Addressing Racial Trauma in Clinical Practice

In this course, we discuss racial trauma - ways to assess it and walk alongside clients and students as they experience it. We will address definitions, symptoms, and how to promote healing. This course provides multiple perspectives on racial trauma and its prevalence and impact on society.

You will learn to:

• Identify and recognize the symptoms of racial trauma and how events impact clients.

• Give examples of racial trauma in today’s society.

• Apply skills in uncovering racial trauma in clients.

This course discusses racial trauma and how it affects clients, therapists, and society. Heidi defines “identity [as] a source of resilience, but also a source of pain, loss, and trauma.”

Trauma shows up in many different ways and is difficult to diagnosis as there are so many layers. This is why misdiagnosis with Black youth occurs frequently, because racial trauma is persistent and present both directly and indirectly whether we are walking down the street or turning on the news. Racial trauma is there waiting.

This conversation between Dr. Jasmine Ferrill, Dr. Heidi Hutman, and Dr. Carla Smith touches on the impact of racial trauma and how to clinically treat clients experiencing racial trauma. We also want to emphasize and acknowledge that there are various voices missing, however this is just the start of our conversation on racial trauma.