Racial Stress, Racial Trauma, and Evidence-Based Strategies for Coping and Empowerment

This article reviews the evidence base regarding techniques for coping with racial stress and trauma. These techniques include self-care, self-compassion, social support, mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, cognitive defusion, identity-affirming practices and development of racial/ethnic identity, expressive writing, social action and activism, and psychedelics. These strategies have shown the potential to mitigate psychological symptoms and foster a sense of empowerment among individuals affected by racial stress and trauma. While the ultimate goal should undoubtedly be to address the root cause of racism, it is imperative to acknowledge that until then, implementing these strategies can effectively provide much-needed support for individuals affected by racism. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 20 is May 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.PMID:38346289 | DOI:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081122-020235

Source: Annual Review of Clinical Psychology - February 12, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Samantha C Holmes Manzar Zare Angela M Haeny Monnica T Williams Source Type: research