Therapeutic Cultural Routines to Build Family Relationships: Talk, Touch and Listen While Combing Hair©

Social workers and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) helpers need practical, relationship-based clinical tools to support families experiencing stress, separation, and loss. Research reveals key parenting behaviors occur during hair combing interaction (HCI) – lively verbal interaction, sensitive touch, and responsiveness to infant cues. This book explores how the simple routine of combing hair serves as an emotionally powerful, trauma-informed, culturally valid therapeutic tool for use by mental health helpers. HCI offers a low-cost opportunity for IECMH helpers to engage families and sustain attachment relationships. In this book, case studies illustrate the use of HCI with diverse families of color. Each chapter includes questions for reflective supervision to understand sociocultural factors that may shape behaviors during HCI. Topics included in the text: The Observing Professional and the Parent’s Ethnobiography Introduction to Reflective Supervision: Through the Lens of Culture, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion A Case Study in Cross-Racial Practice and Supervision: Reflections in Black and White Tools to Disrupt Legacies of Colorism: Perceptions, Emotions, and Stories of Childhood Racial Features Therapeutic Cultural Routines to Build Family Relationships: Talk, Touch & Listen While Combing Hair© is a unique resource for counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, home visiting nurses, early childhood educators, and family therapists who work with military families or multiracial families with bi-racial children. “This book provides practical insights useful for professionals and parents. The authors share compelling experiences using strength-based and rich cultural approaches guided by reflective practice. It deserves to be widely read and become a classic resource.” Robert N. Emde, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine Foreword About the Book Preface Hair Combing Routines with Children Matter The Critical Role of Culture and Relationships in the Reconstruction of a Post-pandemic America Acknowledgments A Personal Note from Marva L. Lewis From the Two of Us References Endorsements Contents About the Editors and Contributors Editors Contributors ‘Sankofa with the Comb’© Part I: Talk, Touch & Listen While Combing Hair Chapter 1: Childhood Experiences of Racial Acceptance and Rejection A Snapshot of the Morning Routines in Two Families Keeping Children Safe from the Harm of Child Abuse Helping Black and Brown Parents Build Attachment Relationships with Infants and Healing Racial Wounds Finding Strengths Through Assessment and Intervention Using Rich Cultural Routines Colorism and Nappy-Haired Ghosts in the Nursery A Colorist-Historical Framework The Intergenerational, Biopsychosocial Impact of Colorism – Evidence from Research What You Will Learn from Reading This Book? Why We Wrote This Book? Recognition of the Impact of Colorism: A Form of Psychological Maltreatment Using HCI Tools to Build Strong Bonds with Children References Chapter 2: A Social Worker’s Story: How Can I Help This Young Mother and Her Little Children? Introduction Lisa’s Story Noticing Lisa’s Mood Barometer – What Was the State of the Children’s Hair? Searching for Strengths: A Question for Research Conclusions References Chapter 3: The Interactive Stages of Hair Combing: Routines and Rituals Stages of HCI as an Observational Tool for Assessment of the Quality of Relationship The Power of Routines, Rituals, and Celebrations to Build Relationships in Families and Communities Rituals Connect Families, Culture, and Identity Hair as a Symbol of Social Identity, Acceptance, and Belonging The Socioemotional Benefits of Routines and Children’s Development Hair Combing Interaction and the Development of the Child’s Sense of Self The Routine and Rituals of the Five Stages of Hair Combing Interaction Stage 1 of Hair Combing Interactions – Preparation Stage II of Hair Combing Interactions – Negotiation Negotiating the Hair Combing ask with a Tender-Headed Child Stage III of Hair Combing Interactions – Combing Hair The Synchrony of Hair Combing Interaction Stage IV of Hair Combing Interactions – Play Stage V of Hair Combing Interactions – Closing Rituals Jaia and Jalisha: Mother–Child Interaction During the Stages of Hair Combing Time Conclusions References Chapter 4: The Observing Professional and the Parent’s Ethnobiography Sociocultural Factors of the Caregiving Environment The Parent’s Ethnobiography The Parent’s Childhood