Toward A Psychological Framework of Radical Healing in Communities of Color

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of Color
Bryana H. French1 , Jioni A. Lewis2,

Della V. Mosley3, Hector Y. Adames4,
Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas4, Grace A. Chen5,
and Helen A. Neville6
Abstract
Advancing beyond individual-level approaches to coping with racial trauma,
we introduce a new psychological framework of radical healing for People
of Color and Indigenous individuals (POCI) in the United States. We
begin by providing a context of race and racism in the United States and
its consequences for the overall well-being of POCI. We build on existing
frameworks rooted in social justice education and activism and describe a
form of healing and transformation that integrates elements of liberation
psychology, Black psychology, ethnopolitical psychology, and intersectionality
theory. We briefly review these conceptual foundations as a prelude to
introducing a psychological framework of radical healing and its components
grounded in five anchors including: (a) collectivism, (b) critical consciousness,
(c) radical hope, (d) strength and resistance, and (e) cultural authenticity and
self-knowledge. We conclude with a discussion of the applications of radical
healing to clinical practice, research, training, and social justice advocacy.
1University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN, USA

2University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
3University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
4Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, USA
5Private Practice, Menlo Park, CA, USA
6University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
Corresponding Author:
Bryana H. French, University of St. Thomas, Graduate School of Professional Psychology,
1000 LaSalle Ave., MOH 217, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Email: [email protected]
French et al. 15
Significance of the Scholarship to the Public

Advancing beyond individual-level approaches to coping with racial
trauma, we call for a new multisystemic psychological framework of
radical healing for People of Color and Indigenous individuals. Radical
healing involves critical consciousness, radical hope, strength and
resistance, cultural authenticity and self-knowledge, and collectivism.
We provide suggestions for how to apply this model of radical healing
to clinical practice, research, training, and social justice advocacy.
Keywords
liberation psychology, intersectionality, social justice, oppression, race and
ethnicity
The United States is one of the most multiracial, multicultural, and multilin-
gual nations in the world with a rich history of diverse individuals contribut-
ing to the country’s success. Although racial and ethnic diversity is an
important part of this country’s fabric, racially marginalized communities in
the United States have often been subjected to practices that challenge their
humanity and right to exist. Hence, despite its diversity, the United States has
also been shaped by a long and entrenched history of oppression, including
the colonization of Indigenous people, enslavement of African populations,
and labor-based exploitation of people from Mexico and China (Zinn, 1980).
In the field of counseling psychology, the topic of racism, race-based stress,
and mental health has received increased attention in the last few decades
with several foundational articles (e.g., Carter, 2007; Helms, 2008; Thompson
& Neville, 1999), which have provided a basis for facilitating professional
discourse on the topic. However, less research has focused on the significant
resilience of People of Color and Indigenous individuals (POCI)1 in the
United States and their mechanisms of healing from racial trauma. Although
no term is without fault, we chose to use the term People of Color to denote
the social construction of racial groups within the United States that are in the
minority in terms of political and economic power. Using Cokley’s (2007)
definition, race is a social construct that “refers to a characterization of a
group of people believed to share physical characteristics such as skin color,
facial features, and other hereditary traits” (p. 225). The act of racialization
is defined as the process through which oppressive societal systems catego-
rize individuals into racial groups based on phenotype (Adames & Chavez-
Duenas, 2017). We also use People of Color as a political term that highlights
16 The Counseling Psychologist 48(1)
the interrelationships among racialized people in the United States and

replaces terms such as racial and ethnic minorities that could be construed as
pathologizing (Vidal-Ortiz, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to expand on
the literature by introducing a new psychological framework of radical heal-
ing. Rooted in social justice education activism (Ginwright, 2010), radical
healing is grounded in health-promoting practices and transformation that
integrates elements of liberation psychology, Black psychology, and intersec-
tionality while drawing on Comas-Díaz’s (2007) concept of ethnopolitical
psychology. Although we begin our discussion by providing a context for the
racial realities of many POCI, it is important to recognize POCI are not con-
fined to, or defined by, the oppressions they experience. POCI also have a
rich history of cultural traditions and a legacy of resilience that promotes
well-being and contributes to the strength of the United States. Before intro-
ducing the proposed psychological framework of radical healing, we describe
the context of racism in the United States and ways POCI have navigated this
context, after which we describe the foundational theories informing our con-
ceptualization of radical healing.
The Context of Racism in the United States

The United States is in the midst of one of the most significant demographic
shifts in its history. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2040,
the United States will become a majority “minority” country where POCI
will become the numeric majority (2016). This reality, coupled with the
2008 election of the nation’s first Black president, Barack H. Obama, led
many to believe that racism was beginning to dissipate. An ideology of a
“post-racial America,” one where race no longer mattered, gained momen-
tum in the popular culture (Bonilla-Silva, 2010; Helms, 2015; Neville,
Awad, Brooks, Flores, & Bluemel, 2013). Despite the popular belief among
many White individuals in the United States that Obama’s election heralds a
“post-racial” era (Struyk, 2017), evidence indicates the contrary (Ledwidge,
Verney, & Parmar, 2014). Several scholars have posited that racism did not
disappear during Obama’s presidency; instead, it increased during this his-
toric time period (Agiesta & Ross, 2012), and contributed to the election of
Donald J. Trump. Some scholars and political news pundits described the
election of Trump as a “Whitelash against a changing country” (Ryan, 2016,
para. 1). Helms (2016) argued that the system of racism and White suprem-
acy is protected by individuals and institutions that adhere to the policies
and rhetoric personified by Trump, which deny equity, justice, and access to
resources for POCI. For instance, during the first 18 months of Trump’s
presidency, his administration implemented a “Muslim Ban” preventing
French et al. 17
entry from predominantly Muslim countries into the United States that was
upheld by the Supreme Court (Liptak & Shear, 2018). The Trump adminis-
tration has targeted immigrants in other ways as well. For instance, the
administration has deported more asylum-seeking, undocumented immi-
grants without a criminal record than before (Sacchetti, 2017). Additionally,
the Trump administration has separated thousands of asylum-seeking chil-
dren from their parents by holding them in detention centers and also failed
to reunite them despite court orders. The Trump administration’s view of
race relations reflects deep-seated racist beliefs. For instance, Donald Trump
failed to condemn acts of White supremacy and instead referred to organiz-
ers of a deadly “Alt Right” rally in Charlottesville as “very fine people”
(Politico, 2017).
The racism POCI experience is not a new phenomenon that began with
Trump’s election. Mass incarceration of POCI has increased 500% in the
last 40 years, largely due to the 1980s “War on Drugs” with more than 60%
of the prison population being POCI (Alexander, 2010). The state-sanc-
tioned police killings of Black boys and men sparked the Black Lives Matter
movement in 2013. Ethnic and racial studies programs are being threatened,
and in some states, legislation has been drafted to ban them (Navarette,
2012), while college affirmative action admissions guidelines are facing
revocation (Hackman, 2018). The political climate in the United States has
contributed to increases in stress, particularly among Black and Latinx indi-
viduals, according to the American Psychological Association (APA) Stress
in America Report (APA, 2017).
A substantial amount of empirical evidence shows that racism and dis-
crimination harms the health and well-being of POCI communities (see
Alvarez, Liang, & Neville, 2016). The cost of racism to POCI communi-
ties also demonstrates an embodied inequality (Krieger, 1999) that
increases the risk for poorer physical health including the common cold
(Kwate, Valdimarsdottir, Guevarra, & Bovbjerg, 2003), hypertension
(Williams & Neighbors, 2001), cardiovascular disease (Lewis et al., 2006),
breast cancer (Taylor et al., 2007), and higher mortality rates (Barnes
et al., 2008). Racism also has devastating effects on the mental health of
racialized individuals, raising the risk for depression (Noh & Kaspar,
2003) and anxiety (Graham, West, Martinez, & Roemer, 2016). Scholars
have also conceptualized racism as a chronic stressor that has the potential
to produce trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Carter, 2007;
Carter et al., 2017). Racism manifests in our built environment and results
in disparities with exposure to environmental toxins and pollution; this
type of environmental racism, in turn, impacts the health and well-being of
POCI communities (Taylor, 2014).
Racial and Historical Trauma

