Media - Dr. Isha Metzger

Dr. Isha Metzger in the Media
Dr. Metzger is excited to share her expertise with the news and media! Dr. Metzger has nearly 15 years' experience in interpersonal and racial trauma and mass violence. For example, she was a part of the immediate response team in June 2015 when a white supremacist terrorist mass shooting took the lives of 9 Black members of the congregation during a Bible study at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In the years leading up to and following this event, Dr. Metzger has dedicated herself to helping youth, caregivers, families, and communities respond to, unfortunately, hundreds of other direct and witnessed instances of interpersonal violence (e.g., sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence) and anti-Black racism (seeing police brutality in the news, unfair discipline at school). Dr. Metzger is available for booking, and she is sure to be a dynamic addition to your television or radio show, magazine, podcast, YouTube, or news article!
2022
July 2022 - C.A.R.E. Package For Racial Trauma is available in print!
Our C.A.R.E. Package for Racial Healing is available in print!!! It’s the C.A.R.E. Package you know and love PLUS over 50 (yes, FIFTY) additional handouts and resources for you to use!

This guide can be a tool for therapists and clinicians working with Black youth! It’s also useful for caregivers who want support in having conversations about racism and how to respond in proactive ways! We even got feedback from teens who say it’s useful for them in talking to their friends and peers! The C.A.R.E. Package for Racial Healing is a must for anyone wanting to help Black youth heal from racial stressors!

The C.A.R.E. Package helps Black teens explore racial identity, racial socialization, relaxation, emotion regulation, cognitive coping, and behavioral strategies for overcoming experiences with racial stressors.

Learn how racial socialization can help protect you, and about other evidence-based strategies that can help you heal from stressful experiences!
Visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble to purchase:
tinyurl.com/CAREPACKAGEamazon
tinyurl.com/CAREPACKAGEbn

#healing #coping #racialtrauma
2021
December 2021 - Peace of Mind with Taraji
2021 was one of the deadliest gun violence years in decades. Did you catch this episode of Peace of Mind with Taraji? Rapper G Herbo talks about his struggles with PTSD and community activist Harry Bell shares how witnessing multiple shootings left him struggling with alcohol and suicidal thoughts. In this episode, Dr. Isha Metzger discusses impacts of gun violence on individuals and communities, and how these life-threatening experiences specifically cause harm to the Black community. Find the episode exclusively on Facebook TV!
Peace of Mind with Taraji - PTSD with Rapper G Herbo: Not Just from Combat

November 2021 - Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism
It is finally here!! The book "Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism" is available to you online for FREE! Are you interested in doing some anti-racism reading? This book is edited by Dr. Kevin Cokley and features a chapter authored by friends of The EMPOWER Lab, Dr. Maryam Jernigan-Noesi and Dr. Earl Turner, as well as our very own Dr. Isha Metzger! Visit cognella.com/making-black-lives-matter and start reading so you don't miss out on the excellent content from Black scholars, activists, and students like you!
Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism

September 2021 - The 8 Unique Stressors Behind Depression in Young U.S. Latinos
Depression rates for young Latino people are some of the highest among all communities in the U.S. Racial trauma, struggles with ethnic identity, and learning a new language/having an accent are a few of the many barriers contributing to the greater level of mental health issues in the Latinx communtiy. Many of these stressors are ehnicity-related, so our treatment for them should be ethnicity-related too. Andrea Vargas, Dr. Gabriela Livas Stein, Ivette M. Gómez, Dr. Teresa Yanez, and Dr. Isha Metzger discuss what is needed and culturally competent counseling! Read more at https://tinyurl.com/depressionpsychcentral
The 8 Unique Stressors Behind Depression in Young U.S. Latinos

September 2021 - KBLA Talk 1580, featuring Dr. Isha Metzger
Tavis Smiley owns and operates the first Black-owned talk radio station in Los Angeles, KBLA 1580. He hosted Dr. Isha Metzger and they discussed racial stress and trauma in the Black community, her research in this area with the EMPOWER Lab, and more!
Tavis Smiley's KBLA 1580 episode featuring Dr. Isha Metzger

September 2021 - The Cohort Sistas Podcast, featuring Dr. Isha Metzger
Did you catch the latest episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast? Listen in to this wonderful conversation between host Dr. Ijeoma Kola and our very own Dr. Isha Metzger! Together, they discuss how to establish expectations and boundaries in mentoring and balancing academic & community work. Hear about Dr. Metzger's journey, including the role that mentors have played in her success, securing funding for her studies, why she decided to work in such a transdisciplinary way. Dr. Metzger also leaves us with some words of encouragement for Black women who are thinking about pursuing doctoral studies.

