Racism & Grief: Considerations for Working with Black/African American Clients with Prolonged Grief

Presented by The Center for Prolonged Grief:

During this presentation, Dr. Willis will discuss how racism and historical trauma may impact the grief experience for Black/African Americans, and how to consider these factors when conceptualizing and treating PG with clients from this community. Using findings from a recent community-based study of grief in the Harlem, New York community, Dr. Willis will also discuss how COVID-19 loss has impacted the grief experience of Black Americans, and how these findings can provide insights on how to culturally tailor interventions for treating PG in diverse communities. Finally, Dr. Willis will discuss contemporary approaches to increasing outreach/dissemination of grief treatment resources within Black communities, and discuss recent psychosocial interventions for treating PGD in Black communities (e.g., digital interventions, group therapy interventions, etc.).