Since the turn of the century, multidisciplinary researchers have considered
the traumatic effects of racism and colonization on POCI. For instance, Brave
Heart (2000) conceptualized historical trauma and documented how the
trauma of racism and colonization showed “cumulative wounding across
generations” (p. 246). She considered the ways in which the Lakota people
carried ancestral trauma and historical unresolved grief resulting from mas-
sive loss, genocide, and the U.S. government’s prohibition of Indigenous
spiritual mourning practices. Neurobiologists have provided data on the
intergenerational transmission of trauma through epigenetics, identifying
biological risks for PTSD and greater lifetime depressive disorders among
descendants of Holocaust survivors (Yehuda, Halligan, & Bierer, 2001) and
survivors of 9/11 (Yehuda et al., 2005). The ability to survive historical
trauma, however, can also be associated with biological, environmental, and
cultural factors of resilience (Kirmayer, Gone, & Moses, 2014; Southwick,
Bonanno, Masten, Panter-Birk, & Yehuda, 2014). As such, not only might
experiences of trauma be inherited genetically, POCI’s capacity for resilience
may be inherited as well.
Carter, Forsyth, Mazzula, and Williams (2005) were some of the first
scholars to conceptualize the notion of race-based traumatic stress. Similarly,
Bryant-Davis and Ocampo (2005) argued that many racist incidents are expe-
rienced as traumatic, emotionally abusive, or threats to livelihood and can
increase the risk for post-traumatic symptoms. Moreover, Bryant-Davis and
Ocampo highlighted ways in which racism can operate as daily mini-traumas
that expends psychic energy and results in psychological effects, which paral-
lel those of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Carter (2007) fur-
thered this argument by providing a thorough analysis for why the emotional
injury of racism should be conceptualized as racial trauma. He asserted that
the systematic effects of intentional or unintentional racism across individual,
institutional, and cultural levels can have significant psychological impacts
similar to other forms of trauma.
Healing Versus Coping

In Indigenous cultures, healing involves learning how one fits “within the
overall cosmology” (Duran, Firehammer, & Gonzalez, 2008, p. 293). This
notion prioritizes collective approaches to improving self and society (Heilbron
& Guttman, 2000). We advance the concept of healing over that of coping for
two main reasons. First, Watts (2004) suggested that to radically move coun-
seling psychology forward, scholarship and practice related to coping should
French et al. 19
be shifted in focus to consider topics centered on resisting oppression and

other barriers to wellness. From this perspective, healing is a concept that
scales up coping by moving beyond the goal of merely surviving within an
oppressive society to thriving (Watts, 2004). Healing occurs when POCI gain
critical consciousness about their oppression and seek to resist the associated
racial trauma. Centering healing allows for an intentional, proactive consider-
ation of the relationship between justice and wellness. With regard to healing,
rather than a reactionary response to racial trauma, POCI can utilize critical
consciousness and active resistance as a proactive approach to resisting rac-
ism. This is a core value of the field of counseling psychology and consistent
with our role as social justice change agents (Vera & Speight, 2003).
Second, healing moves away from the individualistic focus that coping
relies upon and recognizes that POCI thrive within collectivism, as a direct
result of their connection to their community (Heilbron & Guttman, 2000).
This differential focus on community is key since it allows POCI to under-
stand their experience as part of a “common collective struggle” (Ginwright,
2010, p. 63) versus one that emanates from, and therefore should be solved
by, individuals. It is important that POCI are able to cope with symptoms tied
to racial trauma; however, healing involves identifying the source of the
trauma, engaging in collective resistance against that source, and fostering
hope as POCI actively work to prevent recurring trauma for not only them-
selves but also their communities.
Throughout history, POCI communities have shown collective resistance
to colonization and racism—resistance that required radicalism. We believe
that we are currently in critical and radical times, which necessitate a radical
response to injustice—one that moves beyond individual Eurocentric symp-
tom reduction and toward collective multisystemic resistance and new reali-
ties. To this end, we offer a framework of radical healing from racial trauma
as an approach for POCI to move toward healing and liberation. To contextu-
alize a psychological framework of radical healing, in the next section we
briefly describe conceptual foundations rooted in epistemologies of power,
privilege, and oppression. We draw on the psychology of liberation, Black
psychology, ethnopolitical psychology, and intersectionality to inform our
conceptualization of radical healing.
Conceptual Foundations for Radical Healing

The concept of radical healing is rooted in the work of scholars, activists, and
faith communities (e.g., Ginwright, 2010). Radical, used most commonly in
political terms, is a critical attitude or ideology that promotes the idea that com-
plete change is necessary to reduce social problems (Dictionary of Politics and
Government, 2004). Critical ideologies that challenge the status quo and seek
social justice have been evident in radical psychology as well (Teo, 2011).
Given these definitions, healing from racial trauma is a radical act that requires
POCI communities to actively resist the insidious confines of racism and colo-
nization that have been systematized within the United States. Drawing on the
work of Ginwright (2010) and others, Neville (2017) operationalized the con-
cept of racial healing for psychology in describing that social and racial justice
is a necessary condition for healing. She defined racial healing as “the policies,
actions, and practices, which aid individuals and their groups to live out their
full potential in societies with a history of racial oppression” (p. 7). Collective
resistance to the dehumanization of POCI communities aims to restore dignity
and engages the process of healing. In this section, we briefly review theories
that form the foundation of our psychological framework of radical healing,
including psychology of liberation, Black psychology, ethnopolitical psychol-
ogy, and intersectionality.
Psychology of Liberation, Black Psychology,

