Racism and African American Mental Health

Janeé M. Steele, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Dr. Steele is also the owner of Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC, where she provides therapy, supervision, and training in CBT, and coauthor of Black Lives Are Beautiful: 50 Tools to Heal from Trauma and Promote Positive Racial Identity.

• 1. Introduction to Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Its Use with African American Clients 2. Racism and African American Mental Health 3. Strengths and Potential Sources of Coping Within the African American Community 4. Developing a Multicultural Orientation 5. Facilitating Culturally Responsive Therapeutic Relationships 6. Assessment, Cognitive Conceptualization, and Treatment Planning 7. Working with Automatic Thoughts and Underlying Cognitions 8. Environmental Interventions 9. Putting It All Together: Major Depressive Disorder 10. Putting It All Together: Anxiety Disorders 11. Putting It All Together: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

"Racism and African American Mental Health is an absolute must read for all clinicians who aim to effectively employ CBT strategies with African American clients—clients who endure harsh and overwhelming societal challenges but who also possess considerable untapped strengths. Dr. Steele superbly integrates the unique reality of African American clients into the CBT paradigm. She does so in a nuanced manner that is needed but rarely if ever taught in graduate coursework or in ‘multicultural’ training. Clinicians at every level of professional development, from early career to advanced, will benefit from the theoretically informed and practical insights and tools in this comprehensive book.”Rheeda Walker, PhD, author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health and No Racial Elephants in the Therapy Room“Racism and African American Mental Health is a tour de force that reimagines psychotherapy from an African-centered cultural perspective in order to help Black Americans create narratives of strength and resilience to counter experiences of systemic oppression. This is one of those rare and wise books that deserves to be read by every mental health professional in North America. Whatever your familiarity with African American culture, racism, and psychological empowerment, every chapter enriches your understanding. Therapists who wonder about the benefits of discussing race in therapy or how and when to do it have steady guidance here. Questions to ask about racial experiences and processes for responding with cultural sensitivity are clearly illustrated. Detailed case examples and therapist-client dialogues show the depth of impact offered by culturally informed treatment strategies. Guided activities throughout the book allow readers to measure their own gaps and growth. I highly recommend this engaging book as one every therapist will want to read and reread, no matter what racial and cultural identities you and your clients hold.”Christine A. Padesky, PhD, co-editor of Dialogues for Discovery: Improving Psychotherapy’s Effectiveness and author of The Clinician’s Guide to CBT Using Mind Over Mood“Wow, I loved this book! Packed with thought-provoking exercises, rich case examples, authentic therapist-client dialogues, and practice-oriented interventions, this book is a treasure and much-needed resource for all therapists. Definitely a must read that therapists will be using for many years to come!”Pamela A. Hays, PhD, author of Addressing Cultural Complexities in Counseling and Clinical Practice: An Intersectional Approach“Racism and African American Mental Health is a groundbreaking book that delves into the intersection of racism and mental health in the African American community. Dr. Steele combines culturally relevant insights and expertise with research in this field to provide a powerful analysis of the negative impacts of racism on the mental health of African Americans and the ways in which CBT can be appropriately incorporated into treatment plans. At my nonprofit, The AAKOMA Project, and in my professional work with the Dr. Alfiee Org, I constantly highlight the need for nuanced approaches to mental health research and care in support of Black people, and other people of color (with all of our beautiful, intersectional identities). This book is a must read for anyone seeking to understand and better center the unique needs of African Americans, the impact of racism on mental health, and the ways in which CBT can be used to mitigate exposure to racism in culturally relevant ways.”Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble, pioneering psychologist, mental health thought leader, and founder of The AAKOMA Project