Guidelines for Therapists
Learning to Dialogue About Race
- Split into dyads
- Answer the following questions:
- What is your racial identity? How did you determine/develop this identity?
- What is it like to be (your race) in your community?
1. Suspend Preconceptions About Clients’ Race/Ethnicity and That of Their Family Members
2. Recognize That Clients May Be Quite Different From Other Members of Their Racial/Ethnic Group
3. Consider How Racial/Ethnic Differences Between Therapist and Client Might Affect Psychotherapy
4. Acknowledge That Power, Privilege, and Racism Might Affect Interactions With Clients
5. When in Doubt About the Importance of Race and Ethnicity in Treatment, Err on the Side of Discussion; Be Willing to Take Risks With Clients
6. Keep Learning
Cardemil & Battle, 2003
Case Study #2
Case Study #1:
RACE
You are working as a counselor in a juvenile detention center. You are assigned a new client, a 16 year old black male - Eric. Eric was sent to the detention due to issues at school, including possession of marijuana. In your first session, he states "This is bullshit. All of the white kids at my school do the same stuff, and get slaps on the wrist."
How do you respond? What questions might you ask Eric?
You are working with a 64 year old Native American woman, Wynette, in a community mental health setting. You struggle to build rapport with Wynette, and begin to wonder if racial differences may be a barrier to the therapeutic alliance.
How would you bring up your concerns to Wynette?