"Psychotherapy in Black & White: Anti Black Racism in Black Client/White Therapist Dyads"

Presenter:  Dr. Laurie Paul, PhD - Clinical Psychology  
https://www.lauriepaulphd.com/

CEUs: Category 1 | 3.0 

Appropriate for all levels and social workers in all practice areas. In this workshop we will review the research on Black-White interpersonal dynamics and how they relate to our therapeutic work. We will review research on various types of anti-Black racism exhibited by White people in their interactions with Black Americans in general and in the psychotherapy context. For instance, there is strong research support for a particular type of unintentional racism exhibited primarily by highly educated, liberal White people who consciously identify as non-racist. There is also research showing that many White people believe they can conceal their racism in interpersonal interactions with Black Americans. But the research reveals that most Black Americans can see through Whites' unconscious defenses around race and may see bias in Whites that Whites don't even see in themselves. The consequences of White people who are unable to address their unconscious racist beliefs are actually far-reaching in the lives of Black Americans, ranging from police violence, employment decisions, psychotherapy outcomes, and more. We will examine how these dynamics apply to the therapy context and what White therapists can do to confront their unintentional anti-Black bias and better serve their Black clients. The workshop will also review the research on psychotherapy process between Black therapists and their White clients.

Workshop Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the research on psychotherapy process between Black therapists and their White clients.
2. Identify the consequences on Black client psychotherapy outcomes from White psychotherapists who are unable to address their unconscious racist beliefs
3. Understand how these dynamics apply to the therapy context and
4. List what White therapists can do to confront unintentional anti-Black bias and better serve Black clients.