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Evaluation ViewAttendees 2

Racial Trauma
Session Type:: Symposia

Symposium 44 - When Trauma is Omnipresent: Exploring Biomarkers and Interventions for Racial Trauma

Saturday, November 22, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
Location: Strand 9, Level 2
CE: 1

Keywords: Racial Trauma, Treatment, Evidence-Based Practice
Level of Familiarity: Moderate
Recommended Readings: Comas-Díaz, L., Hall, G. N., & Neville, H. A. (2019). Racial trauma: Theory, research, and healing: Introduction to the special issue.American Psychologist, 74(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000442,   Cénat, J. M. (2022). Complex Racial Trauma: Evidence, Theory, Assessment, and Treatment. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(3), 675–687. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221120428,   Carter R. T., Forsyth J. (2010). Reactions to racial discrimination: Emotional stress and help-seeking behaviors. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2(3), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1037/A0020102,   Williams, M. T., Holmes, S., Zare, M., Haeny, A., & Faber, S. (2023). An Evidence-Based Approach for Treating Stress and Trauma due to Racism. Cognitive and behavioral practice, 30(4), 565–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2022.07.001,   Yoon, S. A., & Weierich, M. R. (2016). Salivary biomarkers of neural hypervigilance in trauma-exposed women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.09.007

Racial trauma involves significant emotional and psychological harm resulting from experiences of racism, racial discrimination, and race-related stressors (Comas-Diaz et al., 2019). These stressors can include violent explicit acts of racism against marginalized individuals, vicarious incidents, racial bias, and exposure to microaggressions. While racial trauma can arise from a single act, it often results from the cumulative impact of numerous instances of subtle racism encountered throughout a person's life (Cénat et al., 2022). Given that racism is pervasive and inescapable, many people of color experience racial trauma as a constant presence, leading to chronic stress, hypervigilance, and feelings of hopelessness (Carter & Forsyth, 2010). Due to the unique nature of racial stressors and their potential to elicit distinct physiological reactions, a unique approach to treatment may be necessary to effectively address the needs of individuals experiencing racial trauma. Although various interventions have been proposed, they are primarily based on theoretical research, and their effectiveness and acceptability have not been thoroughly evaluated.

This symposium will explore the similarities and differences between racial trauma and PTSD by examining data from a biomarker study that evaluated salivary cortisol (a marker of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis [HPA] response) and salivary alpha amylase (sAA; a marker of sympathetic nervous system [SNS] response) reactivity among people with PTSD and people with racial trauma. This type of research can provide insights into the degree to which treatment approaches should be similar vs. different for PTSD vs. racial trauma. Additionally, this presentation will present data on the effectiveness and acceptability of interventions that address the trauma symptoms associated with racial trauma. More specifically we will present data from two outcome studies that examined the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for racial trauma and the Healing Racial Trauma Protocol. Presenters will highlight intervention strategies that may effectively address the unique needs of individuals with racial trauma.

Presenters will share insights from their research to emphasize the unique characteristics of racial trauma, including its mechanisms and treatment approaches. They will leverage their experience in conducting psychological interventions for racial trauma to guide the development and implementation of the most effective treatment strategies.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Identify potential physiological biomarkers of racial trauma.
  2. Describe differences in physiological reactivity between racial trauma and PTSD.
  3. Discuss how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training can be effective for the treatment of racial trauma.
  4. Identify components of the Healing Racial Trauma Protocol and its acceptability among individuals who have racial trauma.
  5. The first learning goal is to identify effective treatment strategies to address the needs of individuals with racial trauma.
  6. The second learning goal is to become familiar with mechanisms behind racial trauma.

Presentations:

  • 12:03 PM - 12:22 PM CST
    (SYM 44) The Stress Response to Racism: Using Salivary Assays to Explore Whether Racial Trauma Is a Form of PTSD?

    Speaker: Lorraine Benuto, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – DICE Center

    Co-author: Jorge Cao Noa, M.S, – University of Nevada Reno

    Co-author: Cossette A. Canovas, M.S. (she/her/hers) – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Natalia Duda, B.A. – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Madison Thomasson, M.S, – University of Nevada, Reno

  • 12:22 PM - 12:41 PM CST
    (SYM 44) Evaluating Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training for the Treatment of Racial Trauma: A Pilot Study to Determine Feasibility and Efficacy

    Speaker: Jorge L. Saldana-Guerrero, B.A. (he/him/his) – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Cossette A. Canovas, M.S. (she/her/hers) – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Lorraine Benuto, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – DICE Center

  • 12:41 PM - 1:00 PM CST
    (SYM 44) Healing Racial Trauma Protocol: A Pilot Study to Determine the Acceptability of the Intervention

    Speaker: Edwin F. Jurado, B.A. (he/him/his) – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Natalia Duda, B.A. – University of Nevada, Reno

    Co-author: Lorraine Benuto, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – DICE Center