Description: In this edited volume, three leading experts in race, mental health, and contextual behavior science address the urgent problem of racial inequities and biases, whichoften prevent people of color from seeking mental health services--leading to poor outcomes if and when they do receive treatment. This critical and timely guide provides clinicians and educators with evidence-based recommendations for addressing inequities at multiple levels, as well as best practices for compassionately and effectively helping clients across a range of cultural groups and settings.
Brief description: Jonathan W. Kanter, PhD, received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Washington in 2002, and then moved to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he spent several years collaborating closely with members of the Black, Latinx, and Muslim communities on issues of social and political activism (including police brutality and voter rights), racism and discrimination, and culturally appropriate treatments of depression. In 2013, Kanter came to the University of Washington to direct the Center for the Science of Social Connection (CSSC), where he approaches projects with a contextual behavioral science (CBS) model that integrates disciplines--including evolution science, neuroscience, anthropology, and psychology--within a behavioral science foundation. Kanter is regularly invited to give talks and workshops nationally and internationally on topics of interest to the Center, including anti-racism workshops, workshops for therapists on how to improve psychotherapy relationships and help clients with relational problems, and culturally tailored behavioral treatments for depression.
Review Quotes: "This book is needed more than ever in today's current sociopolitical landscape, and will remain essential reading so long as we live in a diverse and multicultural society. Its thoughtful examination of the current state of disparities faced by people of color lays the groundwork for evidence-based strategies to guide individual practitioners and training programs. This book has taken the most complex and difficult social issues of our time, and provided a critical framework to understand and approach the work. Woven beautifully throughout, empirically sound strategies--fundamental to any practitioner new to the field, or experienced veteran--provide the tools for culturally responsive care."
--Christy Matta, MA, is a health manager at Stanford's Health Improvement Program, an instructor for Stanford's BeWell Program, and author of The Stress Response--Christy Matta, MA