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In this article I maintain that aspects of Rychlak's (1994) humanistic notion of psychological agency, particularly his view of human dialectical thinking capacity, can be used to show how African Americans have sustained their creativity and resilience in spite of the continually oppressive circumstances that have historically characterized their situation. To focus on dialectic thinking capacities is to emphasize the imaginative abilities of human beings. In this regard I show how humanistic psychologists and scholars in the humanities share a recognition of the active use of their imaginative faculties by African Americans. Applying such capacities to their historical circumstances has been essential to the ability of African Americans to develop their human qualities in spite of the obstacles placed in front of them.Interest in psychological resilience falls within the general scope of the study of coping; that is, the investigation of the successful ways that people deal with stressful situations (Westen, 2000, p. 396). From a developmental perspective Masten (2001) notes that resilience can be characterized by good outcomes in spite of serious threats to adaptation (p. 228). 1 The notions of resilience and coping are usually used in psychology to refer to a person's ability to handle traumatic situations in life. Westen goes on to point out that it would not be surprising to expect people to become sick or experience negative emotions in stressful situations. What may seem more surprising is that most people who experience life crises remain healthy (Westen, 2000, p. 396). Or as Masten (2001) notes, "The great surprise of resilience research is the ordinariness of the phenomena. Resilience appears to be a common phenomenon that results in most cases from the operation of basic human adaptational systems" (p. 227).

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In this chapter I will discuss a perspective on empathic processes in psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy with ethnic minority clients of color' in America. The topic of empathy can be seen to be an important one because it is fundamental to the establishment of a helping relationship. More and more the writing on psychoanalytically oriented therapy emphasizes the quality of the therapist-patient relationship as fundamental to positive change (Gill, 1983;Luborsky, 1984;Strupp & Binder, 1984). This is particularly true in work with ethnic minority clients of color seeking therapy. Various writers note the therapist's task of properly managing the initial sessions with these patients (Griffith &Jones, 1979). Sue and Zane (1987) note the therapist's task early on of establishing his or her "credibility" with the ethnic minority patient.2 Gibbs (1985) suggests that African-American clients, mindful of racism, initially tend to take an interpersonal orientation in the therapy situation. That is, they are particularly I gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments of Dr. Richard Bock who read earlier drafts of this chapter.' In this paper when I use the terms peopk of color or ethnic rnmmties I will be referring to people of African-American, American-Indian, Asian-American, and Latino background. 1 will be writing from my greater knowledge of the literature on African Americans, although I will attempt to formulate what 1 have to say so as to make it broadly relevant to the range of people of color in America. psychotherapeutic help.