Racially Challenging Times Webinars Offered Again
This fall, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the UA Counseling Center will repeat the series of webinars titled “Resilience and Empowerment Through Racially Challenging Times.” The series provides conceptual framework to understand how race affects the overall experiences of racial minorities and how racial injustice and trauma contribute to minority mental health concerns.
For each workshop, one session will be held for students at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and another session will be held for faculty and staff at noon on Thursdays. Registration for the online workshops is available via Eventbrite. A registration code will be sent to those who register.
Below is the list of workshops and registration links as well as information about support groups.
Racism, Microaggression, Social Injustice and Minority Mental Health
Presenter: Nahree Doh, PhD, associate director of clinical and outreach services, UA Counseling Center
This workshop will discuss unique experiences of racial minorities in socio-cultural context. Participants will explore ways in which different forms of racism and microaggression contribute to development of self, interpersonal relationships, and mental health of racial minority. In addition, participants will discuss strategies that racial minorities can utilize to improve overall psychological well-being and promote personal growth.
Student Session: Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Session: Sept. 17 at noon
Self-Care and Proactive Coping While Dealing with Racial Injustice
Presenter: Patrick Lewis, MSW, staff therapist, UA Counseling Center
This workshop is designed for individuals interested in learning strategies to maintain self-care and proactively cope with mental, emotional and physical stress related to racial injustice.
Student Session: Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Session: Sept. 24 at noon
Coping with Intergenerational Race-Related Trauma Associated with Structural Injustice
Presenter: Terri Spain, MSW, staff therapist, UA Counseling Center
During this workshop, participants will discuss the experiences of People of Color and Indigenous, individuals with racism, discrimination and microaggressions and the negative impacts on their mental health. Racial trauma, or race-based stress, will be described in more detail, and participants will further explore some of the potential psychological symptoms associated with it, such as hypervigilance to threat, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, suspiciousness, and somatic symptoms such as headaches and heart palpitations. The discussion will also address historical trauma associated with structural injustice and the intergenerational implications over time. The workshop will conclude with an acknowledgement of the factors that are vital to promoting healing and well-being.
Student Session: Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Session: Oct. 1 at noon
Understanding Cultural Identity, Privilege and Allyship
Presenter: Ashley Jones, MSW, staff therapist, UA Counseling Center
This workshop is for persons wishing to gain a deeper understanding of cultural and identity development and how this relates to inherent privileges from which many benefit. Participants will be able use this knowledge to explore and challenge their own privileges and implicit biases in order to become an ally to Black and other marginalized persons.
Student Session: Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Session: Oct. 8 at noon
Support Group
Group Leader: Jennifer Turner
Group time: To be determined. For further information call Jennifer Turner at the UA Counseling Center at 205-348-3863.
Group Description: This group will explore and discuss the emotional health, social health, role expectations, relationship with others and self as a member of the Black and African Diaspora community on campus while facing the challenges of anti-Blackness/Racism.
For more multicultural mental health resources and information on support groups, visit the UA Counseling Center’s resources page.
For information on upcoming webinars and events, follow the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Twitter at Diversityua1 or Instagram at Diversity_UA. Send an email to diversity@ua.edu for more information.