For many clients, racism can be a deeply emotional topic. The experience of racism (and the scenes of racial injustice that occur far too often) can trigger a wave of painful emotions that threaten to shift clients into a state of reactivity and overwhelm. Shelly Harrell, PhD worked with a client who found herself in […]
What We Might Be Missing – Listening for Racial Stress in Session
There may be times when a client comes into a session with a specific story about racism that they experienced, and they want to talk about it. But according to Usha Tummala-Narra, PhD, a client’s experience of racial stress will usually come up much more subtly – and it could be easy to miss if […]
When Internalized Stereotypes Impact Depression
There are times when a patient may internalize painful judgments and stereotypes from the world, and they might not even realize they’ve done it. And when that patient is struggling with depression, addressing this toxic messaging can be a critical step in healing. In the video below, Shelly Harrell, PhD, will get into why it’s […]
How to Address Blindspots and Racial Bias in a Session
We all have our blindspots – and by definition it’s nearly impossible to become aware of them without help. In the video below, Raymond Rodriguez, LCSW-R will get into why it’s important for therapists to work on their own blindspots and racial biases. Beyond that, he’ll talk about the problem with saying “I don’t see […]
When Staying Neutral Isn’t the Best Approach
We’ve been trained to stay neutral in sessions with clients. But is this always possible, or even desirable? Well, Miguel Gallardo, PsyD had a case in which a client made racist comments. So then the question becomes, how do you handle this while still maintaining the therapeutic alliance? Find out in the video below. He’ll […]