By Octavia Neal, LMFT
Treasurer-MFT’s Working In Trauma
Chronic stress is a pervasive issue that affects diverse populations, but people of the global majority—a term used to describe those from historically marginalized racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds—often experience unique stressors that exacerbate their mental and physical health challenges. Understanding these chronic stress responses and exploring effective interventions, such as somatic therapy and modern clinical approaches, is crucial for improving the well-being of these communities.
Key Definition: People of the Global Majority
People of the Global Majority refers to those racial and ethnic groups that are numerically dominant worldwide but are often marginalized in societies where they represent a minority. This term emphasizes that, globally, people of color form the majority, challenging the notion that they are outliers or minorities. The concept seeks to shift the perspective from a deficit-based to a majority-based framework, recognizing the systemic challenges faced by these groups as a result of historical and ongoing inequities (Sims, 2020).
Chronic Stress in People of the Global Majority
Chronic stress is the continuous activation of the body's stress response system due to persistent external or internal stressors, which can lead to long-term health consequences such as cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, and mental health disorders (American Psychological Association, 2021).
Causes and Examples:
- Socioeconomic Inequality: Persistent economic disparities often impact People of the Global Majority, leading to chronic stress from financial instability, job insecurity, and lack of access to quality healthcare and education (Williams & Mohammed, 2009).
- Racism and Discrimination: Systemic racism and everyday microaggressions contribute to ongoing stress by creating hostile environments and undermining opportunities for advancement (Sue et al., 2012).
- Historical Trauma: The collective memory of colonialism, slavery, and other forms of oppression continues to affect communities through intergenerational stress and trauma (Brave Heart, 1998).
Somatic Therapy Interventions
Somatic therapies offer a promising approach for addressing chronic stress, especially for individuals from the global majority. These therapies focus on the connection between the mind and body, emphasizing the role of physical sensations in processing and managing stress. Several somatic therapy techniques are particularly relevant for addressing chronic stress responses:
- Somatic Experiencing (SE): Developed by Peter Levine, SE aims to help individuals process traumatic experiences and reduce stress by focusing on bodily sensations. SE involves guiding clients to become aware of their physical responses to stress, helping them process and release stored trauma. This approach is beneficial for people of the global majority who may have experienced historical and personal traumas (Levine, 1997). It is important to note that these principles resonate deeply with historical and traditional practices used by Indigenous peoples around the world. Indigenous cultures have long understood and utilized the connection between the body and working through the physical sensations linked to past traumas. (Ex. Native American tribes such as the Lakota and Hopi that used the practice of sacred circle ceremonies to connect to physical sensations and the natural world. Often involving drumming, dancing, and storytelling (Deloria, 1995).
- Body-Oriented Psychotherapy: Techniques such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy integrate body awareness into therapeutic practice. By focusing on physical experiences, therapists help clients access and process unresolved emotions and stress (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006). For people of the global majority dealing with the cumulative effects of discrimination and trauma, these methods offer a holistic approach to healing.
- Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: This practice combines traditional yoga techniques with trauma-informed principles to address both physical and emotional stress. Trauma-sensitive yoga helps individuals reconnect with their bodies in a safe and supportive environment, which is particularly beneficial for those experiencing chronic stress due to trauma or discrimination (Van der Kolk, 2014).
Benefits of Somatic Therapies:
- Holistic Approach: Somatic therapies address the physiological aspects of stress, helping individuals manage their stress responses in a more integrated way.
- Empowerment and Agency: These therapies promote self-awareness and personal empowerment, enabling individuals to take an active role in their healing process.
- Creation and Maintenance of Safe Therapeutic Environment: Many treatments can often trigger destabilization via re-experiencing of traumatic events through disclosure. Focusing on somatic interventions can give concrete skills to use to mitigate the physical symptoms of trauma/chronic stress response instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.
Modern Clinical Approaches
Modern clinical approaches to chronic stress in people of the global majority are evolving to address both the psychological and systemic factors contributing to stress. Some effective methods include:
Culturally Competent Therapy: This involves understanding and respecting clients' cultural backgrounds and incorporating this knowledge into therapeutic practice. Culturally competent therapists are trained to recognize the impact of systemic inequalities and address them in therapy sessions (Sue et al., 2012). For people of the global majority, this approach can help bridge gaps in understanding and support healing in a culturally sensitive manner. This should also be a part of continuous education for any provider who is connecting with any who identifies as part of the global majority.
Trauma-Informed Care: Trauma-informed care is a framework that recognizes the prevalence of trauma in individuals’ lives and seeks to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment. This approach emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, and empowerment, making it particularly effective for individuals dealing with chronic stress from trauma or discrimination (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). Active practice and observation of this framework often has difficulty being implemented in large systems or inundated systems of care.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, MBSR is a structured program that teaches mindfulness meditation techniques to manage stress. MBSR has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being, making it a valuable tool for those experiencing chronic stress (Kabat-Zinn, 1990).
Combining Somatic Therapies with Modern Approaches
Combining somatic therapies with modern clinical approaches, such as somatic experiencing techniques with trauma-informed care, can address both the physiological and emotional aspects of stress. Similarly, incorporating mindfulness practices into culturally competent therapy sessions can enhance clients’ stress management skills while respecting their cultural contexts.
There has been success in using these integrative, collective approaches. A community mental health clinic serving a diverse urban population implemented a combined approach using somatic therapies and trauma-informed care. Clients participated in somatic experiencing sessions to address their stress responses and engaged in culturally competent therapy to explore and resolve underlying issues related to systemic discrimination. The clinic also offered mindfulness workshops as part of their stress management programs. This integrated approach resulted in significant improvements in clients' mental health and well-being, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining these methods (Rothschild, 2000).
Chronic stress for people of the global majority is a multifaceted issue that requires a nuanced approach to treatment. By integrating somatic therapies with modern clinical practices, mental health professionals can offer effective interventions that address both the physiological and emotional components of stress. Somatic therapies, such as somatic experiencing and trauma-sensitive yoga, provide valuable tools for helping individuals manage their stress responses. When combined with modern clinical approaches like culturally competent therapy and mindfulness practices, these therapies offer a holistic framework for improving mental health outcomes for people of the global majority. As we continue to develop and refine these methods, a focus on both individual and systemic factors will be essential for creating supportive and effective mental health care for all communities.
References
-American Psychological Association. (2021). Stress: The Different Types of Stress. Retrieved from APA
-Brave Heart, M. Y. H. (1998). The Return to the Sacred Path: Healing the Historical Trauma of the Lakota. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1(1), 1-21.
- Deloria, V. (1995). Red Earth, White Lies: Native Americans and the Myth of Scientific Fact. Scribner.
-Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Dell.
- Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. North Atlantic Books.
- Marmot, M. (2004). Status Syndrome: How Your Social Standing Directly Affects Your Health and Life Expectancy. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment. Norton & Company.
- Rothschild, B. (2000). The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment. Norton & Company.
- Sims, D. (2020). The Global Majority: A Radical Reimagining of Diversity. Journal of Critical Race Theory, 3(2), 12-24.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. SAMHSA.
- Sue, S., Cheng, J. K. Y., Saad, L., & Rivera, D. P. (2012). Racial Microaggressions and the Stress Process: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications. American Psychologist. 67(7), 532–544.
- Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
- Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and Health Inequities. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20–47.
-Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and Health Inequities. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20-47.