Hip-Hop Cypher in Group Work

ABSTRACT

Group work holds significant value in communities that face mental health disparities. Although there is an array of research that supports the use of group therapy as a therapeutic medium, populations such as urban youth of color are often unable to access these services or fully benefit from them. To compensate, some communities have developed their own cultural methods of healing. In this article, the authors argue that by using expressive methods of healing social workers can accentuate the power and potential of groups with these populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural competency
• culturally sensitive practice
• group therapy
• group work
• hip-hop
• mental health disparities
• therapy