Racism has plagued the United States since before its founding and remains deeply embedded in society. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discrimination illegal and blatant racism became less socially acceptable, covert forms—like colorblind racism and microaggressions—took over. While overt racism had become less prominent, Trump's second term reversed prior progress, normalizing overt racism through executive orders and white supremacist rhetoric that reinforce racial hierarchies. What was once condemned is increasingly normalized, accepted, and rationalized.


Work is a fundamental part of life and essential to well-being, yet it remains a major arena where racism persists (Blustein, 2006, 2008; Fouad & Byars-Winston, 2004; Helms & Cook, 1999). Research shows that Black employees regularly experience racial microaggressions, harming both well-being and job satisfaction (Erby & Blustein, 2025; Decuir-Gunby & Gunby, 2016; Holder et al., 2015; Pitcan et al., 2018). Additionally, the current administration has moved to dismantle the DEI initiatives that followed the 2020 racial reckoning and corporations are falling in line. This regression highlights the urgent need for vocational psychologists to support clients of color in navigating increasing workplace challenges and uncertainties.


Historically, vocational psychology has often overlooked the work experiences of marginalized groups (Blustein, 2008; Helms & Cook, 1999). However, social justice-focused psychologists have increasingly integrated issues of racism and marginalization into theory, research, and practice (Blustein, 2008; Duffy et al., 2016). The Psychology of Working Theory (PWT) emphasizes the impact of marginalization on career development and well-being. Yet, there are still further opportunities to develop interventions that are therapeutically responsive to the racial and cultural needs of clients of color.This presentation will explore the ways in which the Psychology of Radical Healing (PRH) offers a unique framework that can be integrated into PWT to provide career counseling that addresses these rapidly evolving challenges.