Ethnopolitical Psychology, and Intersectionality
Psychology of Liberation
Liberation psychology centers the struggle of oppressed individuals in
society. Identifying the ways people thrive and become whole in the face
of multiple oppressions and inhumanity is central to radical healing.
Martinique-born psychiatrist, Frantz Fanon, along with South American
liberation theologist and social psychologist, Ignacio Martín-Baró, intro-
duced concepts consistent with liberation psychology into the literature
(Adams, Dobles, Gómez, Kurtis, & Molina, 2015). Drawing on interdisci-
plinary research and clinical observations, Fanon (1963, 1967) offered a
radical interpretation of mental and physical liberation from colonialism
and racism. He articulated the psychopathology of colonization and the
importance of decolonization for the liberation of oppressed people, par-
ticularly throughout the African Diaspora. Martín-Baró (1994), partly
influenced by Fanon’s writings, argued that the field of psychology needed
to refocus on the mental health of the poor and the sociopolitical forms of
oppression that negatively affect oppressed groups. The central aspect of
liberation psychology is the development of concientizacion or critical
consciousness. Rooted in Paulo Freire’s (1970) Pedagogy of the Oppressed,
concientizacion recognizes the importance of helping oppressed people
develop a critical awareness of oppression as a way to psychologically
liberate themselves from oppressive forces. Prilleltensky (2003) modeled
French et al. 21
his theory of liberation psychology from liberation theology to describe

ways that people strive for psychological well-being while experiencing
internal and external oppression. He asserted that psychological dynamics
are inseparable from political dynamics, and that liberation for the indi-
vidual is necessarily tied to the collective liberation of social groups, com-
munities, and societies. Seeking liberation from oppression is necessary
for radical healing.
Black Psychology
Liberation psychology has also been influenced by Black psychology. The
field of Black psychology is rooted in the understanding that in order to fully
liberate individuals of African descent, self-determination is needed to
develop a psychology that adequately addresses the unique needs of the com-
munity (Thompson & Alfred, 2009). Joseph L. White’s foundational article
“Toward a Black Psychology” (1970) articulated the ways in which
Eurocentric psychology had little application to Black lives and called for the
creation of a psychology grounded in the cultural and ethnic authenticity of
Black people. A psychology for Black liberation includes an analysis of iden-
tity as a critical component of mental liberation.
The works of W.E.B. DuBois (1903) and later Fanon (1967) greatly
informed what we now consider racial identity theory. DuBois articulated the
concept of double consciousness or the way individuals negotiate their
African and American identities in the U.S. society. Building on these early
conceptualizations, Cross (1971) introduced the nigrescence model, a psy-
chological framework of racial identity, which provided language for schol-
ars and activists to theorize about mental liberation. Racial identity theory
postulates that Black individuals develop a healthy Black identity that moves
from idealizing Whiteness and White culture to developing a critical aware-
ness of one’s own racial group and psychological liberation from oppression
(Cross, 1971, 1995; Cross & Vandiver, 2001). Black psychological theories
directly apply to radical healing in resisting Eurocentric assumptions and
promoting empowered self-definitions.
Ethnopolitical Psychology
The proposed framework of radical healing is also closely aligned with the
ethnopolitical psychology, a specific articulation of liberation psychology.
Ethnopolitical psychology “encourages healing and transformation through
the development of critical consciousness and sociopolitical action. . . . [and]
aims to decolonize people of color, reformulate their ethnic identity, and
promote racial reconciliation, personal transformation, and societal change”

(Comas-Díaz, 2007, p. 92). Hence, ethnopolitical psychology can be concep-
tualized as a framework for psychological healing from the trauma that may
result from racism, oppression, colonization, and cultural imperialism. It
integrates individual and collective identities, increases dignity and mastery,
and reconnects people with their roots (Comas-Díaz, 2007). Healing through
this model provides a culturally relevant framework that incorporates Eastern
and Western traditions with Indigenous healing. It requires that practitioners
accompany POCI and bear witness to their pain, working with them to recog-
nize systemic racial oppression and colonization thereby embracing resis-
tance over maintaining the status quo.
Intersectionality
Although the majority of early liberation and Black psychology theorists
focused on race and class oppression without consideration of gender, there
have been Women of Color scholars, writers, and activists throughout the 20th
century who theorized about the unique marginalization of Women of Color
at the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, and class oppression (Hancock,
2016; May, 2015). Intersectionality is grounded in the herstory of Black fem-
inism (Cole, 2009; Collins, 2000; Lewis, Williams, Moody, Peppers, &
Gadson, 2018). For example, in 1977, the Combahee River Collective, a
group of Black feminists, highlighted the influence of interlocking forms of
racism, sexism, and classism on the lives of Black women (Combahee River
Collective, 1995). Thus, Black feminism paved the way for intersectionality
theory (Cole, 2009; Collins, 2000).
Intersectionality is focused on developing a structural analysis of oppres-
sion that moves beyond a single-axis framework of one marginalized iden-
tity (e.g., race) to a more nuanced understanding of the ways in which
interlocking systems of oppression intersect to marginalize individuals in
society (Crenshaw, 1989). These intersecting systems of oppression create a
matrix of domination, which represents the ways that various forms of
oppression are structured to produce and sustain inequality (Collins, 2000).
Intersectionality in psychology is focused on exploring the ways that sys-
temic, institutional, and structural oppression and privilege impact individu-
als and communities (Cole, 2009; Lewis & Grzanka, 2016). In addition,
there is a focus on transforming individuals and communities through social
action. Thus, intersectionality theory serves as an important component to
radical healing by acknowledging the role of intersectional oppression on
people’s lives based on race, social class, gender, sexual identity, ability,
religion, national origin, and immigrant status, to name a few.
French et al. 23
In sum, the psychology of liberation, Black psychology, ethnopolitical

psychology, and intersectionality form the foundation for the psychological
framework of radical healing. Liberation psychology articulates the impact
of oppression and the importance of striving for justice to liberate from
oppression. Black psychology names the explicit Eurocentric assumptions
of the field and their detriment to Black communities, calling for an African-
centered and strengths-based framework of mental health. The rejection of
Eurocentric assumptions and centering racial and cultural experiences has
occurred within other POCI psychology communities as well, as evidenced
with the foundation and sustainment of Ethnic Minority Psychological
Associations (Lau, Forrest, Delgado-Romero, 2012). Ethnopolitical psy-
chology provides a specific liberatory framework for healing from racial
trauma. Finally, intersectionality identifies ways that racism, sexism, het-
erosexism, transnegativity, classism, and other forms of oppression inter-
sect and produce interlocking forms of inequality (Crenshaw, 1989). Each
of these theories offers important scholarship to build a framework for radi-
cal healing rooted in POCI’s psychology. Thus, the integration of these
existing theories provides a foundation to expand and develop a psycho-
logical framework that centers POCI’s scholarship, and promotes a multi-
systemic approach to wellness. In the next section, we highlight the genesis
of radical healing and how we are conceptualizing it as a psychological
framework.
A Psychology of Radical Healing

