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On-Demand
Treating Racial Trauma

Module 3: The Stabilization of Racial Trauma

Monnica T. Williams, PhD, ABPP
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Recorded

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the psychological and emotional impacts of systemic racism on clients’ mental health.

  • Apply psychoeducation interventions that help clients understand how racism contributes to their trauma and symptoms.

  • Assess clients’ coping strategies and guide them toward more functional and adaptive approaches.

  • Demonstrate the ability to assist clients in identifying and cultivating supportive social networks to address the effects of racism.

  • Use validation and self-compassion techniques to reduce clients’ internalized shame and build trust.

Educational Goal

This module fosters self-compassion, reduces shame, and prepares clients for the more intensive processing work in subsequent phases of the protocol. Additionally, this module helps clients cultivate self-care practices and identify key sources of social support, empowering them to begin restoring emotional stability and resilience

Description

First, this module introduces the stabilization phase of the treatment protocol, which spans the first three sessions. This phase focuses on helping people of color make sense of their racial trauma, establish effective coping mechanisms, and build supportive networks. Recognizing that many clients seek help only after their problems have become severe, this module normalizes the challenges of acknowledging victimization by racism—particularly the shame, internalized blame, and fear of judgment that often accompany these experiences. Through psychoeducation, guided discussions, and therapist validation, clients are encouraged to explore the impact of structural racism on their mental health and emotions. This exploration fosters self-compassion, reduces shame, and prepares clients for the more intensive processing work in subsequent phases of the protocol. Additionally, this module helps clients cultivate self-care practices and identify key sources of social support, empowering them to begin restoring emotional stability and resilience.

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.