Category: Clinical Category: Clinical (show less) Other: Washington Other: Washington (show less)

Racism, at its core, functions as a lens through which individuals interpret, naturalize, and perpetuate inequality. It remains one of the most formidable barriers to accessing equitable behavioral health care. This challenge is visible across every level of our healthcare system—from the historical mistreatment of marginalized communities in both mental and physical health care, to the racial disparities in workforce representation, access to effective treatments, and the vastly unequal outcomes that persist even when care is provided.

This presentation aims to critically examine how our systems have been constructed around a framework of whiteness, and how this framework continues to shape the experiences of those impacted by white supremacy. Too often, we fail to pause and reflect on how our actions and the labels we impose on others shape the way we treat them—and, ultimately, how those individuals begin to internalize these interactions and view themselves.

Through this session, we encourage attendees not only to understand these dynamics but to actively engage in dismantling the harm caused by structural racism, fostering healing, and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.

Focus Area:
Racism, Implicit Bias, Healing, Cultural Awareness
Learning Objectives & Goals:

1. Detecting Implicit Bias and Race-Related Trauma
    Understand how implicit biases operate in healthcare settings and how race-related trauma impacts the experiences of marginalized individuals.
2. Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Stress on the Body and Perception
    Learn how trauma and chronic stress can manifest physically and psychologically, distorting perception and influencing decision-making in healthcare contexts.
3. Creating Space for Healing in White Bodies
    Address the need for white individuals to confront their own biases, heal from the trauma of systemic racism, and actively engage in the process of dismantling these systems.
4. Maintaining Openness and Moving Forward
    Encourage participants to remain open to uncomfortable truths, embrace a willingness to grow, and commit to long-term efforts toward racial justice and healthcare equity.