Gillian Scott-Ward, PhD is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Gillian Scott-Ward, PhD maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

About the Session

This introductory level workshop is for psychologists who seek to integrate approaches to treating racial trauma in their work. 

Hair for Black people is uniquely meaningful and is entangled with identity, survival, resistance, and community. Hair can foster strength and also be targeted to degrade and oppress. Understanding a Black person’s hair history is essential to understanding their lived experience. This workshop highlights an often hidden form of psychological and systemic assault - natural hair discrimination - and uses it as an springboard to identify and treat ‘hidden wounds of racial trauma’. Clincians will learn how to create space that allows clients in bring in & explore their hair rituals to identify and harness strengths, routine, and healing intention.

The session will include a review of Kenneth V. Hardy’s eight steps for treating racialized trauma and describes how to apply them to address experiences of natural hair discrimination setting a robust foundation for culturally-competent and trauma- informed care. 

A screening of the internationally award-winning film, Back to Natural, precedes didactic and experiential learning. This film provides a psychological and historical overview of the Natural Hair Movement and uncovers the global policing of Black-bodies through hair.

Learning Objectives. Therapists will: 

1. Define natural hair discrimation and the relationship to racial trauma. 

2. Identify the unique and undue psychological, physical, social and economic burdens Eurocentric beauty standards and norms for hair can have on Black people.

3. List eight essential steps to treating the hidden wounds of racial trauma and describe how to apply them to address natural hair discrimination.

4. Explain the development of natural hair bias and how this can affect the therapist-client relationship.

Fully interactive workshop with length determine by your organizations needs

Contact:

Gillian Scott-Ward, PhD
GillianScottWard@Gmail.com for more information