Mapping Publications in Counseling Journals on African American Family Issues Over the Past 20 Years

For this literature review study, the researchers critically assessed and evaluated publications in counseling journals on Black family issues over the past 20 years. Criteria for selection included articles that were published during or after 1992, were peer reviewed, were conducted in the United States, and that focused exclusively on Black/African American client populations. A total of 126 articles, both conceptual and empirical, were identified. Reported are frequencies of articles related to Black family clinical issues, such as, the number of articles published in American Counseling Association (ACA) journals versus non-ACA journals, and a preliminary presentation of trends over the past two decades. Of significance, few articles were published in ACA journals. Based upon the preliminary findings of this study, the researchers recommend that the ACA leadership consider taking steps to promote research about African American client populations by offering mini-grants to create incentives and offer special opportunities to disseminate research in this area through special issues of journals.