Reimagining Clinical Social Work: Therapeutic Approaches that Foster Racial Healing and Psychological Liberation

This paper examines the impact of racial trauma on the well-being of Black and Brown individuals and explores the utility of racial healing social work approaches in providing mental health treatment. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), the study examines the lived experiences of Black and multiracial social workers as they support clients navigating racial trauma. Through interpretive phenomenological analysis, narrative interviews with12 Black and multiracial participants revealed various therapeutic approaches used by social workers, including validation, addresssing stigma, building trust, psychoeducation, narrative therapy, and intersectionality. The findings underscore the importance of these approaches in supporting the healing journey of Black and brown clients. These social workers address racial issues by directly confronting the impact of racism in clinical practice. Using a trauma-informed perspective and storytelling, they identify the effects of racism in their sessions and ways to support racial healing.