506 – Racial Microaggressions in Therapy

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IP

Racial Microaggressions in Therapy

A Practical Framework for Repair

Racial microaggressions, whether intentional, benign, or egregious, are unfortunately common everyday occurrences. For many reasons, the microaggressor, the microaggressed, and the “innocent” onlooker are often immobilized amid these tense moments. Thus, in most cases, microaggressions remain unacknowledged and unaddressed, ultimately becoming a major source of relational rupture and racial polarization. In this workshop, we’ll explore:

  • Strategies and techniques the microaggressor, the microaggressed, and the innocent onlooker can employ to effectively respond to racial microaggressions
  • A practical, five-step model for addressing and repairing relational ruptures caused by microaggressions and other harmful race-related acts
  • A framework for increasing racial sensitivity and recognizing hot-button, everyday phrases and terms that serve as a foundation for many racial microaggressions

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD, is director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships and professor of marriage and family therapy at Drexel University. His latest book is Racial Trauma: Clinical Strategies & Techniques for Healing Invisible Wounds.

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