Racial, Ethnic, And Cultural Healing: The REACH Program

Promoting Empowered Decision-Making among BIPOC youth and adults.

Racial, Ethnic, And Cultural Healing (REACH)

What is the REACH Program?

REACH stands for Racial, Ethnic, And Cultural Healing (REACH), a program that is all about promoting Empowered Decision-Making among BIPOC (for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth and adults.

The REACH program is available for BIPOC individuals who are looking for therapy to cope with, heal from, and navigate the impacts of racism-related stress, and to schools, businesses, organizations, and clinicians who are interested in incorporating REACH concepts into the programming/services offered to BIPOC students, employees, or community members.

What is the REACH Program?

REACH program participants learn to:

Understand Racism-Related Stress

Racism-related stress can impact BIPOC in subtle and significant ways. You’ll learn to recognize what racism-related stress is, and explore the various ways it may be impacting daily life and getting in the way of achieving personal or organizational goals.

Apply Effective Coping Skills

We understand that BIPOC should not be held responsible for simply learning to “better cope.” Unfortunately, too often BIPOC are left to shoulder this responsibility. Because of this, the REACH program introduces effective resources to help BIPOC more effectively manage the ways racism-related stress impacts their lives. These coping skills can:

  1. Improve emotional well-being
  2. Build and protect self-confidence, self-love and cultural pride
  3. Enhance one’s sense of agency and control in daily life

Make Empowered Coping Decisions

It is not enough to just know what you can do cope with racism. Empowered Coping means that each individual is able to look at the menu of resources they have, and select the most meaningful, accessible, and appropriate response to use each time one is faced with racism-related stress. Armed with new ideas for how to deal with issues ranging from microaggressions to overt prejudice, participants will learn to put Empowered Coping into action.

Who Can Benefit from REACH?

The REACH program is for anyone who has experienced racism-related stress, and is looking for a safe and affirming space to heal from its impacts. Consider the REACH program if you, your client, or someone in your organization has experienced:

  • Racial microaggressions, or being mistreated because of someone’s negative racial bias or prejudice
  • Waves of hopelessness, numbness, or rage in response to repeated police shootings, acts of violence toward BIPOC, or culturally stressful events.
  • Intense emotions, such as anger, sadness, or anxiety, caused by experiences of racial discrimination.
  • Feeling singled out based on perceived stereotypes and biases.
  • A sense of inequality, discrimination, or a racist-vibe at work or in school
  • A struggle with bi-racial identity

Learn more about incorporating the REACH program into your school, business, organization, or mental health practice HERE.

REACH program participants learn to:

Individual Therapy

In REACH therapy, your therapist will customize treatment to your specific needs and goals. Our therapists work individually with teens, college students, young adults, and professionals, tailoring treatment to your unique circumstances.

The Reach Program was designed by Dr. Ryan DeLapp. Watch Dr. DeLapp describe the REACH program for BIPOC in this video:

Individual Therapy

Group Therapy

BIPOC Wellness Groups are offered for 3 different audiences: Teens, College Students & Young Adults, and Professionals. In each group, participants will learn skills for coping, healing, and thriving with racial stress. Led by Dr. DeLapp or Dr. Brinson, these groups use the book “Empower Yourself Against Racial and Cultural Stress” to create a virtual supportive community. Groups occur in 6-session cycles with the opportunity for new members to join every 6 weeks.

Within each group cycle, you would have an opportunity to strengthen the following skills:

  • Noticing how racial & cultural stress impacts your Body sensations, Emotions, Action urges, and Thoughts (aka your BEAT)
  • Coping with uncomfortable emotions
  • Using your voice and relationships to stand up to injustices
  • Activism and Social Action
  • Growing self-confidence and cultural pride

Learn about bringing REACH to your organization, therapy practice, or school.

Read more

Program Director

Dr. Ryan DeLapp

The REACH Program was created by Dr. Ryan C.T. DeLapp, licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. DeLapp specializes in the provision of culturally responsive care, and is widely recognized as an expert in racial stress. He has published a workbook based on the concepts of REACH, titled Empower Yourself Against Racial and Cultural Stress: Using Skills from the REACH Program to Heal, Cope, and Thrive. He is frequently sought out to speak about racial and cultural stress in training sessions, podcasts and webinars. Learn more about why Dr. DeLapp created the REACH program here.

Blog Posts and Events relating to REACH:

Dr. Ryan DeLapp

Frequently Asked Questions

In the REACH program for INDIVIDUALS, you will participate in 6-12 individual therapy sessions designed to build skills in coping with racism-related stress. Sessions will be customized to your specific needs and goals. This program is not appropriate for individuals who are struggling with a complex mental health diagnosis.

The Ross Center is an out of network provider, and does not accept insurance. However, many clients are able to submit receipts for out of network services to their insurance company for reimbursement.

If you are in need of financial assistance to participate in the REACH program, please let us know. Discounts are available for those in need. Inquiries about financial assistance or questions about insurance should be sent to  dcinfo@rosscenter.com.

Schedule a free 15-minute call with Dr. DeLapp to learn more about the REACH program. Please complete the screening form below to set up this call, or contact us via phone or email if you have any questions:

REACH Screening Form

PHONE: 202-363-1010 and press “0.”
EMAIL: REACH@rosscenter.com

Anyone interested in the REACH individual therapy program will be asked to complete a 60 minute initial evaluation with Dr. DeLapp to assess needs, determine goals, and ensure that the REACH program is the best fit for you.

Individual REACH therapy is available in person in our Manhattan office, and virtually for residents of New York, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland.

Yes, REACH Groups will be formed when there is sufficient interest among participants registered for REACH Individual Therapy. For a group to form, there needs to be at least 5 REACH participants interested. Participants can join as many group cycles as they would like.

To schedule an individual appointment with Dr. DeLapp or Dr. Brinson, or to discuss collaborative programming or any of the REACH groups, please contact us at REACH@rosscenter.com or call 202-363-1010.

Events related to the REACH program

  • Professional Development

2 CEs per workshop, 10 CEs for entire series for Psychologists Nationwide, for Social Workers in NY, VA & DC, for CHES

5 two-hour webinars recorded 9/13/24, 10/4/24, 11/1/24, 12/6/24 and 1/10/25. Can register for individual sessions or entire series.

Empowered Living for BIPOC Clients: A Strength-Based, CBT Approach to Racial Stress

Learn to engage in meaningful, culturally-sensitive, and therapeutic conversations about culturally stressful experiences with clients

Read More →
  • Professional Development

2 CEs for Psychologists & Social Workers Nationwide. 2 CME for Physicians. 2 CEs for Certified Health Educators

Webinar Recorded 8/23/24 - 2 hours

Managing Long-Term Suicidal Ideation in BIPOC Youth

Learn culturally responsive therapeutic tools to manage suicidal ideation in BIPOC clients.

Read More →

The REACH Team:

Sydney Brinson, PsyD

Psychologist

Locations: New York, NY

Ryan DeLapp, PhD

Psychologist & Director of DEI Initiatives

Locations: New York, NY; Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Lauryn Hoard, PhD Student

Psychology Intern & Social Media Coordinator

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.