You are not powerless.

Therapy for

Racial Trauma

Has racism or discrimination impacted your sense of self-worth, increased feelings of hopelessness, and led you to self-monitor yourself in social settings? Do you constantly find yourself feeling unsafe in certain spaces? 

These feelings can be an indicator of racial trauma.  Racial trauma is the cumulative traumatizing impact of racism on a person who is an ethnic minority.  Racial trauma may surface in response to racism, oppression, and ethnic and racial discrimination. Racial trauma can include historical, cultural, and community trauma.  Consistent exposure can produce negative physical (external racial trauma) and psychological (internal racial trauma) effects on an individual's ability to fully function.   Symptoms of external and internal racial trauma include, but are not limited to:

External Racial Trauma

  • Avoidance of thoughts/places/people that remind individuals of racial/discriminatory events

  • Constantly assessing for potential threats/danger (hypervigilance)

  • Negative mood and cognitions (depression)

  • Fear

  • Anger/irritability

  • Feeling on edge

  • Social withdrawal

  • Fatigue, nightmares, or sleep disturbances: Insomnia (inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping more than usual)

  • Self-monitoring (tone of voice, behaviors, language)

Internal Racial Trauma

  • Acceptance of racial stereotypes, values, images, and beliefs

  • Feelings of self-doubt, disgust, and disrespect for one’s race/self

  • Feelings of unworthiness due to race

  • Lack of hope for the future

  • Dislike of natural ethnic features (skin tone, hair texture, facial features)

  • Fear of getting fired from the occupation

  • Fear of bypassing law enforcement

  • Fear/mistrust of medical professionals/institutions

  • Fear of advocating for self

Let's explore and make sense of what has happened to you and others historically. Let's help you manage the discomfort you carry.

How Therapy Can Help 

Racial Trauma can cause long-lasting psychological and physical distress.  Therapy with someone who understands the effects of racial trauma is a powerful step toward healing. Therapy can help an individual process and externalize the experience of racial trauma, re-narrate their story, address and cope with internal dialogue, develop racial identity, and explore skills on how to cope with future racial trauma situations.

We understand the complexities of racial trauma. We are here to help you make sense of it all.