Cohort Sistas Podcast featuring Dr. Isha Metzger
September 2021 - The Psychologists Podcast, featuring Dr. Isha Metzger
The Psychologists Podcast (hosted by Julia & Gill Strait) featured Dr. Isha Metzger! She discussed racial stressors, racial socialization, and racial trauma; she spoke as a professor/researcher/psychologist, but also got personal! If you're wondering how we should be talking about race with our kids, what to do as a clinician working with people with different backgrounds or beliefs, or how to just stop saying/doing things that hurt other people, listen in for some research-backed tips.
The Psychologists Podcast featuring Dr. Isha Metzger

August 2021 - The Reec Radio Show, featuring Dr. Isha Metzger
Reec Radio is an innovative digital broadcast platform that was created to entertain, inform and electrify its listeners! Dr. Isha Metzger was interviewed
Reec Radio Show LIVE with Dr. Metzger

August 2021 - PsychCentral, Depression in Young Latinos and the Unique Stressors Behind It, by Lacey Muinos and Sandra Silva Casabianca
Depression rates for young Latino people are some of the highest among all communities in the U.S. Racial trauma, struggles with ethnic identity, and learning a new language/having an accent are a few of the many barriers contributing to the greater level of mental health issues in the Latinx communtiy. Many of these stressors are ehnicity-related, so our treatment for them should be ethnicity-related too. Andrea Vargas, Dr. Gabriela Livas Stein, Ivette M. Gómez, Dr. Teresa Yanez, and Dr. Isha Metzger discuss what is needed and culturally competent counseling!
Depression in Young Latinos and the Unique Stressors Behind It

June 2021 - VoyageATL Local Stories, Meet Isha Metzger: Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Owner, by Erika Smith
Academia or Business? Why not both? Dr. Metzger founded Cultural Concepts, LLC in the summer of 2020, seamlessly transitioning her academic experience in racial trauma and healing to consultations for improvements in the way that other businesses and organizations interact with the community. Dr. Metzger has over a decade of expertise in researching positive development for Black youth and in working with clinicians to deliver better care for minority populations.
Meet Isha Metzger: Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Owner

April 2021 - MedPage Today, Treating Ethno-Racial Trauma With Cultural Humility, by Kara Grant
Dr. Metzger trains mental health providers to be aware of racial stressors like unfair policing and racially motivated hate crimes. These stressors often occur in addition to the interpersonal stressors that require help from mental health professionals. Confronting the topic of race in therapy is critical for engaging and efficacious treatment for ethnic minorities. In this article, Dr. Metzger discusses the utility of cultural humility for clinicians from majority populations to connect with, engage, and validate the experiences of BIPOC clients so that they benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.
Treating Ethno-Racial Trauma With Cultural Humility - Full article

March 2021 - Future Human, Scientists Are Using Psychedelics to Help People Cope With Racial Trauma, by Emma Betuel
Dr. Metzger notes that there is no magic drug for racial trauma or PTSD; furthermore, while psychedelics may have enhancing effects for therapy, which is deserving of more research, they do carry risks and side effects like panic attacks. Even without drugs, therapists have a variety of techniques at their disposal, such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy or Cognitive Processing Therapy. By using therapy to help clients explore the way trauma has affected them, Dr. Metzger suggests that they can then restructure the way they view their own trauma.
Future Human, Scientists Are Using Psychedelics to Help People Cope With Racial Trauma - Full article

March 2021 - American Psychological Association CE e-Newsletter, Six Things Psychologists Are Talking About, Communicating with Teens During COVID by Zara Abrams
Dr. Isha Metzger and Dr. Riana E. Anderson discuss the development of the EMBRace—Engaging, Managing, and Bonding through Race intervention, the Racial Trauma Guide, and provide suggestions for parents and caregivers talking about race and racism with teens.
Six Things Psychologists Are Talking About, Communicating with Teens During COVID - Full article

January 2021 - APA Monitor on Psychology, How to Discuss Race with Black Teens and their Families by Charlotte Huff
Dr. Isha Metzger discussed how to help Black teens and families process and problem solve racial dilemmas and how mental health professionals can incorporate race into therapy.
APA Monitor on Psychology, How to Discuss Race with Black Teens - Full article

January 2021 - Journal of School Psychology (2020), Parenting profiles of academic and racial socialization: Associations with academic engagement and academic self-beliefs of African American adolescents, research spotlight
Drs. Isha Metzger, Shauna Cooper, Charity Griffin, Alexandrea Golden, Ijeoma Opara, and Tiarney Ritchwood detailed the different ways that parents utilized academic and racial socialization. In this study, the researchers identified different parenting profiles that are associated with academic outcomes for African American youth.
Parenting profiles of academic and racial socialization - Full article
2020
December 2020 - Georgia Health News, COVID-19 Bus Brings Help for Behavioral Health Needs by Naomi Thomas
Dr. Metzger noted that food, income, and housing insecurities are associated with increased risks of behavioral health concerns. As such, and in an attempt to provide comprehensive care that meets community needs, the CarePartners bus also delivers food to families in need through working in partnership with local food banks.
COVID-19 Bus Brings Help for Behavioral Health Needs by Naomi Thomas - Full article

December 2020 - UGA Office of Research, Helping Minorities Navigate Racial Trauma by Allyson Mann
Dr. Isha Metzger discussed her research interests, background, and $1 million dollar NIH funded research study, Project NaviGAte
Helping Minorities Navigate Racial Trauma - Full article

