For BIPOC and other marginalized populations, brief, everyday insults known as microaggressions can be a significant source of psychological distress. During this podcast, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele draw on their clinical and personal experiences to discuss the mental health impact of microaggressions, how you can respond to microaggressions, and what you should do if you commit a microaggression. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

During this podcast, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele discuss racial trauma and ways to heal, emphasizing strategies presented in their recently published book, Black Lives Are Beautiful. Strategies to increase clinician comfort during discussions of race are also explored. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is considered the gold standard of psychological care; however, this theory is often criticized for limitations due to the Eurocentric worldview from which it was derived. In this episode of What Therapists Need to Know, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele discuss use of CBT with people of the global majority, including cultural adaptations to transform the therapeutic relationship, assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning. Integration of culturally derived healing practices and liberation frameworks will also be discussed. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

Black love (i.e., romantic, familial, friendships, community) is often characterized in popular culture by conflictual relationships, strained family ties, competition, and disconnectedness. However, this deficit perspective of Black love fails to capture its true nature and its importance to the survival and flourishment of Black communities. In this episode of What Therapists Need to Know, moderator Tatyana Smith takes the lead as she and Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele discuss these perceptions, exploring the importance of Black love as a cultural institution and therapeutic strategies that can be used to support these relationships.

It’s BIPOC Mental Health Month! BIPOC populations are less likely to seek help and it may take them longer to reach out for help. This month, we discuss mental health stigma and messages that often stop BIPOC populations from entering therapy. In this episode, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele look at “anti-therapy” messages, the purpose they serve within some BIPOC populations, and how we can counter these messages. We hope this episode offers insight and encourages individuals to reach out for help. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

Whether you’re feeling proud or feeling down, how you speak to yourself is important. Our words have power! In this episode of What Therapists Need to Know, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele focus on the power of affirming ourselves through our words. They discuss why this is important, look at how and why Juneteenth can be an affirming day for Black Americans, and share some of their favorite affirmation strategies. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

Black women are not only affected by racism, but sexism as well. As a result, they can experience microaggressions at increased rates given their multiple identities. These experiences can wear on the soul of Black women and impact their mental health. Thus, within this episode of What Therapist Need to Know, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele look at how the dynamics of racism and sexism can impact Black women. We also look at how these experiences impact how Black women may show up in and experience the counseling relationship and process. Lastly, we look at strategies to help Black women cope with the racism and sexism they often face. We want to say “We see you Black Queens” and we empathize with the struggle of having multiple marginalized identities. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.

Embodied healing practices have long been recognized for their efficacy in healing the effects of trauma, including racial trauma. Recently, scholars such as Tricia Hersey have acknowledged the power of a particular practice, rest, for its restorative and liberatory potential. In Episode 4 of What Therapists Need to Know, Drs. Char Newton and Janeé Steele dive into these ideas, sharing their own insights as well as strategies for incorporating embodied healing into everyday life. Moderated by Tatyana Smith.