Colorism, Skin Tone, Trauma & Body Image Ideals: Clinical Considerations with Youth & Families - CAMFT

Colorism, discrimination that privileges light skin that is distinct yet also similar to racism, is prevalent and persistent in our world. It is evident in social media, society, our communities, everyday comments, and systems. Colorism contributes to educational and pay disparities, fueling the skin-lightening market estimated to be $341.9 Million (2022) in the US alone. Experiencing colorism has negative impacts psychologically, emotionally, physically, and socially.

Adolescents may experience colorism in their daily lives through school, celebrity culture and media, the criminal justice system, and employment settings in the midst of navigating biopsychosocial changes and a critical period for developing mental health issues and eating disorders. Colorist incidents may result in traumatic stress or skin tone trauma (Landor & McNeil Smith, 2019). This trauma may increase the risk of appearance-related dissatisfaction, adopting harmful skin-lightening practices, and developing an eating disorder.

Intervention and prevention can lessen the impacts of colorism, skin tone trauma, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders among youth. This workshop focuses on how colorism, skin tone trauma, and body image ideals impact youth's mental health and relationships with food and their bodies. Participants will learn strategies for thinking about these topics with cultural sensitivity and how we can leverage our professional roles to address colorism and skin tone trauma in our working relationships with youth and families.

Other Important Information:

Accommodations for special needs Please email the Training Assistant, Brisa Romero at bromero@catalyst-center.org to request additional accommodations.

Grievances: To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email Ivon Favela, Deputy Director of Training at ifavela@catalyst-center.org

CE Certificates: will be awarded after course survey completion.

Refund/Cancelation Policy: All requests for cancellation and refunds must be submitted in writing to Bromeroa@catalyst-center.org prior to the course date. Otherwise, No Refunds will be allowed. 

CE Statement: California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs (Provider #1000075 ). This course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CACFS maintains responsibility for the program and all of its content.