Using Mindfulness and Movement Practices to Address the Impacts of Racial Trauma

One in four children experience an adverse childhood stressor before reaching adulthood, and the prevalence of these stressors is even higher for children of color. Researchers have coined the terms “race-based traumatic stress” and “racial trauma” to specifically refer to the experiences of trauma associated with discrimination experienced by individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Current treatments for addressing racial trauma with children and adolescents include cognitive behavioral therapy approaches; however, we argue that mindfulness and the expressive arts practices of dance and movement are more developmentally appropriate to address the effects of racial trauma for youth of color. In this article, we provide insight into racial trauma, discuss the neuropsychological impacts of racial trauma, and offer evidence for the use of mindfulness and movement practices as counseling interventions. We conclude the article with considerations for the use of these approaches by school counselors.