According to multiple studies conducted over the last ten years, African Americans are less likely to get married than other American races. Additionally, those marriages result in more frequent divorce. According to US census data, black couples have the highest divorce rates in the country, and black women are the least married demographic. Dr. Anthony Chambers, PhD, ABPP, the director of the Couples Therapy Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology, is available to comment on the unique issues facing African American couples.
Dr. Chambers’ clinical, teaching, and scholarly interests all focus on strengthening the relationships of couples from all walks of life. Dr. Chambers is one of the faculty members teaching an exciting, innovative course at Northwestern University entitled "Marriage 101". Marriage 101 is a course taught to undergraduates about mate selection and the intricacies of committed, romantic relationships, especially marriage, with the ultimate goal of enhancing relationships and preventing problems.
In addition to maintaining a very large clinical practice comprised of 90% couples, Dr. Chambers also engages in scholarly writing, teaching and public speaking aimed at disseminating the latest knowledge about how to have a healthy relationship. He is the author of numerous book chapters, journal articles, and national presentations devoted to summarizing the science behind assessing and treating common couples’ problems (i.e., communication, trust, intimacy, parenting, conflict resolution, etc.). He has also published and lectured extensively on additional topics including the transition to marriage, the transition to parenthood, African American couples, and inter-racial couples. Dr. Chambers’ has also made multiple media appearances discussing topics such as “Surviving Infidelity”, and “Avoiding marriage’s No. 1 pitfall: Money troubles.”
Dr. Chambers’ professional accomplishments have resulted in becoming a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and its Division of Family Psychology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Couple and Family Psychology, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Couple and Family Psychology. Dr. Chambers also sits on the Board of Directors of several academic and professional organizations devoted to strengthening couples and families. He is also on the editorial board for the journal Family Process, and is the incoming Associate Editor for the flagship journal Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice.
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a unique, innovative not-for-profit organization, governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
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