319 Standard clinical assumptions about gender roles typically don't apply to African American families, and often stand in the way of effective treatment. In this workshop the presenters will describe the impact of racism on the socialization experiences of black boys and girls. We'll examine the everyday survival issues and the protectiveness inherent in parenting black youth, the "invisibility syndrome" of African American men, the relationship expectations of African American women, and the educational and professional status discrepancy common within some black couples. Participants will learn how racism is experienced in black couples and focus on interventions to help them deal with it. You'll leave with the understanding and skills needed to remove the substantial barriers between African American families and psychotherapy.