What is Critical Race Theory and Counter-storytelling?
Institutional racism maintains systemic barriers experienced by African American men. It can also influence and maintain substance use and mental health disorders in African American men. Therefore, having knowledge of the framework of CRT and Counter-storytelling can provide clinicians with insight and an understanding of the lived experiences of African American men in substance abuse and mental health treatment, strengthening the therapeutic relationship and promoting better treatment outcomes.
Critical Race Theory
Critical Race Theory (CRT) examines the relationship between racial injustice, policy, and law (Gwathney, 2021). CRT scholars uphold that gender, race, and class influence discrimination and stereotypes which can negatively impact marginalized populations. Furthermore, CRT scholars suggest that racial disparities persist through state and federal laws and policies that encourage and maintain racism and inequality, keeping marginalized populations oppressed. CRT asserts that insight into the experiences of marginalized populations assist in exposing, addressing, and combating institutional racism and discrimination.
Why is Knowledge of CRT Important for Clinicians working with African American Men in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment?
Helps Clinicians Understand Systemic Inequities
CRT provides clinicians with a framework for understanding how institutional racism and discrimination impacts African American men, including their mental health and substance use problems.​ This understanding can provide clinicians with insight and understanding into how systemic barriers and racial disparities can influence and maintain mental health and substance use disorders in African American men.
​
Emphasizes the Importance of Cultural Competence
CRT emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the lived experiences and cultural backgrounds of marginalized populations. When working with African American men in treatment, understanding their cultural background and the impact of racism is important for providing culturally competent care.
Challenges Clinician Bias
CRT encourages clinicians to analyze their own biases and assumptions about race. This awareness can help clinicians provide African American men in substance abuse and mental health treatment with care that is free of bias and judgement. Recognizing and challenging clinician bias can promote equitable treatment for African American men.
​
​
Encourages Advocacy
CRT highlights the importance of advocacy in addressing racial disparities in the healthcare system. Clinicians can advocate for program and policy changes to address disparities and systemic barriers that influence and maintain mental health and substance use disorders in African American men.
What is Counter-storytelling?
Counter-storytelling, a principle of CRT, attempts to shed light on and analyze the lived experiences of marginalized groups, communities, and individuals through their own narratives, and create social change through their stories (Miller et al., 2020). It is an approach to understanding and addressing the impact of racism and injustice in the lives of marginalized populations, encouraging them to share their stories that oppose the narrative of White Supremacy (Howard, 2008; Solorzana & Yosso, 2002). When counter-storytelling is used in clinical practice, it validates and acknowledges the perspective and feelings of the minority and strengthens the therapeutic relationship (Gwathney, 2021; Howard, 2008; Solorzana & Yosso, 2002). To learn more on how counter-storytelling can be used in clinical practice, click here.
​
​
​