Genesis of Radical Healing
The term radical healing can be traced back to 1851 when Augusto Vidal
utilized it as the title of his book to describe a medical treatment for varico-
cele (vein enlargement). The concept of radical healing was further devel-
oped by Rudolph Ballentine in the 20th century in which he integrated the
wisdom of several traditional healing practices to help transform the field of
medicine by also including psychotherapy (Ballentine, 1999). More recently,
Ginwright (2010) wrote about radical healing in his book Black Youth Rising,
which highlights his work with Black youth in Oakland, California. He
described radical healing as building the capacity to act upon one’s environ-
ment in ways that contribute to the common good. As Ginwright asserted,
healing from the trauma of oppression caused by poverty, racism, sexism,
heterosexism, and class exploitation is an important political act that requires
reconciliation and testimony. It moves from ascribing individual blame to
identifying systemic oppression as holding those systems responsible for
Figure 1. A psychological framework of radical healing.
conditions in which Black youth live. Hence, radical healing requires a shift
away from a deficit-based perspective and fosters a sense of agency to chal-
lenge and change oppressive conditions. Ginwright’s sociological and educa-
tional model of radical healing offers an opportunity for psychologists to
think critically about the ways POCI strive for wellness. In his conceptualiza-
tion, Ginwright suggested that wellness is achieved through social, commu-
nity, and individual mechanisms. Fostering a sense of agency and solidarity,
engaging in resistance, and transforming systems of oppression are processes
that help to achieve wellness on multiple levels that are congruent with the
call for social action among counseling psychologists (Toporek, Gerstein,
Fouad, Roysircar, & Israel, 2006).
A Psychological Framework of Radical Healing

We merge Ginwright’s (2010) articulation of radical healing with the psy-
chology of liberation, Black psychology, ethnopolitical psychology, and
intersectionality. We define radical healing as being able to sit in a dialectic
and exist in both spaces of resisting oppression and moving toward freedom
(Figure 1). Staying in either extreme—the despair of oppression or the imagi-
nation of possibilities—could be detrimental. On one end of the spectrum,
one could get lost in an overwhelming sense of disempowerment. On the
other end, only focusing on dreaming for a better future removes oneself
from current reality. We believe it is essential that radical healing includes
both acknowledgment of and active resistance from oppression, as well as a
vision of possibilities for freedom and wellness. Moreover, the act of being in
that dialectic is, in and of itself, a process of healing.
French et al. 25
For POCI in the United States, psychological healing must move beyond
traditional notions of psychotherapy, which have historically focused on
individual behaviors, cognitions, and emotions. As multicultural (Sue &
Sue, 2015) and feminist (Worrell & Remer, 2003) therapies have articulated,
for liberation to occur, psychological healing must focus on systemic condi-
tions contributing to the trauma of racism and colonization. Thus, we envi-
sion a radical healing process that acknowledges the pain of oppression
while fostering hope for justice and psychopolitical freedom. The proposed
framework of radical healing builds on existing theories by arguing that
social action is a critical component of radical healing and demands a multi-
systemic, ecological approach beyond the individual level. A psychological
framework of radical healing also centers the rich and varied voices and
strengths of POCI communities, building on each community’s traditional
cultural healing methods and ancestral wisdom. In doing so, we agree with
Gorski and Goodman’s (2015) critique of existing status-quo multicultural
psychology practices and call for a decolonized approach that challenges the
systems of oppression within the field of psychology as well as beyond. The
framework also explicitly acknowledges that POCI’s lived experiences are
intersectional in nature and demands an intersectional lens to understand the
healing process.
We assert a psychological process of radical healing, embraced by rela-
tionships that begin with critical consciousness as the first step in raising
awareness of oppressive systems. Through that consciousness, POCI can
envision a better possibility leading to our second process of fostering hope.
How does one maintain a sense of hope in the face of oppression? It requires
strength, resistance, and cultural authenticity. The spirit of collectivism fore-
grounds our framework and is woven throughout each process, with the rec-
ognition that our individual and ethnic-specific liberation as POCI is tied
between and within each other.
Critical consciousness. Critical consciousness is seen as a prerequisite for lib-

eration from oppression (Prilleltensky, 2003). It is a key component of our
framework of radical healing, as it is only by learning to be critically con-
scious that liberation can be achieved (Freire, 1970; Moane, 2003; Prillelten-
sky, 2003; Watts, William, & Jagers, 2003). Critical consciousness has been
defined as “an individual’s capacity to critically reflect and act upon their
sociopolitical environment” (Diemer, Kauffman, Koenig, Trahan, & Hsieh,
2006, p. 445). Specifically, one must reflect on sociopolitical realities, deeply
questioning and discerning for oneself (although often with others) how and
why power relations are structured and maintained, in order to begin the pro-
cess of radical healing.
Scholars have since outlined three components of critical consciousness

including (a) critical reflection, (b) political efficacy, and (c) critical action
(Watts, Diemer, & Voight, 2011). Critical reflection involves engaging in an
analysis of the social situation, including historical and structural factors, and
morally rejecting oppression and inequity. Critical reflection is essential if
one is to achieve a sense of political efficacy, which is confidence in one’s
ability to facilitate individual or collective sociopolitical change (Diemer &
Blustein, 2006; Watts et al., 2011). Critical action involves moving from
commitment to action, undertaken alone or with others, to reduce oppression
(Watts et al., 2011). Research has shown that engaging in social action and
activism can increase psychological well-being (Klar & Kasser, 2009) and a
sense of empowerment (see Thomas & Louis, 2013, for a review). In the
process of radical healing, it is important for an individual’s actions to be
authentic, reflect their truth, and align with their identities and contexts.
Radical hope and envisioning possibilities. Hope is a necessary condition of

