“To start, there needs to be widespread acceptance that racial trauma exists and impacts a large percentage of the population. While it is gaining credibility within the mental health world, it remains largely unknown for non-clinical persons. Generating increased education and information on what racial trauma is a step towards acknowledgement and eventual accountability.”  – Susan Branco, PhD, LPC (@Dr_SusanBranco)

“Trauma, as counselors know, is not healed from seeing justice served (though that does play a powerful role), for trauma has already been done. The better question to ask is how we prevent trauma moving forward, and to do that, we must dismantle systems, own the history of this country and the origination of police and create a new system that is steeped in liberation. #counselorsnotcops – Shekila Melchior, PhD, NCC

““Because of the stigma within the BIPOC communities, services are not utilized or under-utilized. It is challenging to advocate for the improvement of services when there is insufficient utilization to support the requested improvements.” – Thommi Lawson, PhD, LPC (ConnectGrowThrive.me)

““I believe it will take practitioners and national organizations to embody a wholistic identity of social justice, healing practices, and interrogating systems of oppression. An authentic identity within the counseling professional means focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the national, state, and local level. It will mean a member of the mental health profession should interrogate spaces to exam if anti-racism, anti-blackness, and equity are housed within themselves and each level in the nation. This means self-examination, research, and educating ourselves to better understand oppressive systems, narratives, and practices. Additionally, centering BIPOC people in mental health conversations by asking leaders and individuals in the community to be present at leadership meetings, conferences, and ongoing conversations.

Voices within BIPOC communities should be consistently heard to understand the present and historical narratives. Furthermore, creating opportunities to engage indigenous communities by speaking to leaders, elders, and others who can bring a voice to the community. Listening to their voice and what they believe can be done to improve, align, and create the quality of care.”
– Rufus Tony Spann, PhD, LPC (@RufusSpann)

“White counselors can be allies in action by following Sue and colleagues’ 2019 micro-intervention strategies to address microaggressions and racism. All too often microaggressions and racism become the ever-present burden for persons of Color to identify, call out, and address. White counselors need to move from performative to directive allyship evidenced with real time action. In addition, White counselors can identify, acknowledge, and validate that racial trauma exists and is prevalent.” 
– Susan Branco, PhD, LPC (@Dr_SusanBranco)

“Know when your presence alone is harmful and reflect on your intentions. Are you reaching out due to white guilt, feeling pressured or do you genuinely feel an empathetic tug? If you have not broached or acknowledged race in some form your efforts may be futile.
– Shekila Melchior, PhD, NCC

“Counselors can help their clients to better understand the realities associated with all forms of racism. We can help them to identify racism and process their feelings about treating people unfairly. Ideally, we should help clients to develop a healthy plan to combat racism.”
– Harrison Davis, PhD, LPC (@DrHarrisonDavis)

“That's a huge question. The thing that I thought of were words of action. These words can create a safe space. It allows the people involved to understand what's happening. Also, it creates an opportunity for the sharer to be honest and challenge these institutions and social spaces to do something different.

Just saying a few words of affirmation and, you know dedicating a few dollars to change doesn't really necessarily create the cultural changes necessary in their organizations to have the experience be different. It requires us, the person seeing or experiencing to be confrontational enough, to say “Hey, that's not okay” or “Hey, these are some recommended solutions.”
– Sharde’ O’Rourke, LPC, CCTP

“Don’t say, “I know” or “I get it.” Simply listen and allow the client to own the pen of their story.”
– Thommi Lawson, PhD, LPC (ConnectGrowThrive.me)

“When creating a safer space around racial trauma, it is best to let the client be the lead. They are the expert in their narrative. When a clinician leverages every moment of education and research to address a lived experience, this doesn’t heal trauma. Client’s will have to know the therapeutic alliance is real and authentic. Practitioners should clearly discuss the differences in the room and acknowledge the current and previous experiences of trauma. Clinicians will need to properly assess the trauma. Clinicians should be aware of techniques to address complex trauma and continuous trauma. Clinicians should think about restorative practice, restorative justice, humility, broaching, and whole-body treatment. Lastly, clinicians should ask the client what are supportive factors in their life, create empowerment through the client’s narrative, and leverage resources and support in the community.”
– Rufus Tony Spann, PhD, LPC (@RufusSpann)

“Counselors are called to acknowledge, validate, and treat both individual and community wide racial trauma while also advocating for dismantling institutionalized oppressive practices that are the root causes of much of the collective trauma.” 
– Susan Branco, PhD, LPC (@Dr_SusanBranco)

“Our role is to examine ourselves, recognize our biases, gain knowledge of and bring attention to the impact of racial trauma. Ultimately, we want to address our fields foundation in Eurocentric ideologies and strive to use approaches that will facilitate the healing of minoritized groups.
– Shekila Melchior, PhD, NCC