Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society

EGPS WG4RE - "White Racial Identity Development and How Whiteness Harms White People"
2025-06-17 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity

The EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity meets monthly to discuss relevant books, films, podcasts, and articles. Further information can be found on the EGPS website at www.egps.org.
Join us! We are a “drop in group.” You are invited to participate whenever you can. Connect via a Zoom link on the third Tuesday evening of the month. To receive the link to join the monthly meeting, each month you will need to click on the “registration link” listed below. Once you have “registered” the Zoom link will automatically be sent to you. (There is NO fee for attending these monthly Discussion Groups.)

EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity
Discussion GroupTUESDAY, June 17, 2025
8:30 – 9:45 PM
(eastern time)
On Zoom
(information to join the meeting is below)
White Racial Identity Development and How Whiteness Harms White People
Facilitated by Dr. Virginia Seewaldt

Since 2020, we have seen both a surge in anti-racism efforts and an intense backlash against them. As institutions retreat under political and cultural pressure, we’re called to reflect more deeply on whiteness, white racial identity, and the less visible ways white supremacy harms white people too.
This collection of readings and podcasts for this month’s discussion group explores how white identity develops, how white supremacy distorts white people’s sense of self and community, and how anti-racism work can lead to personal (and ultimately collective) liberation. While white people benefit materially from systemic racism, they also pay hidden emotional, relational, and moral costs. White supremacy isolates, numbs, and constrains. In contrast, anti-racism opens the door to empathy, clarity, connection, and integrity. Most white people don’t even know what they are missing in this regard, and how much more capacity for humanity is available to them.
Join us as we come together in community to discuss this topic with openness, humility, and a shared commitment to learning and growth.
10 ways white supremacy wounds white people: A tale of mutuality (article)
Teaching While White Podcast Interview with Dr. Janet Helms ( podcast: 31 minutes)
White Racial Identity and Anti-Racist Education: A Catalyst for Change (article)
Why talking about race is especially hard for White people (article)
Francesca Maxime Interview with Dr. Janet Helms (podcast: 1 hour 6 minutes)

To attend this free discussion you must register with the link below to receive access.
Click Here to Sign-Up to receive the link for this Discussion
To attend this FREE discussion, you much click the above link and complete the ‘registration form.’ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the discussion.

EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity (WG4RE) Mission Statement
The Work Group for Racial Equity of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society aims to initiate opportunities for members to examine how racism is embedded in individuals’ unconscious, in groups, and in our organization. Utilizing a collaborative process, the work group supports EGPS efforts to integrate awareness about race and racism in professional events and presentations.
The Work Group also seeks to enhance members’ understanding of the impact of institutional racism on their work, encourages members’ examination of internalized racial oppression, and works with the Board of Directors to strengthen our racial equity lens.
Healing from racial injustice is a result of learning and struggling together. We hope all members will join EGPS in this work.

Upcoming Discussion:
All upcoming discussions will be held on Zoom on
Tuesday evenings from 8:30 – 9:45 PM

Healing from racial injustice is a result of learning and struggling together. We hope you will join EGPS in this important work.
For more information, please contact the Co-Chairs of the Work Group For Racial Equity:
Chris Dolin, LCSW, chrisdolin21@gmail.com
or
April Harvin, LCSW, aprilharvin.lcsw@gmail.com

If you would like to join our email list click here

EGPS GROUP Journal Fireside Chat with Author Christine Schmidt
2025-06-06 12:00 - 13:30
Join us for the next Fireside Chat, featuring recent EGPS President, Christine Schmidt, LCSW, CGP, as we celebrate her latest article in the spring issue of GROUP! On Friday, June 6, 2025, 12:00 Noon – 1:30 PM, we will discuss Christine’s upcoming article: “Confronting whiteness in short-term learning groups: How co-constructed group agreements encourage anti-racist emotional and intellectual learning.” The article is a thought-provoking piece that encourages group leaders to utilize a foundational element of group work, the group agreement, as an educational tool for anti-oppressive work. Additionally, we will discuss Christine’s current group work, writing process, and any future projects that she may have on the horizon. Abstract: Whiteness is ubiquitous in groups that convene in a culture permeated by white supremacy. Whiteness thwarts learning in short-term psychoeducational learning groups and is bound to be enacted repeatedly. Whiteness will reconstitute itself until it is identified, interrupted, and the group is restored to collaborative learning. Co-constructed, living group agreements, rather than traditional group contracts, offer facilitators of short-term learning groups a tool to address racial enactments and transform the white space to an anti-oppressive learning space. This article explains the benefits and provides a framework, examples, and suggestions for facilitators who seek to co-construct group agreements as an alternative to traditional group contracts. The article focuses on short-term psychoeducational learning groups but may also be applicable to other group constructs.
This is a free event open to all EGPS members and non-members. We ask that you kindly register by Thursday, June 5th to receive the Zoom link.

Register here to receive the Zoom link.
