Black Women and the Black Therapist: Implications of Healing from Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

At the intersections of race, gender, and sexual violence, one can find a Black woman who experiences sexual or intimate partner violence at a disproportionate rate. It is posited that this is due to the adultification of young Black teens. In addition, the impact and addition of generational trauma increases the complexities of the healing journey. Treatment modalities have to be responsive to the multitude of needs of Black women. Additionally, Black therapists have similar complexities and oftentimes are without a support network that understands Black trauma, sexual violence and the healing journey. Compassion fatigue is experienced more readily by Black therapists as they navigate the utilization of therapeutic modalities that are do not center the duality of sexual violence and racial trauma.