The Challenge of Racism in Therapeutic Practice: Engaging with Oppression in Practice and Supervision

This book is an absolute jewel for black people who are seeking to heal, understand, recover and move beyond the impact and ongoing trauma of racism on the psyche.Too often a black person going into therapy is faced with a therapist bringing their own judgemental processes and stereotypes about racism and cultural diversity to the session. The client leaves the session re-traumatised.At the same time, it offers resources and advice for therapists to work on their own fears of discussing racism with their clients.Real life stories explore issues around shadism, intergenerational trauma and the myth of a post-racist society. I found the chapters on silence and black rage particularly powerful along with the concept of building cultural collateral.The process towards healing starts with the experience of racism, faced by so many black people, being written about with such understanding, empathy, care and compassion by Dr Isha McKenzie-Mavinga. She helps the reader to move beyond the hurt, the denial and debilitating assimilation processes , and towards healing, solutions, support and hope.