Workshops
Workshops
Addressing White Client Racism in Session
This workshop is for therapists, counselors, social workers and any mental health clinicians in training.
As the world quickly becomes more aware of our entrenchment in division due to systems of oppression and the effects those systems have on our mental health, psychology professionals must be equipped to address white client racism effectively in session. This difficult dialogue experience engages participants in considering and discussing the ways white client racism shows up in session, the societal and professional paradigm regarding race and systemic racism, common concerns about addressing this issue, the problem with mixed messages in our field, the lack of training in being able to address client racism when it arises, and the relevance of racism to mental health.
Addressing white client racism calls for a three-fold approach. First, an understanding of racism as a structurally embedded, professional and personally relevant issue in the field of psychology is imperative. The American Psychological Association recently apologized for psychology’s role in upholding systemic racism and White supremacy, and articulated expectations for psychology’s role in dismantling systemic racism and White supremacy throughout psychology (Wilcox, 2023). However, we are lacking in methods and tools, especially if issues of race and other important identity spectrums continue to be framed as a special interest area rather than a necessity for ethical and competent professional work. This includes accepting that racism and white supremacy affect the mental health of all of us living within oppressive systems.
Second, psychology professionals need guidance on engaging in a working understanding of their own personal racial identity journey toward embodying anti-racism. For this work to be underway is a necessity for being able to address white client racism, because it involves building a functional intellectual and emotional intelligence in order for that work to be effective. Engaging in one’s own “radical racial healing,” as Wilcox (2023) states, provides humanization, humility, and a transformed lens. This difficult dialogue experience includes interactive activities aimed at helping participants explore their own racial socialization to gain comfort with their own racial narrative. This work provides a foundation for anti-racism work in session.
Third, psychology professionals are in need of tools for interrupting racism and white supremacy in session. A framework is needed for responding to racism and white supremacy effectively, as we would any other mental health issue that would not be ignored in session. We will explore the ways white client racism shows up in session and some ideas for how to respond in a way that amplifies and addresses racism and white supremacy as relevant mental health concerns. We will work with anti-racist identity development models and apply them to clinical vignettes.
The field of psychology is positioned to make a progressive contribution to the dismantling of systemic racism. What we do in session with clients, especially if unified across the field, can help change the standards and values we are upholding. Rather than ostensibly challenging racism by engaging in supposed prejudice reduction but maintaining conversational silence (Durrheim, 2024), we can ground ourselves in an anti-racist identity journey and practice active interventions to address white client racism.
This workshop can be taught virtually or in person. This workshop is an 4-hour experience and is perfect for University Counseling centers, conference workshops, and group private practices.
Contact Dr. Rose to invite her to present this workshop to your organization or conference.
541-204-6292