Beyond Intentions: Tackling Implicit Bias in Mental Health Care

Implicit biases may cause clients harm. Join us as we explore the nature of implicit bias, its impact and strategies to minimize its impact.

NBCC CE Hours: 3 (ACEP Number: 7197)

Webinar Description

Most mental health professionals reject overt forms of bias such as discrimination, harassment, or use of slurs. Yet, research suggests that while most counselors avoid overt oppression, many counselors and counselors-in-training demonstrate covert, implicit forms of bias even when they rate themselves as culturally competent. This happens for two primary reasons. First, bias is fundamental to the way human beings process the world—it does not necessarily reflect intentional bigotry or prejudice. Second, we are all socialized into cultural ideologies and worldviews that lead to negative ways of thinking about groups of people that are outside of our awareness. These are our implicit biases.

While an individual's bias may be evident to an outsider, the person holding this bias may not be aware due to the nature of how the brain processes and categorizes information. This has the potential to cause clients harm, as counselors who operate out of implicit bias may unconsciously assume, dismiss, or be insensitive to how aspects of a client's identity influence their presenting concerns. In this webinar, you will learn about the nature of implicit bias, its impact, and strategies to minimize and reduce this impact in clinical settings. The presenters will also discuss broaching issues of race, ethnicity, and culture in culturally sensitive ways to mitigate perceived bias and microaggressions. The specific learning objectives focus on helping participants learn how to:

  • Define implicit bias

  • Assess your own implicit bias

  • Reduce implicit bias in the therapeutic relationship

  • Describe various dimensions of broaching

  • Practice broaching

  • Engage in regular assessment of personally held values, stereotypes, and worldviews leading to implicit bias

NBCC CE Hours: 3 (ACEP Number: 7197)

To view the PPT for this webinar, click here

Presenters

  • Char Newton, PhD, LP

    Dr. Charmeka Newton is the co-author of the book Black Lives Are Beautiful: 50 Tools to Heal from Trauma and Promote Positive Racial Identity. She is also a clinical assistant professor, fully licensed psychologist, and owner of Legacy Mental Health Services, PLLC. Her areas of expertise include multicultural counseling and clinical supervision of master’s-level counseling practitioners and students. In addition to her clinical and teaching expertise, Dr. Newton is a member of the Michigan Board of Psychology, appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and was honored with the Distinguished Psychologist award by the Michigan Psychological Association. Her video "The Hate They Give, The Love We Have," is included in the American Psychological Association’s Culturally Informed Trauma Recovery Toolkit. Dr. Newton additionally is an Appointed APA Advocacy Coordinating Committee member, and an Elected Member-at-Large Community Engagement Representative for Division 45 of APA.

  • Janeé Steele, PhD, LPC

    Dr. Janeé Steele is the co-author of Black Lives Are Beautiful: 50 Tools to Heal from Trauma and Promote Positive Racial Identity and author of the forthcoming book Racism and African American Mental Health: Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Empower Healing with foreword by Judith Beck. Dr. Steele is also a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. She owns Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC, where she provides therapy, supervision, and training in CBT. She has published articles, books, and book chapters focused on CBT, social justice advocacy, and counselor training. Her webinar discussing her cognitive model of internalized racism is one of the American Counseling Association's bestselling products and was featured by the organization as part of its 2022 BIPOC Awareness Month programming.

Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7197. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.