Exploring the Views of White Therapists on Confronting Racism in Therapy with White Clients
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Authors
Davies, Candrea
Issue Date
2026-02
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Whiteness in therapy , anti-racist , responsiveness
Alternative Title
Abstract
A gap exists in the marriage and family counseling literature regarding how White therapists address racism and engage in social justice efforts when working with White clients. When these conversations occur in therapy, it is unclear what strategies, and ethical considerations guide therapists’ responses. This qualitative study addressed the following research problem: there is a gap in literature examining White therapists’ experiences of addressing race related topics with White clients in therapy, leaving White therapists potentially unprepared to manage harmful attitudes and systemic inequities in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore White therapists’ experiences of addressing racism with White clients, the interventions they employ, and the ethical concerns they navigate. The study’s conceptual framework, critical race theory (CRT), was used to examine systemic power dynamics and the ethical responsibility of therapists to promote racial awareness. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) informed, inductive thematic analytic process was employed. A purposive sample of licensed White therapists in the United States, including marriage and family therapists, licensed counselors, and social workers, was recruited through an anonymous online questionnaire shared via Facebook. The final sample consisted of 12 participants who completed an open-ended questionnaire exploring their experiences of confronting racism in therapy. Patterns of meaning were identified inductively through sustained, interpretive engagement with participants’ responses. Three main themes emerged: (1) confronting racism with White clients, highlighting therapist discomfort and client defensiveness; (2) interventions and microskills, including psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral strategies; and (3) ethical considerations, emphasizing the tension between client autonomy and challenging harmful beliefs. The findings revealed the complexity of addressing racism in therapy and the sustained emotional and ethical engagement required of White therapists as they navigate power, privilege, and accountability within therapeutic relationships. Recommendations for practice include integrating anti-racist training into counselor education, promoting therapist self-reflection, and using therapy as a platform for racial awareness. Recommendations for future research include examining the effectiveness of anti-racist interventions, exploring diverse therapist populations, and investigating client outcomes when racism is addressed in therapy. This study contributes to counseling theory, ethics, and education by positioning anti-racism as essential to competent and ethical clinical practice.