Treating Racial Trauma & Anti-Racism Presented by Evidence Based Training Solutions

Racism is a pervasive problem in Western society, leading to mental and physical unwellness in people from racialized groups.

Psychology began as a racist discipline, as many prominent early leaders in the field actively promoted eugenics and the use of intelligence testing to prove the inferiority of people of color. Unfortunately, most clinical training and curricula do not provide an anti-racist framework, which is long overdue for a profession that started with many openly racist ideals. Although most therapists have seen clients with race-based stress and trauma, very few were taught how to assess or treat it. This workshop will discuss how therapists can embrace an anti-racism approach in their practice and lives as an essential prerequisite for authenticity in this work. Dr. Williams will review her extensive research on microaggressions, explain the difference between being a racial justice ally versus a White savior, and share new research on what it means to be a genuine racial justice ally.

Psychological unwellness emerges out of the confluence of historical, cultural, and individual experiences of racism, and resulting symptoms may or may not fit neatly into a DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic framework.

Based on clinical experience and the empirical evidence to date, this workshop will detail the essential components of treatment for racial stress and trauma from a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) perspective. Each technique is described with reference to the literature supporting its use for racial stress and trauma, along with guidance for how therapists might implement the technique with clients. Grounded in both Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), this approach has three sections. The first section is Stabilization & Support, which focuses on validation of client experiences, social support, self-care, and self-compassion. The second part is Healing the Wounds of Racism, which includes exposure-based approaches to addressing trauma, including culturally-informed use of prolonged exposure, expressive writing, photovoice, and artistic expression. The third section is called Empowerment, which includes practicing new and more functional ways of responding to racism, assessing post-traumatic growth, and embarking on pro-social activism. Also discussed are sequencing techniques for optimal outcomes. Critical therapist prerequisites for engaging in this work are also described, with an emphasis on an anti-racist, empathy-centered approach throughout. Real examples, case studies, small group practice exercises, and Q&A are included.