Neighborhood Childhood Experiences of Racial Acceptance and Rejection (CERAR). Positive and Affirming CERAR Messages Racial Identity, Personality, and Temperament Skin Color and Parent’s Ethnobiography Hair Type and Parent’s Ethnobiography Tender-Headed Scalp The Observing Professional Reflections References Chapter 5: Cultural Routines and Reflections: Building Parent–Child Connections—Hair Combing Interaction as a Cultural Intervention What Is Family and Societal Culture? Hair Is Personal. Hair Is Social How Is Family Culture Instilled? Why Is the Culture of the Family Important? Rituals and Routines and Therapeutic Intervention Conversations and Personal Recollections for Exploring Therapeutic Assessments and Interventions Scandinavian Roots? Multicultural Hair Sibling Relationships/Jealousy Ribbons Today Cultural Socialization: How Children Learn Cultural Norms Therapists Exploring Personal Connections with Hair Conclusions References Part II: Reflective Supervision and Practice: Experiences Shared by Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioners Chapter 6: Introduction to Reflective Supervision: Through the Lens of Culture, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Reflective Supervision Defined The Importance of Reflection Supervisory Relationship Internal Working Model: Journey to Becoming Who We Are Examining Race in RS Greater Understanding and Connection References Chapter 7: Summoning Angels in the Nursery with Hair Combing Interactions Introduction Case 1: D’Atria Therapeutic Visitation D’Atria’s Ghosts D’Atria’s Angels Hair Combing Case 2: K’atrice Case 3: Keisha and Derrion Discussion References Chapter 8: The Tilted Room of Colorism Collective Shaming The Tilted Room Theory Self-Awareness as a Tool to Manage Emotions Surrounding Colorism Case Study #1 Hair Combing Time Case Study # 2: Aiesha Conclusion References Chapter 9: Infant Mental Health Practice and Reflective Supervision: Who We Are Matters Introduction My Wonderings The Story of Anita, Kathy, and Me Assumptions: Disruptions and Repair Seeking Understanding My Awakening Being Brave Can Be Difficult Sharing in Vulnerability Feeling Heard Sharing Perspectives Concluding Thoughts References Chapter 10: A Case Study in Cross-Racial Practice and Supervision: Reflections in Black and White A Personal and Professional Journey Black Therapist/White Mother/Biracial Baby Beginnings Reflective Supervision Across Race Reflective Supervision Same Day as the Home Visit Black/White/Black: Another Powerful Home Visit Black/White Reflective Supervision Following the Home Visit A Third IMH Home Visit A Black Home Visitor in a White Neighborhood: The Fourth Home Visit Reflective Supervision Immediately Following the Home Visit Reflecting on an Important Relationship References Part III: Reflections on Community-Based Interventions Chapter 11: If Her Hair Isn’t Right, then I’m Not a Good Mother: Reflections on the San Diego Caregiver-Child Connections Community Counseling Project The SDC3 Project Our Background, Experiences, and Reflections Ava L. Gill Kathleen Baca Leanos Michelle J. Rowe-Odom Coming into the Work Where I Came From My Hair Story Building Rapport and Trust with the Caregivers The Writing Recommendations for Community-Based Research Ojore Lateef Bushfan Coming on Board Trying It Out Equipment Guy Working with Fathers I Can Do Research! Summary References Chapter 12: Reflections on the Talk, Touch, and Listen Facilitator Learning Community: Braiding the Personal, the Professional, and Liberation Introduction A Spark Is Ignited: The Talk, Touch, and Listen Train-the-Trainer Workshop Planning the Talk, Touch, and Listen Facilitator Learning Community Group Design Necessity of Building Trust as Cofacilitators Diversity-Informed Tenets Experience of the Talk, Touch, and Listen Facilitator Learning Community A Necessary and Brave Space Holding Reflections and an Invitation to Center Nondominant Perspectives Colonialism and Liberation Conclusion References Chapter 13: PsychoHairapy Through Beauticians and Barbershops: The Healing Relational Triad of Black Hair Care Professionals, Mothers, and Daughters Introduction Getting to the Root of Hair Care Finding Relationships in Black Salons PsychoHairapy Collaboration Between Mothers and Hairstylists Process in a Healing Space Conclusion References Chapter 14: Reflections on Experiences in a Community-Based Parent Support Group: Parent Whisperers Purpose and Structure of the Community-Based Support Group Learning About My Role as a Parent Whisperer: My Reflections as an Asian-American Woman Flexibility: Attending to the Needs of Children