The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families

We're back from our Best of the Best series to talk with Dr. Isha Metzger, a clinical psychologist, a University of Georgia researcher, and head of The EMPOWER Lab. But her real claim to fame: she noticed that the gold-standard treatment for children delivered at CACs wasn't working for her Black clients, dug into it, and came up with a brand-new adaptation to serve Black children and families, build their trust, and see themselves reflected in the work of healing from trauma. In fact, Just as concrete barriers need to be lowered to help families engage with treatment, the messages embedded within that treatment must include racial socialization and messages that include messages of strength, joy, pride, and voice. How can CACs and clinicians ensure they're meeting the needs of Black kids and families, or of other BIPOC kids? What are white clinicians to do to ensure that the messages in treatment fit the experiences of their BIPOC clients? And what are the implications for family engagement? 

Topics in this episode: 

• What is racial socialization? 
• How social and racial messages affect treatment outcomes
• Culturally specific treatment strategies
• How racial adaptations for treatment models work
• Racial trauma and polyvictimization
• The role of celebratory experiences in treatment
• Racial justice
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Mental health disparity

Resources:

"Healing Interpersonal and Racial Trauma: Integrating Racial Socialization Into Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for African American Youth"

The EMPOWER Lab at the University of Georgia

Dr. Metzger's research

UGA Racial Trauma Guide

Coping with Racial Trauma (infographic)