Multiple realities: A relational narrative approach in therapy with black-white mixed-race clients

Notions of a racial identity for persons with one Black and one White parent have assumed the existence of only a singular identity (first Black and later biracial). Emerging empirical research on racial identity formation among members of this group reveals that multiple identity options are possible. In terms of overall health, the level of social invalidation one encounters with respect to racial self-identification is more important than the specific racial identity selected. Here a relational narrative approach to therapy with Black-White mixed-race clients who experience systematic invalidation of their chosen racial identity is presented through a detailed case illustration.