working to improve human existence—there must be some sense that the
struggle is not in vain (Ginwright, 2016). Thus, radical healing requires radical
hope. Hope allows for a sense of agency to change things for the greater
good—a belief that one can fight for justice and that the fight will not be futile.
Freire (1992) attested that hopelessness is paralyzing and immobilizing; in
hopelessness, we lack the strength to recreate the world. Lear (2008) proposed
radical hope for people who face oppression by the dominant culture. He
argued that radical hope is an act of courage, when you face devastation and
head toward an unimaginable future with the belief that something good will
emerge. It is radical because it transcends one’s ability to envision and under-
stand what the future holds. Neville (2017) asserted that hope fosters visions
of what is possible for a more egalitarian future, and people of all class back-
grounds must define this vision. To illustrate an example, the rise of the term
Latinx, and related movements, is an example of envisioning new possibili-
ties, as it aims to challenge heteronormative gender binaries and promote soli-
darity with genderqueer communities within Latin America (Santos, 2017).
Aligning with tenets of Afrofuturism and visionary fiction (Brown & Imari-
sha, 2015), radical healing recognizes that the imagination must be decolo-
nized if liberation is to be achieved. Hope is able to grow when resilience
exists within individuals and communities. Positive psychology researchers
have consistently documented the psychological benefits of hope (Sin & Lyu-
bomirsky, 2009; Snyder, Rand, & Sigmon, 2002) in college students (Chang
& Banks, 2007) and adolescents (Roesch, Duangado, Vaughn, Aldridge, &
Villodas, 2010), including for POCI. Ultimately, individuals can use hope as
fuel to imagine possibilities for the present and future of the collective.
French et al. 27
Strength and resistance. In order to foster a sense of radical hope, strength to

resist oppression is necessary. Resilience is typically described in the psycho-
logical literature as an individual’s ability to use available resources to adapt
to or overcome adversities (Earnshaw, Bogart, Dovidio, & Williams, 2015;
Richaud, 2013). However, this conceptualization is often used to describe
individual-level processes and thus does not promote transformative collec-
tive healing. Instead, we use the language of strength and resistance as a part
of radical healing to reflect POCI’s commitment to living joy-filled lives
despite a critical awareness of racial trauma and oppression. A call for resis-
tance acknowledges the strength of oppressed peoples, evidenced by their
sacrifice for the common good and a faith in the human capacity for change.
Ginwright (2010) argued that “transformative resistance . . . is a healthy psy-
chosocial response to oppression” (p. 124). INCITE! is an example of an
organization that exemplifies intersectional strength and resistance as women,
gender nonconforming, and trans radical feminists advance a movement to
end violence against Women of Color. We consider participation in resistance
through social justice akin to radical healing. It is the bridge between antiop-
pression action and envisioning new possibilities. A sense of psychological
strength occurs when POCI have a healthy sense of self and cultural authen-
ticity, while coming together to work toward reducing barriers to their well-
ness and healing from their hardships.
Cultural authenticity and self-knowledge. Radical healing consists of returning

to ancestral roots. It requires resisting colonized knowledge and practices as
the only way of knowing, and instead honoring ancestral wisdom and cultural
teachings (Moodley & West, 2005). POCI scholars have contested Western
notions of healing as being incongruent and often incompatible with the wis-
dom of communities of color. For instance, Guthrie (1988) documented the
racist history of psychology and the systematic ways science was used to
assert cultural, intellectual, and emotional inferiority of POCI. Relying on
Western psychology’s theories of health and wellness is, at best, incomplete,
and at worst, oppressive. Parham (2009) summarized an African-centered
psychology that prioritizes self-definition, harmonious relationships, com-
munal order, spirituality, the Divine, and metaphysical interconnectedness.
Within Indigenous practices, spirituality and harmony are at the center of
wellness where the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected (Hodge, Limb,
& Cross, 2009).
Radical healing requires this sense of self-definition and cultural authen-
ticity in which POCI are not defined by their oppressors. With radical heal-
ing, living authentically is an act of resistance, which offers POCI hope for
truth and acceptance. As Ginwright (2010) asserted, “In a society where
African identity is devalued and demeaned, the radical healing process must
consider the ways to rebuild and reclaim racial identity among African
American youth” (p. 122). Research on racial and ethnic identity suggests
that healthier identities are those that exhibit pride in one’s ethnic and racial
heritage, reject notions of White supremacy and internalized racism, and
show respect and advocate for multiple identities other than one’s own
(Quintana, Chew, & Schell, 2012).
Collectivism. In the proposed psychological framework of radical healing, col-

lectivism connects personal liberation with the broader POCI community.
The process of psychological liberation from oppression, and engagement in
radical healing requires the power of connection and belonging to one’s eth-
nic group. African, Asian, Latinx, and Indigenous communities each have
shared histories rooted in philosophies of interconnectedness and collectiv-
ism (Sue & Sue, 2015). By extension, the cultural worldviews of these racial-
ized communities emphasize the importance of connection as aspects of
psychological liberation from oppression. For example, Asian cultural world-
views emphasize group harmony within the family and environment and a
collectivistic orientation (Sue & Sue, 2015). Latinx cultural values include
familismo (i.e., a strong sense of family cohesion), personalismo (i.e., a pref-
erence for warm yet formal relationships), respeto (i.e., respect), confianza
(i.e., trust), and a strong work ethic (Sue & Sue, 2015). American Indian and
Alaska Native cultural values include interconnectedness, balance, spiritual-
ity, and relationships (Hodge et al., 2009). The process of radical healing
includes using these racial and ethnic cultural values as a means to gain
greater connection to one’s community as a source of social support. Thus, an
important component of radical healing is seeking and cultivating support
within one’s community. Collectivist communities allow POCI to create a
counter-space for radical healing where authenticity and comradery can
flourish and offer refuge in the context of ongoing racism. Radical healing
through collectivism also includes sharing one’s story as a way of testifying
and building solidarity with others.
Through this conceptual integration, we envision a framework of radi-
cal healing that can extend our practices with POCI to encompass cultural
ways of being, ancestral knowledge, and social justice as key elements of
healing. Building on Ginwright’s (2010) concept, we integrate psycho-
logical literature to create a framework of radical healing that includes
critical consciousness, hope, authenticity, strengths, and collectivism. In
the next section, we provide recommendations on how to apply the con-
cept of radical healing to our work in clinical practice, research, training,
and advocacy.
French et al. 29
Recommendations for Applying Radical Healing in

