TPC Digest-Vol 9 Issue 3-FULL

1 TPC Digest 1 | TPC Digest Janeé R. Avent Harris, Jasmine L. Garland McKinney, Jessica Fripp “God Is a Keeper” eligion is a central part of many African Americans’ lives. Faith is a protective factor and a coping mechanism as individuals are confronted with many challenges. These challenges can be personal (e.g., familial) and systemic (e.g., racism). It is important that helping professionals understand the ways religion and spirituality impact African Americans’ coping patterns and their attitudes toward counseling. In this study, we interviewed seven African American, Christian women. The findings of this current study illuminate the ways Christian African American women, in particular, consider God to be at work in their lives. The participants spoke to the ways that they felt God has sustained them through challenging times and transitions, such as grief and loss, divorce, physical sickness, and financial difficulties. The participants relied on religion through following God’s direction, use of scripture and prayer to focus, attending worship services, and viewing God as a faith companion. Although most participants more readily offered examples of positive religious coping, negative religious coping came up in each interview more implicitly. Some of the sentiments expressed in the interviews included jealousy, frustration, “the devil,” questioning God, isolation, lack of trust, “why me?”, “God is enough,” and a sense that moments of doubt or struggle may indicate a betrayal of God. Spiritual growth and development was an important part of conceptualizing and responding to life stressors. Participants emphasized the value of the Bible and the role it played in providing guidance and direction throughout their lives, particularly during challenging situations. Often, participants juxtaposed this idea of “godly counsel” with secular counseling services. In these cases, the participants emphasized the importance of advice that did not contradict the “word of God.” All of the participants highlighted the stigma that exists among many African Americans regarding mental health help-seeking and referred to the notion that “Black people do not go to counseling.” There are many important implications for counselors from the findings of our study. First, although African Americans are confronted with many stressors both stemming from systemic oppression and universal human experiences, our participants demonstrated resilience. Counselors should be intentional in identifying strengths and highlighting ways African American communities, often led by Black churches, have persisted. Although it is important to emphasize the importance of help- seeking from secular counselors, our study acknowledges value in the church as a resource and an integral part of the support networks of many African Americans. The church has proven to be a consistent place of solace for many African Americans, whether members are participating in premarital, financial, or other counseling. Thus, counselors can create professional relationships with church leadership to connect to members. Janeé R. Avent Harris, NCC, is an assistant professor at East Carolina University. Jasmine L. Garland McKinney is a graduate research assistant at East Carolina University. Jessica Fripp, NCC, is an assistant professor at Austin Peay State University. Correspondence can be addressed to Janeé Harris, 225A Ragsdale Hall, Mail Stop 121, Greenville, NC 27858, aventj16@ecu.edu. R A Phenomenological Investigation of Christian African American Women’s Experiences With Religious Coping