Date of Award
Spring 2025
Language
English
Embargo Period
3-27-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
School of Social Welfare
Program
Social Welfare
First Advisor
Sarah Mountz
Committee Members
Heather Larkin; Cynthia Bott
Keywords
Anti-Racism, Racial Healing, Clinical Practice, Blackout Poetry, Critical Race Theory
Subject Categories
Social Work
Abstract
Paper One Abstract: This paper examines the impact of racial trauma on the well-being of Black and Brown individuals and explores the utility of racial healing social work approaches in providing mental health treatment. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), the study delves into the lived experiences of Black and multiracial social workers as they support their clients through racial trauma. Through interpretive phenomenological analysis, narrative interviews with twelve Black and multiracial participants revealed the intergenerational nature of racial trauma and the various therapeutic approaches employed by social workers, including validation, addressing stigma, building trust, psychoeducation, narrative therapy, and intersectionality. The findings underscore the importance of these approaches in supporting the healing journey of Black and brown clients. These social workers address racial issues by directly confronting the impact of racism. Using a trauma-informed perspective and storytelling, they identify the effects of racism in their sessions and ways to support healing.
Paper Two Abstract: This paper explores the impact of structural racism on mental health service delivery, as perceived by twelve Black and multiracial social workers. The study emphasizes the necessity of anti-racist approaches in psychotherapy. It delves into critical inquiries regarding characterizing anti-racism within psychotherapy, perceptions of social work as an anti-racist discipline, and the influence of organizational structures and policies on racial healing efforts. Informed by Critical Race Theory counter-storytelling, the study aims to shift the focus from prevailing white narratives to elevate the voices of BIPOC individuals. I use an interpretive phenomenological analytic approach; the study identifies social workers' perspectives on how organizational structures and policies influence racial healing in social work. It explores the way white supremacy remains present in social work. Findings indicate that despite well-intended efforts, the social work field perpetuates racism, further marginalizing BIPOC individuals.
Additionally, organizational structures and policies adversely impact social work practices, as they are subject to the distorting influence of structural racism, which places the burden of change on individuals rather than the institution. The system's failure to support individuals in their practice, coupled with the influence of structural racism, presents challenges to achieving actual transformational change within the field.
Paper Three Abstract: I employ various methodological and theoretical approaches in this paper, including autoethnographic methods, counter-storytelling, Black feminism, and Blackout poetry. I explore my journey of embracing love as an act of defiance, detailing my various challenges and adversities. Through the lens of a counter-narrative, I illuminate my experiences with racial trauma and the grief experienced following the murder of George Floyd, articulating the process through which I reestablished a sense of love and resilience. Additionally, I integrate qualitative data gathered from ten influential Black social workers, which elucidates the foundational principles guiding their contributions to the field of social work. This examination highlights the significance of these counter-stories and illustrates the transformative power of Blackout poetry as a medium through which these experiences and discoveries are articulated. Through this approach, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersections between personal experience, social justice, and the role of love in the face of systemic adversity.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Benedict, Melody, "Anti-Racism as the Resistance to Racial Trauma: A three-paper qualitative study on therapeutic approaches that promote healing among BIPOC individuals" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 120.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/120