Psychology
Clinical Practice
Testimony. When clinicians create empathic spaces in psychotherapy, the
potential for healing and transformation can emerge through testimony—per-
sonal narratives that give voice to experiences of oppression, provide oppor-
tunity to create meaning of their individual and collective experiences of
oppression, and empower individuals to envision future possibilities (Ainslie,
2013; Comas-Díaz, 2007). Although clinicians are trained to provide empa-
thy and are taught that cultural competence involves acknowledging the cul-
tural background of their clients, they can sometimes question the validity of
a POCI’s experience of discrimination in ways that serve to invalidate their
experiences (Sue, 2015). Often, the racist experiences of POCI are met with
doubt and alternative explanations by clinicians (Hook, Farrell, Davis, DeB-
laere, & Van Tongeren, 2016). The mere questioning of the client’s experi-
ence can be harmful. Thus, clinicians are challenged to sit through their own
discomfort as they listen and bear witness to the pain experienced by their
clients who are POCI. Clinicians are encouraged to engage in specialized
training and critical reflection of their own racialized experience and con-
sider how they can integrate social justice as a critical part of the healing
process necessary for clients who are POCI (Sue et al., 2007). A case study
of an AfroLatinx queer immigrant client provides an example of psycho-
therapy practices that move beyond merely integrating multiple social identi-
ties in working with marginalized clients to considering systems of oppression
and privilege that shape their lives (Adames, Chavez-Dueñas, Sharma, & La
Roche, 2018). The emancipation circles developed and facilitated by the
Association of Black Psychologists is another applied example where psy-
chologists can create healing spaces to center the voices of community mem-
bers as they name and validate their racialized experiences and identify
culturally informed healing practices to heal the wounds of intersecting forms
of discrimination (Grills, Aird, & Rowe, 2016).
Community-based radical healing. The development of psychological radical

healing requires that clinicians expand their conceptualization of what “heal-
ing” is and where it can take place. In other words, clinicians are encouraged
to move beyond traditional spaces and modalities of treatment and consider
how healing can also be experienced within community settings. Community
psychologists have historically been leaders in this area, focusing on people
within holistic, ecological contexts rather than the individual, intrapsychic
factors of traditional psychology (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). In addition,

counseling psychologists have also been leaders on social justice issues in the
field (e.g., Toporek et al., 2006). POCI may benefit from the integration of
traditional Indigenous healing practices to process their experiences of
oppression and dehumanization (Comas-Díaz, 2007; Gone, Kenkel, & Gar-
cia-Shelton, 2004; Hodge et al., 2009). An example of an intersectional, cul-
turally authentic healing approach is Harriet’s Apothecary (2018), developed
by a group of Black cisgender and queer women healers based out of Brook-
lyn, New York, and founded with Harriet Tubman’s spirit in mind. This group
cocreates accessible and affirming healing villages, freedom schools, and
leadership development for racial and LGBTQ justice. From this perspective,
mental health providers are encouraged to collaborate with respected Indig-
enous healers to provide alternative therapeutic spaces.
It is important to note that mental health stigma among POCI may be
exacerbated by the current sociopolitical climate. For instance, the fear and
anxiety that currently exists among immigrant communities may create addi-
tional barriers to seeking mental health services as they may worry about the
implications of discussing their immigration status with mental health pro-
viders. Hence, being aware of how the current climate may be unsafe to
oppressed communities may assist clinicians in thinking of alternative pos-
sibilities for treatment. It is also important for clinicians to be aware of the
cultural mistrust that exists in POCI communities given the medical abuses
perpetuated against marginalized individuals in U.S. history (Terrell, Taylor,
Menzie, & Barrett, 2009). Thus, community-based healing and religious and/
or spiritual leaders are often more trusted than traditional mental health pro-
viders, more widely accessible, and generally have leadership roles in com-
munities of POCI. From this perspective, mental health providers are
encouraged to collaborate with respected Indigenous and spiritual healers to
provide alternative therapeutic spaces.
Radical healing ethics. Clinicians seeking to engage in radical healing may

benefit from having an ethical framework to guide their actions (see Garcia
& Tehee, 2014). Similar to Hoagland’s (1988) approach to lesbian ethics, we
provide ethical considerations to encourage providers to consider the ways in
which they perceive clients who are POCI, how they approach their relation-
ship with them, and how that interaction is facilitative of growth, healing, and
justice for all parties (Vasquez, 2013). We offer a set of ethical principles of
radical healing for clinicians and mental health professionals: (a) Providers
are aware of and seek to assess power dynamics in their relationships with
clients who are POCI and proactively work to reduce them (Bryant-Davis &
Comas-Díaz, 2016); (b) providers approach clients who are POCI in a
French et al. 31
manner that is collaborative and recognizes the bidirectional benefits of the

relationship (Bryant-Davis & Comas-Díaz, 2016); and (c) providers value
accompanying, being with, or otherwise bearing witness to clients (Bryant-
Davis & Comas-Díaz, 2016). Additionally, they honor the testimonies offered
and convey trust in their clients; (d) providers respond with urgency and
engage in spontaneous, wellness-promoting actions with clients who are
POCI, whether individually or collectively, when racial terrorism has been
noted locally and/or nationally (Hargons et al., 2017); and (e) providers
engage in creative problem solving, co-constructing solutions with clients. In
doing so, they encourage externalization by locating the source of suffering
and/or oppression (Adames & Chavez-Dueñas, 2017); (f) providers aspire to
have intelligibility within their relationships with clients. That is, they do not
seek to be accountable to their clients nor hold their clients as accountable,
but seek to make their choices understandable to their clients and to have
their clients’ choices become intelligible to them (Hoagland, 1988); (g) psy-
chologists seek to expand their understanding of client(s) to consider larger
communities (Garcia & Tehee, 2014).
Research
Given that the framework of radical healing presented here is in its infancy,
there are several fruitful directions for future research. The concept of radical
healing requires psychology researchers to shift their focus away from
Western, individualistic, person-level notions of healing to a multisystemic
focus of healing rooted in POCI communities. It is important for psychology
researchers to consider centering the voices and strengths of POCI communi-
ties in future research on radical healing. To do this, researchers should utilize
multiple research methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed
methods, and participatory action research, and various epistemologies such
as Indigenous ways of knowing and story-telling (Smith, 2012) to provide
richer accounts of the multitude of ways that POCI communities heal from
racism. Psychology researchers are encouraged to resist the urge to design
traditional research studies that do very little to elucidate the complexity of
radical healing. We call for a paradigm shift in the types of research con-
ducted on POCI communities and the methods of inquiry (Neville, 2018).
We argue that researchers consider grounding their work in a radical heal-
ing framework throughout the research process, which would involve center-
ing POCI from the formation of the research questions to the study design,
data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of findings. Drawing on the
work of intersectionality scholars, we argue that applying a radical healing
framework to counseling psychology research requires attention to the
institutional and social–structural context (Bowleg & Bauer, 2016; Cole,

