Marginalized Couples in Therapy

Akilah Riley-Richardson's work is a timely and essential contribution to the field of couples counseling and therapy. She offers practical guidance while deepening our understanding of the multisystemic dynamics that shape intimate relationships. By centering individuals and communities who have historically been marginalized, her text invites a more inclusive, socially responsive approach to relational work. I look forward to including this book as required reading for my doctoral students in clinical psychology.--Cynthia Lubin Langtiw, PsyD, professor, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago Campus Fact: If you are a therapist of any sort, this book belongs in your library! True relational security demands recognizing systemic context, yet because most of our training is imbued with the white, Western lens, we rarely get a glimpse beyond that perspective. Akilah Riley-Richardson walks you through developing that wider perspective and delivers exactly the kind of accessible approach that should be required reading. Poignant stories, diverse voices, and her clear, concise writing make this important work my favorite couples book of all time.--Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP, coauthor Secure Relating: Holding Your Own in an Insecure World, host of Therapist Uncensored podcast If you work with couples, this book belongs on your shelf. Marginalized Couples in Therapy by Akilah Riley-Richardson goes beyond technique, showing how systemic trauma and oppression shape intimacy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ partners. With practical interventions, case examples, and the groundbreaking PRIDE model, this book gives therapists concrete ways to help couples heal and thrive. It's both a call to action and a roadmap for more just, inclusive therapy.--Shane Birkel, LMFT, host of The Couples Therapist Couch podcast, creator of training programs on couples therapy intensives This book is a powerful clinical support to anyone who works with individuals or couples who experience ongoing systemic trauma. Riley-Richardson expertly interweaves neurobiology, our own embodied wisdom, and vivid clinical examples to help all of us face the reality of relational privilege and partner with our clients to help them thrive. If you want to support your clients to build their self-trust and feel empowered in their relationships, this book is a must-read!--Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, author of Setting Boundaries that Stick