Racism in the Consulting Room
By: Dr. Denise Renye
Recently, a colleague discussed the overlap of the therapeutic setting and racism. What if a client or patient says something racist? What if you find a patient expresses from a point of view that is White supremacist? As a psychologist who is analytically and dynamically trained, I tend to be non-directive and let the patient lead. At the same time, I also care deeply about social justice and know it is my personal responsibility to address anything that arises, no matter where I am.
I don’t have experience in my private practice working with an openly racist patient directly, but I’ve had therapeutic quandaries in the past that have somewhat similar flavors. For instance, when I used to work in sexual health clinics, I frequently encountered patients who “barebacked” or had sex without a condom while explicitly knowing they had a sexually transmittable infection. The questions I asked myself then were, “Do I intervene from a sexual health point of view and instruct them on using a condom? Or do I hold the tension of the situation from a psychological standpoint, exploring deeper psychodynamic underpinnings of the whys of their behavior?”
When it comes to White supremacist thinking, the questions are similar: “Do I address it directly? Or do I hold the tension of the situation and explore with this patient how they got to this hate-filled othering?” The answer, for me, is first the latter and then the former. And I would not have a session end before I do both.
Responding with curiosity allows more room for the patient, and most people, to change as opposed to finger-pointing. Finger-pointing as a tactic typically creates defensiveness and anger – in the case of a White supremacist, they already have both of those traits very well-developed. However, I also wouldn’t let the session end without directing the patient’s attention to the inherent racism present in their thoughts or behavior. I would use clinical tact and the vast therapeutic skills that I have acquired in my training and professional development to curate a dialogue that can be expansive, rather than restrictive.
It’s important to address racism when it is present and it is my responsibility as a clinician as well as a White person to do so. Racism doesn’t go away if White people are not holding other White people accountable. When there are no BIPOC in the room, what are we saying? What are we letting slide or not slide? The work of dismantling racism is a collective process that requires the participation of everyone, not only BIPOC. However, I also want to acknowledge that I’m White and do not understand what it’s like to be a BIPOC in the U.S. As much as I do my best to hold space for all my patients, I realize sometimes people want to talk to someone who looks like them, knows the depths of the pain they have lived in this life and ancestrally, and has a shared reality with them. Choosing a therapist is a deeply personal process, but I’d recommend checking out the following:
· www.Blackfemaletherapists.com
· www.providers.therapyforblackgirls.com
Related and unrelated to therapy specifically, someone recently contacted me (and I’ve seen this expressed on social media) that after the outrage of George Floyd’s murder last summer, the focus on dismantling racism has slowed down. People aren’t posting about it as much and their support of BIPOC businesses has waned. Just because a topic stops “trending” doesn’t it mean it stops deserving our attention. To that end, I support the Loveland Foundation, which offers a therapy fund for Black women and girls to help with access to mental health services.
I have created a team through the Loveland Foundation to raise funds for Black women and girls to receive therapy. Please consider donating through this link here. Note: I do not benefit directly in any way if you donate, beyond knowing that I have helped facilitate therapeutic services for people. In the dropdown box under "select fundraiser" choose "Denise Renye (team captain)” to donate through the team.
It’s important to me to support mental health for everyone when and where I can. What are some businesses or organizations that you support? I’d love to hear about them.
For ideas and ways to stay connected to and learn more about the unconscious through the body, feel free to stay connected.