2009; Lewis & Grzanka, 2016). Within the framework of radical healing, it is
important for researchers to move beyond individual-level variables and to
measure structural variables when studying racism and oppression (Bowleg
& Bauer, 2016). For example, if a researcher wants to design a quantitative
study to explore the impact of racism on health outcomes for POCI, the
researcher could also measure neighborhood-level variables, such as the seg-
regation of the neighborhood, environmental racism, or other variables that
may also impact the health of POCI communities. Relatedly, if a researcher
wants to explore the ways in which Latinx individuals in a community are
engaging in radical healing practices, it might be important to explore the
discrimination experienced at the local level as well as the role of institu-
tional policies, such as the ruling on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
or other recent restrictive immigration policies, and how these institutional-
level issues may exacerbate health or hinder the ability to engage in radical
healing practices.
Another unique direction for future research is to utilize the concept of
psychopolitical validity. Prillentensky, Prilleltensky, and Voorhees (2008)
argued that true change cannot occur unless we consider the intersection of
political and psychological factors when analyzing constructs such as power,
wellness, and oppression. The role of psychopolitical validity is both episte-
mological and transformational. Epistemic psychopolitical validity is focused
on developing an understanding of “the role of power in the psychology and
politics of wellness, oppression, and liberation, at the personal, relational,
and collective domains” (p. 130). Transformational psychopolitical validity
is “the potential of our actions to promote personal, relational, and collective
wellness by reducing power inequalities and increasing political action” (p.
130). Thus, Prillentesky et al. (2008) argued that it is important for research
to have an explicit focus on power, inequality, and political change.
Prillentensky et al. (2008) encouraged research focused on personal lib-
eration, which could include conducting a study that explores strength, resil-
ience, and development of activism and leadership. As an example of a study
exploring personal liberation, Szymanski and Lewis (2015) explored the
role of racial identity and race-related stress in predicting involvement in
African American activism for Black college students. Using the psycho-
logical framework of radical healing, there are a number of areas in which to
explore and provide data to support assertions. Some questions include:
What is an operational definition of radical hope and is it related to specific
healing or mental health outcomes? Is self-knowledge related to healing or
mental health outcomes? What are specific Indigenous healing activities that
French et al. 33
are proven to restore justice and wellness? What role does storytelling play
in the healing process from racial wounds?
Research focused on relational liberation could include exploring acts of
solidarity and compassion with others who suffer from oppression. Research
on relational radical healing could include developing an intervention-based
study that explores the psychological benefits of a consciousness-raising
group for Indigenous individuals. Watts, Abdul-Adil, and Pratt’s (2002) study
on the Roderick Watts’ Young Warriors Program—a program helping Black
adolescent boys develop critical consciousness through the use of rap music
and film—exemplifies relational radical healing. Research focused on collec-
tive liberation could include deconstructing ideological norms in the field,
such as the theory of radical healing itself. It is important for psychology
researchers to push the boundaries of the discipline in innovative ways by
developing creative methodologies that inform and inspire new possibilities.
As counseling psychologists, we have a responsibility to engage in social
justice research that can inform policy and lead to systems-level change.
Training
To move beyond teaching multiculturalism and toward social justice, we encour-
age counseling psychology and other mental health educators to integrate topics
such as liberation psychology and radical healing into their curricula. Such an
approach would compel trainees to consider their healing role beyond an indi-
vidual-level intervention. A more effective healing process would necessitate
consideration of psychopolitical well-being (Prilleltensky, Prilleltensky, &
Voorhees, 2008). For instance, counseling psychology programs could deter-
mine that developing critical consciousness is an essential component of dem-
onstrating cultural competency. Training programs could, for example, assign
readings on the history of POCI communities beyond mainstream psychological
literature so students can develop a more in-depth knowledge about sociopoliti-
cal and historical context. Additionally, training programs can emphasize social
justice advocacy and activism for research, teaching, and practice. This involves
training psychologists to envision how their skills could be used to heal outside
of the therapy room (e.g., through advocacy and engagement in public policy).
Some counseling psychologists are leaders in social justice training. For exam-
ple, The Counseling Psychologist published a two-part special issue on nontra-
ditional teaching methods for social justice in 2014. Goodman et al. (2015)
described several ways to decolonize counseling psychology pedagogy ranging
from faculty hires to student admissions to class assignments and activities.
Motulsky, Gere, Saleem, and Trantham (2014) offered multiple ways to inte-
grate social justice across various counseling psychology courses. For example,
the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Tennessee has adopted

