MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES IN CONNECTICUT AND ONLINE
Treating Racial Trauma
Dr. Monnica Williams, PhD, ABPP
Clinical & Training Director
Racism can be traumatizing. Racial trauma emerges out of the confluence of historical, cultural, and individual traumatic experiences, that may or may not fit into our DSM-5 PTSD framework.
What causes racial trauma?
People of color can be traumatized by events that may include:
- Racial profiling and police violence
- Workplace discrimination and harassment
- Community violence
- Distressing medical experiences
- Incarceration
- Difficult immigration experiences
- Ethnic cleansing and torture
Therapists at BWC assist people who have been traumatized due to experiences of racism.
The Racial Trauma Treatment Protocol
In this training, Dr. Monnica Williams, preeminent racism and trauma scholar, explains how to treat traumatization that results from experiences of racism, also called racial trauma.
Previous talks and workshops Dr. Williams has given have included only treatment considerations for working with people debilitated by racial trauma. Now Dr. Williams will provides her full CBT-based treatment protocol that therapists can utilize to help clients suffering from race-based stress and trauma, including her choice of assessment tools and culturally-informed three-stage treatment approach. This presentation includes case examples from clients, traumatized in the US and Canada, and participant exercises to consolidate skills and knowledge.
Racial Trauma
Assessment and Treatment Techniques for Trauma Rooted in Racism
Racial Trauma Treatment
A 12-Session Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Protocol
This is an intermediate/advanced-level training
Participants should be familiar with important principles related to racism and racial trauma.
To best benefit from this training, attendees should:
- be able to identify/diagnose racial trauma
- hava a good understanding of microaggressions and racism
- be able to initiate a non-defensive repair of any microaggressions committed
- have done their own anti-racism work
- be comfortable and competent discussing racism and cultural issues
- have a working understanding of individualistic versus collectivistic cultural worldviews
- understand models of racial identity development
More Important Therapist Resources by Dr. Monnica Williams
Are you ready for this training?
Good multicultural training and a strong anti-racism orientation is required. Take advantage of these other resources by Dr. Williams to prepare for this important work.
Transforming Therapy
Being the Change: Embracing Antiracism in the Therapy Room
Managing Microaggressions
Addressing Everyday Racism in Therapeutic Spaces
Racial Trauma Resource List
Refresher articles on important concepts
- Basics of racial trauma
- Understanding of microaggressions and racism
- Responding to and repairing microaggressions committed
- Engaging in own anti-racism work, especially for White American therapists
- Challenges being comfortable and competent discussing diversity issues
- Individualistic versus collectivistic cultural worldviews
- Racial identity development
- Whiteness as a social construct
Useful Measures
The following measures can be helpful to assess clients with racial trauma:
- General Ethnic Discrimination Scale (GEDS; Landrine et al., 2006)
- Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS; Williams, Printz, & DeLapp, 2018)
- Racial Microaggressions Scale (RMAS; Torres-Harding & Turner, 2015)
- Multigroup Ethic Identity Measure (MEIM-12) (Roberts et al., 1999)
- Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (RBTSSS; Carter et al., 2013) (optional)
- Overall Assessment Tools: MINI or DIAMOND (SCID is ok too)
- PTSD Specific Measures: CAPS-5, PDS (with checklist) or LEC, PTCI
BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS CLINIC
392 MERROW RD, SUITE E
TOLLAND, CT 06084
OFFICE: (860) 830-7838
FAX: (860) 454-0667
EMAIL: clinicalcare@behavioralwellnessclinic.com
CLINICAL DIRECTOR: MONNICA WILLIAMS, PHD
OFFICE MANAGER: JASMINE FAIRFAX
BUSINESS MANAGER: MATTHEW JAHN
FRONT DESK PHONE HOURS
Mo: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tu: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
We: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Th: 8:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Fr: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sa: by appointment