Counseling black college students in special programs

The black college student's encounter with special programs gives rise to special counseling needs which this article describes. In effect, the counselor's task is to assist the student to cope with institutional demands and overcome the alienating effect of the impersonal, white, middle class institution. To do this, the counselor must establish a unique relationship with the student at a critical moment through an outreach approach. Subsequently, the counselor will also be called upon to assist the student in the resolution of an identity crisis. White counselors are not disqualified, but they may need to modify their style of counseling.