the nuances of the Black experience that must be addressed to effect change. #OverlookedNoMore" --LaTonya M. Summers, PhD, LCMHC, LMHC, assistant professor, Jacksonville University. founder of Black Mental Health Symposium

"What sets Dr. Collins apart is her unwavering commitment to advancing the mental health and wellness of Black/African American individuals. Recognizing the inadequacies of Euro-centric, mono-cultural approaches in counseling, she developed a three-tier model that encompasses individual counseling, training for counselors, and the development of national trainers. This model is designed to move critical issues out of the shadows and elevate counselor awareness about the unique aspects of the Black experience.
Dr. Collins' work shines a light on overlooked identity issues, historical contexts, counselor biases, strengths, and losses that are often ignored when counseling Black clients. Her approach is encapsulated in her book, OVERLOOKED: Counselor Insights for the Unspoken Issues in Black American Life, which has become a cornerstone of her practice and a guide for counselors seeking to provide more culturally sensitive care." --The US Times

About the Author

LaVerne Collins is the writer/editor of the monthly column, "Honoring Diversity," in Counseling Today Magazine. With a deep clinical passion for the intersectionality of race, faith, culture, and trauma in mental health, Collins has over 25 years of experience as a counselor, clinical supervisor, and mental health diversity trainer, in addition to serving as an adjunct instructor/lecturer and advisor for university graduate-level counseling programs.