Healer… Heal Thyself: The Cumulative Impact of Racial Trauma on Clinician Wellness
Description
Like the cumulative impact of racial trauma on our clients, racial trauma and related stressful events can have a cumulative impact on the clinician and his/her/their effectiveness at work. Some of the barriers to wellness are based on the clinician’s individual experiences and how those experiences impact them. Whether it is direct exposure to racial trauma, or more indirect forms, these experiences can make it very difficult to support a clinician’s physical, emotional, and other forms of wellness. During this session, participants will learn how indirect racial trauma exposure through work with racially marginalized clients and systems can severely impact how the clinician feels while doing this work. Additionally, participants will learn specific techniques to address and buffer the effects of vicarious racial trauma.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the cumulative impact of direct and vicarious racial trauma on clinicians' emotional, physical, and professional well-being.
- Describe how constant exposure to racial trauma—through clients, media, or systems—can affect clinical effectiveness and contribute to burnout.
- Demonstrate techniques and strategies to proactively buffer and reduce the effects of vicarious racial trauma.
- Develop a personalized plan for sustainable self-care and intentional wellness practices to support long-term resilience in racial trauma work.
Instructor Bio
Dr. Jennifer R. Jones-Damis is a licensed psychologist in New York and New Jersey and a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Women & Gender Studies from The University of Virginia; a Master’s Degree in School and Community Counseling from Regent University; and a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. Jones-Damis completed a highly competitive, two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Traumatic Stress at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City where she administered evidence based treatment to youth in the juvenile justice system, coordinated staff trainings in evidence-based interventions and facilitated follow up consultation with state agencies. Dr. Jones-Damis was the Associate Director of Mental Health for the Young Adult (18-21) population at Riker’s Island Correctional Facility where she spear headed the mental health aspect of the Alternative to Solitary Confinement Program. She then became the Mental Health Director of the largest jail in New Jersey, Essex County Jail. Currently, Dr. Jones-Damis is the Director of Counseling, ADAP, and Psychiatric Services at Rutgers University.
Dr. Jones-Damis is an active participant with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), particularly on the School’s Committee Work Group and the Justice Consortium Committee. Dr. Jones-Damis spearheaded a new sub-committee, which combined the School, Community Violence, and Cultural Committees of NCTSN in order to address how educators and counselors respond to race and trauma in the classroom and therapeutic settings. Furthermore, Dr. Jones-Damis holds positions on the state and national boards of The Association of Black Psychologists, where she continues to advocate for the mental health needs of the Black community.
Dr. Jones-Damis co-authored a new book entitled Racial Trauma in Black Clients: Effective Practice for Clinicians. Her research interests focus trauma in the individual and in systems. She has presented her research at national conferences such as the American Psychological Association, The Association of Black Psychologists, and the National Association of School Psychologists. Dr. Jones-Damis co-authored a chapter on classroom management for the International Handbook of Student Achievement and has published articles concerning Black students and school discipline. She offers her ideas and tips for dealing with racial trauma on her Psychology Today Blog https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/navigating-racial-trauma/202501/healer-heal-thyself-addressing-vicarious-racial-trauma-with
Dr. Jones-Damis has no conflicts of interest for this webinar.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu
Continuing Education Policy:
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.
LMFT/MFT and LPC/LAC Licensed in New Jersey: Programs approved by the American Psychological Association are acceptable sources of continuing education credits. Please see https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-34-Subchapters-10-31-Professional-Counselors.pdf, Section: 13:34-15.4 APPROVAL OF COURSES OR PROGRAMS on page 27. For all other professional licenses and certifications, please reference your issuing state board regulations regarding reciprocity of continuing education credits.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content