During Group Sessions “But I Don’t Have Children!’” My Thoughts on Sharing as a Full Participant in an Experiential Group Model for Parents References Chapter 15: Culture, Creativity, and Helping: Using the Afrocentric Perspective in Community Healing Introduction to a Puppet Show Attachment and Talk, Touch and Listen While Combing Hair The Conceptual Framework: An Afrocentric Lens for Creative Social Work Practice Afrocentric Social Work Practice Creating the Puppet Show: “Have You Ever Seen the Punch and Judy Show”? What Is The Parent Café? The Development of Miranda’s Puppet Show The Structure of the Puppet Show Build Community Among Parent Peers Igniting Social Workers’ Imagination Through Art and Creativity Combing the Arts and Afrocentric Social Work Practice: Personal Reflections Conclusion References Part IV: Tools for Observation, Assessment, and Intervention Chapter 16: Tools to Disrupt the Legacies of Colorism: Perceptions, Emotions, and Stories of Childhood Racial Features Broaching the Topic of Race Understanding the Practitioner’s Childhood Experiences of Colorism A Client’s Internal Working Model Internalized Oppression Disrupting Intergenerational Nappy-Haired Legacies of the Historical Trauma of Slavery Telling the CERAR Story The Neck-up Drawing Protocol: The Internal Model of the Adult’s Perception of their Racial Self-image Memorialized Representations Case Study #1 Jane – Positive Emotion – “Patience,” Negative Emotion – “Insecure” Jane’s Story Case Study #2 Anne – Positive Emotion – “Good”, Negative Emotion – “Insecure” Anne’s Story Case Study #3 Jaylen – Positive Emotion – “Good,” Negative Emotion – “Angry” Jaylen’s story Case Study #4 Jon – Positive Emotion – “Lovely,” “Good” Jon’s Story Case Study #5 Sara – Negative Emotions – “Bad”, “Horrible” Sara’s Story Case Study #6 Lee – Positive Emotion – “Good” Lee’s Story Case Study #7 Pam – Positive Emotion – “Alright,” Negative Emotion – “Horrible” Pam’s Story Summary of the Neck-up Stories A Caution for Reflective Conversations Tools for Reflective Parental Functioning References Chapter 17: Guidelines to Identify Child-Endangering Hair Styling Practices: Medical, Legal, and Psychosocial Perspectives Guidelines for Hair Care The Unique Styling Needs of Natural, Curly/Coily Textured Hair A Universal Worry The Medical Risks Related to Common Hair Styling Practices The Structure of Hair The Distinct Nature of African-American Hair The Use of Chemical Relaxers Alopecia and Hair Styling Practices Guidelines to Evaluate Risk of Hair Styling Practices Judicial and Legal Guidelines, Thoughts, and Suggestions State-Specific Considerations Conclusions Glossary Resources and Information on Culture and Hair Care References Chapter 18: Conclusions A Growing Recognition of the Beauty of Natural Hair Implications for Research Implications for Practice References Appendixes Glossary of Hair Combing Interaction Terms Childhood Experiences of Racial Acceptance and Rejection (CERAR) Interview Questions & FAMILY COLORGRAM Tender-Headed Rating Scale© (TRS) The “Neck-Up” Exercise© Bibliography and Additional Resources Index Social workers and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) helpers need practical, relationship-based clinical tools to support families experiencing stress, separation, and loss. Research reveals key parenting behaviors occur during hair combing interaction (HCI) – lively verbal interaction, sensitive touch, and responsiveness to infant cues. This book explores how the simple routine of combing hair serves as an emotionally powerful, trauma-informed, culturally valid therapeutic tool for use by mental health helpers. * The Observing Professional and the Parent’s Ethnobiography * Introduction to Reflective Supervision: Through the Lens of Culture, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion * A Case Study in Cross-Racial Practice and Supervision: Reflections in Black and White * Tools to Disrupt Legacies of Colorism: Perceptions, Emotions, and Stories of Childhood Racial Features __Therapeutic Cultural Routines to Build Family Relationships: Talk, Touch & Listen While Combing Hair__© is a unique resource for counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, home visiting nurses, early childhood educators, and family therapists who work with military families or multiracial families with bi-racial children. “__This book provides practical insights useful for professionals and parents. The authors share compelling experiences using strength-based and rich cultural approaches guided by reflective practice. It deserves to be widely read and become a classic resource.__”