Empower Yourself Against Racial and Cultural Stress: Using Skills from the Reach Program to Cope, Heal, and Thrive

Who am I? This is such a simple yet challenging question for many teens and young adults to answer. And for teens and young adults of color, your journey of self-discovery likely includes moments of being judged, mistreated, or denied important opportunities because of your racial and cultural background. Psychologist Ryan C. T. DeLapp has devoted his career to understanding these experiences of racial and cultural stress--and helping people build skills to heal from and cope with them. This inviting book presents step-by-step strategies and downloadable worksheets for implementing Dr. DeLapp’s innovative REACH program, whether on your own or with a group. Follow the stories of three fictional navigators--Greg, Amia, and Jamal--as you choose your own path to:

*Identify your own cultural stressors.
*Cope with big and uncomfortable emotions caused by cultural stress.
*Stand up to injustice and find ways to change or improve culturally stressful environments.
*Grow and protect your self-love, self-confidence, and cultural pride.
*Spark meaningful conversations about racial and cultural stress with people you trust.
*Explore who you truly want to be, and how to overcome obstacles to getting there.

Ryan C. T. DeLapp, PhD, is a psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and adults in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area. He is the founding director of the Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Healing (REACH) Program at the Ross Center. Dr. DeLapp publishes and presents widely on topics related to healing from cultural stress and empowering individuals of color.