Holding Space In Treatment
Creating a holding space in treatment can help Black individuals feel safe in the treatment setting while you expand your knowledge of race, culture, and ethnicity.
Holding space for clients means:
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Centering clients experiences.
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Being physically, mentally, and emotionally present for someone.
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Putting your focus on someone to support them as they feel their feelings.
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Managing personal judgment.
Tips for holding space:
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Refocus your listening.
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Don't jump into problem-solving.
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Don't center yourself
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Reassure them that you believe in them.
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Be open to whatever emotions come up.
Safe does not always mean comfortable
As counselors, we have to treat the whole person. We must be willing to be uncomfortable and normalize having conversations about race, culture, and ethnicity to explore how these factors impact Black individuals in treatment.
To hold space we must continue to increase our awareness of our differences.
Normalizing what individuals are experiencing and being willing to have hard conversations is imperative when working with Black clients and important for holding space with those individuals.
Understanding how emotions show up in Black individuals is key to the therapeutic relationship.