Antiracist Clinical Practice: From Values to Action in an Era of Polarization (3 CEs)

In racialized societies, race divides people, prioritizes some groups over others, and directly impacts opportunities and outcomes in life. 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, which creates a problematic foundation for a science that is now tasked with embracing diversity. As such, most clinical training and curricula do not provide an anti-racist framework, which is long overdue for a profession that began with many openly racist ideals. This workshop will discuss how therapists can embrace an anti-racism approach in their practice and their lives in general as an essential prerequisite for authenticity in the work of supporting clients of color. This webinar will address harmful fallacies about race and genetics, explain the development of aversive racism, detail the difference between being a White ally versus a White savior, and share new research of what it means to be a genuine racial justice ally. 

Racial problems are evident at every level of society, and are prominent in political messaging. The problem of racism cannot be corrected merely by good wishes of individuals – purposeful actions and interventions are required. To create equitable systems, civil courage is vital. Therapists can play an important role in tearing down barriers and facilitating change. People who are racial justice allies demonstrate civil courage despite awareness of the consequences and social costs but choose to persist based on a moral imperative. After defining allyship and providing contemporary and historical examples of civil courage, this presentation will explain the difficulties and impediments inherent in implementing racial justice. The presenters will describe exercises based on cognitive-behavioral approaches to help individuals increase their awareness and ability to demonstrate racial justice allyship in alignment with valued behaviors. She explains how these approaches can be utilized, how they can help individuals grow, why they can be difficult, and how clinicians can make use of them for their clients and society.