ALMA: Beyond the Mask; Supporting High: Functioning Women of Color in Therapy
High-functioning women of color often enter therapy presenting as competent, successful, and emotionally contained, while carrying significant internal distress shaped by trauma, perfectionism, and chronic over-responsibility. These presentations are frequently misunderstood or under-assessed in traditional clinical frameworks, leading to missed diagnoses, misattunement, or an overemphasis on symptom management rather than root causes. This foundational training focuses on helping clinicians accurately conceptualize and assess high-functioning women of color through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens. Participants will explore how racialized expectations, gendered socialization, and systemic stressors shape symptom presentation, coping strategies, and help-seeking behavior. The training will examine common diagnostic considerations, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and complex trauma, with particular attention to masked, over-regulated, or “high-performing” presentations. Clinicians will learn how to differentiate resilience from survival, understand perfectionism as a trauma adaptation, and assess for underlying emotional, relational, and developmental wounds that may not be immediately visible in session. Emphasis will be placed on assessment, intake formulation, and clinical conceptualization rather than intervention. By the end of this session, participants will have a clearer framework for identifying the unique needs of high-functioning women of color, conducting more attuned assessments, and laying a solid foundation for effective and ethical treatment planning.
NYMHCA: Beyond the Mask: Assessment, Diagnosis & Treatment of High Functioning Women of Color
LINK TO COME.
High-achieving women of color often present in therapy as composed and capable, yet beneath the surface may struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, and perfectionism that frequently go unrecognized or misdiagnosed. This presentation will guide clinicians in accurately identifying and conceptualizing these clients within DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 frameworks, emphasizing the importance of culturally informed diagnosis and clinical judgment.
This session is an adaptation of the Beyond the Mask presentation, expanding on the practical clinical work of understanding this population. Participants will learn how to differentiate adaptive functioning from masked distress, assess for core traits such as hyper-independence, emotional suppression, and internalized racism, and understand how these factors influence symptom presentation. The session will also provide an overview of evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment approaches—including psychodynamic, ACT, and somatic techniques—designed to help clients move beyond perfectionism, cultivate self-compassion, and engage in authentic healing.
Orenda + NYMCHA Continuing Education Workshop: Beyond the Mask: Supporting High-Achieving Women of Color in Therapy
High-achieving women of color often present as successful, competent, and resilient, yet many struggle with underlying trauma, perfectionism, and the weight of societal and cultural expectations. Traditional therapy models may overlook the nuances of their experiences, leading to misattunement and ineffective interventions.
This workshop will provide clinicians with trauma-informed, culturally responsive strategies to better support high-functioning women of color in therapy. Participants will explore the intersection of identity, success, and mental health, learning how to create spaces where these clients feel truly seen, valued, and supported in their healing journey.