a scientist–practitioner–advocate training model, which includes social justice
advocacy as a core component of the traditional scientist–practitioner training
model (Mallinckrodt, Miles, & Levy, 2014). Doctoral students enroll in a two-
semester Social Justice Practicum course that includes partnership with a com-
munity-based organization to work on systems-level change. Students develop
social justice advocacy competencies and skills through reading interdisciplin-
ary scholarship on critical race theory, feminist theory, queer theory, and inter-
sectionality theory coupled with experiential and hands-on learning to develop
critical consciousness and systems-level intervention skills.
Psychology, as a discipline whose mission is to heal people, including our
most vulnerable populations, would be expected to commit to training more
individuals of diverse backgrounds to join the profession. In 2015, 86% of
psychologists were White and only 14% POCI, vastly underrepresenting the
U.S. population (Lin, Stamm & Christidis, 2018). In order to diversify the
field of psychology, systematic support for recruitment and retention is needed
to improve the pipeline from undergraduate education to professional psycho-
logical practice and research. Training programs need to consider the unique
needs of student POCI due to historical and current experiences of oppression.
The systematic support needs to come from multiple sources, such as graduate
programs (e.g., creating safe and/or brave spaces, delivering updated curricu-
lum, mentoring) as well as university institutions (e.g., providing grants and
fellowships, resourcing academic support services, and integrating social jus-
tice into the institution’s values and policies). In addition, the APA could pro-
vide greater support for radical healing of POCI by developing guidelines and
recommendations inclusive of alternative healing practices, expanding cul-
tural competency definitions to be more social justice-oriented, and offering
more fellowships and training institutes to underrepresented students and/or
early career professionals. Some examples can include removing the require-
ment of the GRE for admissions, which some counseling psychology pro-
grams have adopted (Goodman et al., 2015), as well as reconsidering ways in
which student remediation is handled. For instance, performance can be eval-
uated based on professional standards while also being judged on the student’s
willingness to critique unintentional organizational oppression that may
unfairly disadvantage POCI students and nonwestern worldviews (e.g., orien-
tation towards time, nontraditional healing practices).
Psychologists can also radically rethink their approach to conferences,
institutes, and other gatherings related to scientific training. Leaders and
organizations can prioritize proposals that facilitate radical healing of POCI.
In addition to this content focus, the framework undergirding our psychologi-
cal meetings might reflect a commitment to radical healing, such that we
French et al. 35
facilitate more workshops led by POCI that are focused on POCI’s healing
(note this is preferred to problem-focused or coping-focused POCI research)
and accessible to POCI from the communities where the conferences are
being held. Re-imagining possibilities for our psychological gatherings
through a lens of radical healing would also mean recognizing the historical
context of the geographic locations where we hold our meetings. Participants’
critical consciousness could be increased through print and/or verbal educa-
tion as a part of the conference experience (e.g., recognizing the Indigenous
people whose lands the meeting is held on, acknowledging the significant
events that shaped the current distribution of resources in the area). For
example, the Biennial APA National Multicultural Conference and Summit
includes a ceremony to honor the Indigenous people of the conference site.
Searching for “lost history” (Martín-Baró, 1994) and historicizing in such a
manner embodies radical healing in that it simultaneously requires a reflec-
tion on both the loss of life and land, as well as the resilience of people from
those communities who survive and resist despite their oppression.
Advocacy
In the early 2000s, counseling psychologists were called to social justice action
(Vera & Speight, 2003). This call is more important now than ever and is a key
component of radical healing. The field of counseling psychology has devel-
oped useful models for direct service including social justice counseling as the
“fifth force” of counseling paradigms (Ratts, 2009) and Toporek, Lewis, and
Crethar’s (2009) model of advocacy competencies. The Society of Counseling
Psychology has demonstrated leadership in public policy to advocate for
justice in political practices, including recent statements in support of Black
Lives Matter and signing a joint statement recently crafted by various APA
Divisions on the inhumane U.S. immigration policies and practices (“Joint
Public Statement,” 2018). Counseling psychologists have also held key posi-
tions in federal advocacy, such as the APA Congressional Fellowship and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration summer intern-
ship, where counseling psychologists have influenced public policy related to
health disparities and criminal justice, among others. Participating in state and
city level involvement arenas is also essential for local level change, as psy-
chologists are being called to regularly step outside of their traditional roles. In
addition to working within existing structures, counseling psychologists are
encouraged to embed themselves within the communities they serve, working
with members to listen deeply, respond ethically, collectively explore the
wounds they experience, and develop holistic approaches to healing from the
root causes of the injuries (Vera & Speight, 2007). There are ample examples
to follow—Black psychologists have offered healing spaces for communities
experiencing racial trauma (e.g., National Public Radio, 2014); Ginwright and
his organization have worked for years in schools and with youth to promote
radical healing in urban communities. In essence, radical healing requires that
we, as counseling psychologists, engage in direct actions of social advocacy
and political resistance to disrupt the oppressive systems that plague our soci-
ety and prevent POCI’s liberation (Vera & Speight, 2007).
Conclusion
In this paper, we outline a psychological framework of radical healing.
Building on the theoretical tenets of the psychology of liberation, ethnopoliti-
cal psychology, Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous psychology, and intersec-
tionality, we identify the importance of developing a framework grounded in
helping POCI communities strive for justice and psychological liberation
from oppression. Radical healing is a framework focused on the ways that
POCI heal from racial trauma. The concept of radical healing pushes us to
think about how psychological healing needs to move beyond traditional
notions of psychotherapy that focus on helping the individual cope with rac-
ism and toward dismantling systems that contribute to race-based trauma.
Thus, radical healing acknowledges the pain of oppression while fostering
hope for justice and freedom. The process of radical healing is grounded in
collectivism and evolves through the process of critical consciousness, hope,
resilience, resistance, and authenticity. We hope our framework and the
accompanying recommendations for practitioners, researchers, educators,
and social justice advocates is used to push the boundaries of our field to
foreground social justice in our various roles. We call on counseling psy-
chologists to move beyond viewing multiculturalism and social justice as
values, to placing social justice at the center of our research, training, clinical
practice, and advocacy.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the research,
authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publica-
tion of this article.
Note
1. We name Indigenous people explicitly to acknowledge their citizenships of sov-
ereign nations with over 500 federally recognized nations and tribal governments
French et al. 37
(Reese, 2011). This follows guidelines from the American Indian Sovereignty
Movement, which argues that referring to Indigenous people as racial minorities
erases the history of tribal conquering and loss of national status that came as a
consequence of U.S. settler colonialism (Steinman, 2012).
ORCID iD
Bryana H. French https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3823-7463
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Author Biographies
Bryana H. French, PhD, is a counseling psychologist and associate professor in the
Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. Her
research has explored sexual coercion and sexual scripting using a Black feminist frame-
work, and her training interests focus on multicultural and social justice psychology.
Jioni A. Lewis, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research is focused on the impact of racism
on the mental and physical health of people of color, with a specific focus on the
intersection of racism and sexism (i.e., gendered racism) on the health of women of
color, as well as resilience and protective factors.
Della V. Mosley, PhD, is an assistant professor of counseling psychology at the
University of Florida. She developed and leads the Wellness, Equity, Love, Liberation,
and Sexuality (WELLS) Healing and Research Collective. Her work explores and
seeks to promote the psychological and political wellness of racial minorities, sexual
minorities, and transgender and/or gender-expansive people and communities.
Hector Y. Adames, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor of counsel-
ing psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He co-founded and
co-directs the Immigration, Critical Race, And Cultural Equity Lab (IC-RACE Lab). His
scholarship focuses on colorism, racism, and Latinx psychology.
Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor
of counseling psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her
scholarship focuses on race, racism, and Latinx psychology.
Grace A. Chen, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in independent practice in Menlo
Park, CA. Her clinical practice includes individual psychotherapy and support group
facilitation. She also provides advising in clinical training and professional develop-
ment for psychology doctoral students as a consultant. Her scholarship and service
activities have focused on marginalized populations, mentorship, and professional
development.
Helen A. Neville, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology
and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
She is past-president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity
and Race.

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Toward A Psychological Framework of Radical Healing in Communities of Color

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Bryana H. French1 , Jioni A. Lewis2,

1University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Significance of the Scholarship to the Public

the interrelationships among racialized people in the United States and

The Context of Racism in the United States

Racial and Historical Trauma

Healing Versus Coping

be shifted in focus to consider topics centered on resisting oppression and

Conceptual Foundations for Radical Healing

Psychology of Liberation, Black Psychology,

his theory of liberation psychology from liberation theology to describe

promote racial reconciliation, personal transformation, and societal change”

In sum, the psychology of liberation, Black psychology, ethnopolitical

A Psychology of Radical Healing

Figure 1. A psychological framework of radical healing.

A Psychological Framework of Radical Healing

Critical consciousness. Critical consciousness is seen as a prerequisite for lib-

Scholars have since outlined three components of critical consciousness

Radical hope and envisioning possibilities. Hope is a necessary condition of

Strength and resistance. In order to foster a sense of radical hope, strength to

Cultural authenticity and self-knowledge. Radical healing consists of returning

Collectivism. In the proposed psychological framework of radical healing, col-

Recommendations for Applying Radical Healing in

Community-based radical healing. The development of psychological radical

factors of traditional psychology (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). In addition,

Radical healing ethics. Clinicians seeking to engage in radical healing may

manner that is collaborative and recognizes the bidirectional benefits of the

institutional and social–structural context (Bowleg & Bauer, 2016; Cole,

the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Tennessee has adopted

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

Brave Heart, M. Y. (2000). Wakiksuyapi: Carrying the historical trauma of the

practices in counseling and psychology education: A move towards social justice

Mallinckrodt, B., Miles, J. R., & Levy, J. J. (2014). The scientist-practitioner-advo-

Prilleltensky, I. (2003). Understanding, resisting, and overcoming oppression:

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