October 2020 - Medium, Social Unrest Leads to Mental Unrest: Checking in on Your Mental Health During the Black Lives Movement by Elijah Johnson
Dr. Isha Metzger discussed the importance checking in on mental health and "unplugging" from social media.
Social Unrest Leads to Mental Unrest: Checking in on Your Mental Health During the Black Lives Movement - Full article

August 2020 - Pillow Fort Sessions Podcast, Dr. Metzger the Super ResearchHER
Nicole Fortune and Dr. Isha Metzger talked about Beyonce, unplugging from social media and her million dollar grant to address racial trauma
Listen to the Podcast here

August 2020 - One in Ten, The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families
We're back from our Best of the Best series to talk with Dr. Isha Metzger, a clinical psychologist, a University of Georgia researcher, and head of The EMPOWER Lab. But her real claim to fame: she noticed that the gold-standard treatment for children delivered at CACs wasn't working for her Black clients, dug into it, and came up with a brand-new adaptation to serve Black children and families, build their trust, and see themselves reflected in the work of healing from trauma. In fact, Just as concrete barriers need to be lowered to help families engage with treatment, the messages embedded within that treatment must include racial socialization and messages that include messages of strength, joy, pride, and voice. How can CACs and clinicians ensure they're meeting the needs of Black kids and families, or of other BIPOC kids? What are white clinicians to do to ensure that the messages in treatment fit the experiences of their BIPOC clients? And what are the implications for family engagement?
Topics in this episode: What is racial socialization? How social and racial messages affect treatment outcomes; Culturally specific treatment strategies; How racial adaptations for treatment models work; Racial trauma and polyvictimization; The role of celebratory experiences in treatment; Racial justice; Diversity, equity, and inclusion; Mental health disparity
Listen to the podcast here

July 2020 - Bowtie Conversations in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
"How to Talk to (K-12) Children About Race and Inclusion" This episode of the Bowtie Convo discusses the importance of talking to children about race and inclusion. Join Host Dr. "Bowtie" Todd as he is joined by an all-star panel of educators and parents: Dr. Isha Metzger (Professor and Clinical Psychologist), The Franklin Family (Parents and Educators), Mr. Barry White (Popularized as “The Handshake Teacher”), and Rian Reed (CEO of Rian Reed & Co.)
Listen to the podcast here

July 2020 - Yale School of Public Health News
Diverse Scholars Institute Supports Underrepresented Faculty
July 2020 - ILY Magazine
Dr. Metzger discussed how to cope with heartbreak during quarantine and signs of anxiety - Interview
June 2020 - Salone Health, Sierra Leoneans against COVID-19
As Sierra Leonean healthcare and public health young professionals focused on disseminating relevant and timely information to the Salone community, this town-hall presented by Salone Health discusses prevention, testing, and information sources, and feature an open discussion with a Q&A and testimonials from professionals in the Sierra Leonean community. Dr. Metzger presents information on mental health including common stress reactions to COVID-19, coping with COVID-19 related stress, discussing COVID-19 with your children, and tips for first responders!
Full webinar

June 2020 - Black Womxn Health Podcast, Let's Talk about Childhood Trauma, Episode 33
Listen to the podcast here

June 2020 - COVID-Campus Return, Student Voices Series
Hosted by Dr. Isha Metzger and Dr. Maryam Jernigan

May 2020 - Voyage ATL, Local Stories, Conversations with Inspirational Dr. Isha Metzger
Read the interview here

April 2020 - Georgia Health News, COVID-19 Bus Brings Help for Behavioral Health Needs
Georgia Health News, COVID-19 Bus Brings Help for Behavioral Health Needs - Full article
2019
February 2019 - APA Journals Article Spotlight
Many ethnic and racial groups experience higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as compared to White Americans. One explanation for this is the experience of racism, which can itself be traumatic. When traumatization is due to experiences of racism it is sometimes called racial trauma. Racial trauma can result from major experiences of racism such as workplace discrimination or hate crimes, or it can be the result of an accumulation of many small occurrences, such as everyday discrimination and microaggressions. An article by Williams, Metzger, and colleagues, published in Practice Innovations, aims to provide a context for understanding how racism can lead to a diagnosis of PTSD according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
APA Journals Article Spotlight summary
2018
October 2018 - On Second Thought, NPR, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Dr. Isha Metzger, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, and Sally Sheppard, the Executive Director of The Cottage, a sexual assault and children’s advocacy center in Athens, GA, joined in on the national conversation about sexual assault surrounding Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Topics discussed include the psychological effects of sexual assault (e.g., repressed memories, PTSD, triggers), why women might choose to not report or disclose that they have been sexually assaulted, and the role of psychologists and advocates in healing from trauma. This episode of “On Second Thought” is available for download on NPR, Apple Music podcasts, Soundcloud, and other streaming apps.
On Second Thought, NPR, Georgia Public Broadcasting - Full Episode