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Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
5-13-2024
Year of Publication
2022
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Faculty
Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff
Abstract
Police brutality and aggressive policing impacts the Black community. Social media and new outlets allow visuals of police brutality and aggressive policing to be shared rapidly. This form of second-hand exposure can cause trauma. The purpose of this study is to explore the adverse mental health outcomes in the Black community due to police brutality and aggressive policing and find ways that social work clinicians can understand and mitigate the problem. This study was conducted because when Black people seek therapeutic services, they are often met with clinicians who invalidate their racial trauma and racial experiences due to second-hand exposure to police brutality and aggressive policing. This article seeks to find ways that social work clinicians can effectively help Black clients who have this type of trauma.
A systematic literature review was conducted using qualitative data from 10 articles. The key findings of the research are the majority of Black people exposed to police brutality and aggressive policing are exposed via a second-hand experience that leads to vicarious trauma, and there are no requirements in CSWE accreditation standards that require training on cultural competence, implicit bias, and culturally aware treatment. This information is essential because Black people experience such trauma and adverse mental health outcomes. However, they do not seek help as often; when they do, their chances of having a Black therapist are very slim.
Although a Black person does not need to have a Black therapist, Black clients need to receive treatment from a clinical social worker that is both culturally competent and is culturally conscious when treating Black clients. Changing the CSWE accreditation standards is a start to ensure that Black people receive adequate treatment.
Recommended Citation
Brown, Sharrion, "Vicarious Trauma In The Black Community Due To Police Brutality And Aggressive Policing: How Social Work Clinicians Can Understand And Mitigate The Problem" (2022). DSW Capstone Projects. 46.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/csw_grad_reports/46
