Part I: Influences That Shape Love, Intimacy, and Relational Patterns Among African American Couples Chapter 1. Introduction Katherine Helm and Jon Carlson Chapter 2. Past and Present Societal Influences on African American Couples That Impact Love and Intimacy Sharon Bethea and Tennelle Allen Part II: Socialization Factors of Black Love and Intimacy Chapter 3: African American Male-Female Romantic Relationships Feliesha Shelton-Wheeler Chapter 4. Threats to Intimacy for African American Couples Tennille Allen and Katherine Helm Part III: Subgroups Within African American Couples Chapter 5. Love and Intimacy Issues with Intercultural Black Couples Chante’ D. DeLoach, Marissa N. Petersen-Coleman, and Shena J. Young Chapter 6. African American Lesbians and Gay Men in Couples Relationships: Threats to Intimacy and Consideration in Couples Psychotherapy Beverly Greene, Nancy Boyd-Franklin and Philip B. Spivey Part IV: Assessment and Treatment of Black Couples in Counseling Chapter 7. Culturally Sensitive Assessment Approaches and Considerations for African American Couples Katherine Helm and Torrey Wilson Chapter 8. Couples Therapy with African American Couples: Specific Treatment Strategies and Techniques Chante’ DeLoach Chapter 9. Culturally Sensitive Guidelines for non-Black Therapists Working with African American Couples Khyana K. Pumphrey Chapter 10. African American Couples and Pastoral Counseling Byron Waller Chapter 11. Conclusion Katherine Helm, Anton Lewis, and Jon Carlson