Racial Trauma therapy for the weight of constant harm
Racial trauma can leave you carrying fear, anger, grief, and exhaustion all at once. I work with adults who are tired of having to explain the impact of racism before anyone takes it seriously.
What people bring me
Racial trauma can build up from direct experiences, watching what happens to people who look like you, or living with the constant strain of being on guard. It may show up as anger that feels too close to the surface, a shut-down feeling, or trouble trusting what people mean. Some people feel it in their body before they can name it. Others notice it in the way they scan rooms, hold back, or keep a piece of themselves hidden to stay safe. In therapy, I pay attention to the personal and the systemic parts of what you've lived through.
- I stay on guard in places where I don't feel I belong.
- I get angry before I can even explain why.
- I feel worn down by what keeps happening around me.
- I keep shrinking myself so I won't get hurt.
You shouldn't have to translate pain that comes from being targeted.
How I work with it
I work with racial trauma by paying attention to both the harm itself and the ways it has shaped your sense of safety, identity, and relationships. I don't ask you to minimize what happened or separate it from the world around you. ACT can help with the thoughts that keep replaying, while trauma-informed care keeps the work paced around what feels manageable in the room. Culturally responsive care lets us stay honest about race, power, and the messages you've had to absorb just to get through.
- ACT
- ACT gives us a way to notice the thoughts and reactions that show up after repeated harm. We also look at what matters to you so the work stays connected to your life, not only your pain.
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Trauma-informed care means I pay attention to what feels activating and what helps you stay present. We move in a way that respects how protective your responses have been.
- Culturally Responsive Care
- Culturally responsive care is central here, because racial trauma can't be separated from culture, power, and lived experience. I stay attentive to the context around what you've been through instead of treating it like an isolated event.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions are about hearing what you've been carrying and what kinds of experiences have shaped that weight. We'll talk about the moments that still stick with you, how they show up now, and what you need from therapy before we go any further.
Questions people ask
Can therapy help with racial trauma if it still feels raw?
We can talk about it without forcing it into a neat shape. The work starts with what feels most present and what you want understood first.
Do you understand the impact of racism in daily life?
Yes, and I won't ask you to prove it. I work from the assumption that repeated harm changes how people move through the world.
What does racial trauma therapy look like?
It usually starts with your experiences and how they continue to show up now. From there, we look at what feels supportive and what feels too much.
Is this only for something that happened once?
No. A lot of racial trauma comes from repeated experiences, ongoing pressure, or the strain of always being aware of what could happen.
About Celestial Shift Therapy
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating complex identity questions, or carrying the weight of past trauma? Maybe you're facing life changes that shake your sense of self or struggling with internalized shame that keeps you from living as yourself.
Nicole ObihLCSW
Talk it through with Nicole
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.