What does this research mean for the field?

Addressing racial trauma in clinical social work requires culturally responsive, structurally aware, and explicitly anti-racist approaches grounded in validation, attunement, psychological liberation, and the co-creation of safety. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Examine how Black and multiracial clinical social workers conceptualize racial trauma and operationalize anti-racist psychotherapy when working with clients of color.

August 30, 2026Studies in Clinical Social Work Transforming Practice Education and Research

Restoring What Racism Steals: The Impact and Healing of Racial Trauma in Clinical Social Work

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Authors

MBMelody BenedictMontclair State University BSBeth Sapiro MBMckayla BrownMontclair State University

Discussion

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Implication

Qualitative phenomenological study reveals clinicians' views on racial trauma and anti-racist therapy, highlighting the need for structurally aware and liberating clinical care.

Key Points

Examine how Black and multiracial clinical social workers conceptualize racial trauma and operationalize anti-racist psychotherapy when working with clients of color.
Conducted a qualitative study grounded in Critical Race Theory and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
Analyzed counterstories collected from twelve (N=12) Black and multiracial clinical social workers.
Clinicians characterized racial trauma as continuous, cumulative, and intergenerational, noting that it manifests clinically as emotional, psychological, and somatic distress.
Anti-racist psychotherapy was framed as an intentional clinical approach centered on client validation, relational attunement, psychological liberation, and the co-creation of safe therapeutic spaces.

Cite This Study

Benedict et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a93f07a6c1a8fb52e79ca19 https://doi.org/10.1080/28376811.2026.2726464

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Implication

Qualitative phenomenological study reveals clinicians' views on racial trauma and anti-racist therapy, highlighting the need for structurally aware and liberating clinical care.

Restoring What Racism Steals: The Impact and Healing of Racial Trauma in Clinical Social Work

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Restoring What Racism Steals: The Impact and Healing of Racial Trauma in Clinical Social Work

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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