The legacy of slavery and racism still has the power to poison relationships by trapping African American couples in webs of mutual blame and negative projections. In this workshop, we'll explore ways of helping couples understand how their relationships are undermined by the unconscious belief, encoded by slavery in the psyches of African Americans even today, that both men and women are unworthy of love and commitment. The presenter will share her personal journey of discovery through her own emotional roots and its relevance for her work with African American couples. You'll gain an understanding of the impact of slavery on the way African Americans think and feel about themselves today, develop skills for identifying "signature themes" in these couples, and learn how to use knowledge of the past and consciousness of its effects on relationships to help them reclaim their right to love and fulfilling relationships.