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On-Demand
Treating Racial Trauma

Module 2: Assessment of Racial Trauma

Monnica T. Williams, PhD, ABPP
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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify the cumulative and layered nature of racial trauma, including its cultural, historical, and interpersonal dimensions.

  • Administer validated measures and semi-structured interviews, such as the UnRESTS (UConn Racial Ethnic Stress and Trauma Survey) tool, to assess racial trauma in diverse clients.

  • Evaluate clients’ explanatory models of their trauma, cultural identity, and experiences with racism to build a comprehensive case conceptualization.

  • Recognize barriers clients of color may face in accessing care and navigate these challenges to create a safe, supportive therapeutic environment.

  • Develop effective, trauma-informed reports to document racial trauma for clinical, legal, workplace, or educational purposes.

Educational Goal

Participants will leave with a foundational skill set to assess racial trauma effectively, equitably, and sensitively.

Description

Racism can cause profound psychological stress or trauma, manifesting as emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that may or may not fit within traditional PTSD diagnostic frameworks. The cumulative nature of racial trauma often includes experiences of cultural and historical trauma, microaggressions, systemic racism, and invalidating responses. Despite its prevalence, many therapists lack the training or tools needed to accurately assess racial stress and trauma in their clients. In this module, Dr. Monica Williams introduces the first stage of the Racial Trauma Treatment Protocol: Assessment. Participants will learn how to conduct clinical interviews, administer validated measures, and integrate findings into a comprehensive understanding of racial trauma. Through real-world examples, such as the case study of Amy, this module explores how to identify the impact of racism, assess cumulative trauma, and create meaningful reports for clinical, legal, or workplace contexts. Participants will leave with a foundational skill set to assess racial trauma effectively, equitably, and sensitively.

Presenters

Monnica T. Williams, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Monnica T. Williams is a board-certified Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor at the University of Ottawa, in the School of Psychology, where she is the Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities. She is also the Clinical Director of the Behavioral Wellness Clinics in Connecticut and Ottawa, where she provides supervision and training to clinicians for empirically-supported treatments. Prior to her move to Canada, Dr. Williams was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2007-2011), the University of Louisville in Psychological and Brain Sciences (2011-2016), where she served as the Director of the Center for Mental Health Disparities, and the University of Connecticut (2016-2019), where she had appointments in both Psychological Science and Psychiatry. Dr. Williams' research focuses on BIPOC mental health, culture, and psychopathology, and she has published over 200 scientific articles on these topics. Current projects include the treatment of racial trauma, improving cultural competence in the delivery of mental health care services, and addressing structural racism. She gives diversity trainings nationally for academic programs, scientific conferences, and organizations. Through the Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA), Dr. Williams served as the diversity delegate to Washington DC for the American Psychological Association (APA) State Leadership Conference for two consecutive years. She has served as the African American SIG leader for Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and recently served as Chair of their Academic Training & Education Standards (ATES) Committee. She serves as an Associate Editor of Behavior Therapy and the Behavior Therapist. She also serves on the editorial board of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Canadian Psychology, International Journal of Mental Health, the Journal of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders, and the Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, and co-founded their Diversity Council. Her work has been featured in all major US and Canadian media outlets, including NPR, CBS, CTV, CBC, Huffington Post, and the New York Times.