In this episode, Dr. Nicole sits down with Dr. Janelle Peifer to have a conversation on othering and it its effect on the Black professional. The term othering refers to the classification of a group or individual as “not one of us”. We see othering within groups and between groups, with a variety of effects on our mental health and functioning. In this episode, Drs. Washington and Peifer talk about this concept and its effect today but they do not stop there. They go on to discuss the variety of ways that we process and outwardly express the effects of trauma, presumed incompetence, the double-edged sword that is resiliency among Black women, and tips on when to consider engaging in therapy.
Dr. Janelle S. Peifer is a licensed clinical psychologist, assistant professor, and researcher committed to working alongside a vast diversity of clients as they navigate their lives. She founded Onward + Outward Psychotherapy in the Atlanta metropolitan area. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology at the University of Virginia and is an alumna of Wake Forest University. Her research examines: 1) college student development with an identity and intercultural competence focus and 2) a family-based clinical intervention focused on postpartum wellness. Peifer’s clinical and applied interests include working with people who have experienced trauma, young adults navigating their emerging identities, and couples and families processing life transitions. Dr. Peifer has worked in schools, hospitals, college counseling centers, veteran’s affairs administrations, and community mental health clinics and believes in low-barrier, solutions-focused therapy rooted in evidence-based practices.
For more information about Dr. Peifer’s services you can reach out to her on her website.
