Racial Trauma - The Impact of Racism on Mental Health with Ashley McGirt Adair

May 1, 2026

Ashley McGirt Adair, therapist and founder of the Therapy Fund, focuses on racial trauma and culturally responsive care. Conversation covers how systemic racism limits access to care. It examines racial trauma’s chronic toll on body and mind. Practical steps include naming harm, seeking culturally attuned support, allies’ actions, and self-regulation practices.

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INSIGHT

Racism Distorts Healthcare Access And Diagnosis

Racism shapes access to and quality of health care at every level, from diagnosis to affordability and clinician bias.
Ashley McGirt Adair cites misdiagnosis (bipolar vs schizophrenia), private-pay therapy gaps, and systemic mistrust as concrete mechanisms.

INSIGHT

Racial Trauma Acts Like Chronic PTSD

Racial trauma functions like PTSD but is distinct because it is chronic, unpredictable, and often cumulative.
Ashley links it to hypervigilance, anxiety, exhaustion, and both direct and vicarious exposures like news and community incidents.

ANECDOTE

Janelle Died After Being Dismissed By Healthcare

Janelle was dismissed by healthcare providers and died at home after being sent away, illustrating lethal consequences of racialized medical neglect.
Ashley connects this to her family history of mismanaged brain bleeds and recent celebrity cases like Jamie Foxx.

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This conversation with Ashley McGirt-Adair explores the profound impact of racism and racial trauma on mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. We discuss systemic issues, personal stories, and actionable steps for healing and advocacy.

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You can find more information about my guest on this episode at: https://www.ashleymcgirt.com

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.