Janina Fisher, PhD is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Instructor at the Trauma Center, an outpatient clinic and research center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known for her expertise as both a therapist and consultant, she is also past president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, an EMDR International Association Credit Provider, a faculty member of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, and a former Instructor, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Fisher lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on topics related to the integration of research and treatment and how to introduce these newer trauma treatment paradigms in traditional therapeutic approaches.

Debra Chatman-Finley is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years clinical experience. She is a graduate and former Associate Faculty of the Multicultural Family Institute and is certified in domestic violence, trained in EMDR, and has completed certificate programs in child maltreatment as well as traumatic stress. Ms. Chatman-Finley is currently in private practice providing therapy for diverse individuals and families. In addition to her private practice, she has facilitated numerous workshops on the topic of children and divorce, the impact of domestic violence, blended families, and interracial/intercultural families.

Gliceria Perez is a Psychiatric Social Worker at the Office of George J. Otlowski, Sr., Center for Mental Health Care where she works primarily with individuals, groups, and families of Latino descent. She has been an in-home therapist for Creative Consulting Services, Inc. for the past 15 years where she works with low-income troubled children, youth, and their families who are in crisis and need short-term therapy. Ms. Perez is a graduate of the Multicultural Family Institute and the Trauma Center at JRI and is trained in EMDR and Family Systems Therapy. 

Session I:  Understanding Implicit and Explicit Bias 

Implicit bias is inherent in all human beings. Our brains unconsciously scan for signs of danger and/or difference, and our bodies become conditioned to respond to what we sense is pleasurable and to what we fear or have experienced as unpleasant. This process creates unconscious implicit biases. Clients of color and clinicians alike are affected by the implicit and explicit racial biases they bring to their daily lives and to the therapy session. But because implicit bias is nonverbal and therefore unconscious, it often goes unrecognized. To truly understand racial trauma, it is important to understand that racial hatred is an ever-present danger for people of color even when no overt hostility is evident.  As in wartime, the threat of racial trauma is a constant, not a single event, and is exacerbated by the experience of implicit bias even in those who are politically anti-racist.

Session II:  Microaggression in the Clinical Setting

A microaggression is a verbal or nonverbal expression of implicit bias that evokes feelings of threat or shame in the recipient. Microaggressions are very commonly experienced by individuals of color and other oppressed social groups but are particularly threatening in the context of racial trauma because a microaggression can be a forewarning of danger.  The other destructive impact of microaggression is shame and self-subjugation. 

Session III:  How the Self of Therapist can Create a Healing Space for the Client of Color

Because implicit bias is always present, therapists must become aware of their own implicit biases in order to be effective in building trust, especially when working with clients of color.  Acknowledgement of our implicit biases is a sign of health and self-awareness, not a sign of being ‘racist.’ Being curious and willing to know more about our clients’ experience of living in a world where racism is common yet rarely acknowledged builds trust. Most white therapists have been trained to be ‘color blind’ rather than comfortable initiating discussions on race or microaggression. Rarely are they trained to understand the potential effects of their skin color or educational status on the client.  In addition, anxiety about “saying the wrong thing” inhibits the therapist, while waiting for permission to talk about racial trauma inhibits the client. An important conversation may not occur unless the self of the therapist can recognize implicit bias in him- or herself and can help clients to share the experiences of implicit and explicit bias that have impacted them.

Session I:  Understanding Implicit and Explicit Bias 

 At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain the phenomenon of implicit and explicit bias
• Identify countertransference responses as a manifestation of implicit bias
• Describe how implicit racial bias can exist for both the clinician and clients of color
• Describe “racial trauma” and its long-lasting physical and psychological effects

Session II:  Microaggression in the Clinical Setting

At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain and discuss examples of ‘racial microaggression’
• Describe three different types of racial microaggression
• Identify common ways that clinical settings can be ‘microaggressive’
• Discuss how to assess our own implicit biases and how they ‘leak out’ in clinical contexts

Session III:  How the Self of Therapist can Create a Healing Space for the Client of Color

At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify therapists’ implicit barriers to initiating conversation about race and racial trauma
• Explain the importance of validating client experiences of racism and microaggression 
• Describe two practical tools for self-assessing therapist’s beliefs and biases around race
• Demonstrate clinical skills for creating a sense of safety for clients of color in the therapy session

Session 1: 2 Hour Pre-Recorded Session

Session 2: 2 Hour Pre-Recorded Session

Session 3: 2 Hour Pre-Recorded Session

This course is $347. You can purchase it here.

If you for some reason are not satisfied with the course you have 7 days to request a cancellation and a refund. Please refer to the policy section for details on how to cancel.

For questions or concerns, please send an email to support@therapywisdom.com.

Commercial Support Disclaimer

This program is provided solely by the Academy of Therapy Wisdom and it's teachers. There is no conflict of interest for this program.

Cancellation Policy

You may request a refund up to 7 days after purchase.

Please contact support@therapywisdom.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.