ABSTRACT
Black-emerging adult males face many barriers to the effective engagement in substance abuse treatment including stigma, lack of access to resources, and engagement with the criminal justice system. This case study introduces a group therapy and counter-storytelling intervention to understand and effectively mitigate some of these barriers. Counter-storytelling, derived from critical race theory (CRT) framework, focuses on marginalized individuals sharing how various aspects of society impact them, which is often different from the majority narrative. Through this intervention, Black-emerging adult males discussed the challenges they face when engaging in treatment, coping skills for barriers they face, and overcoming stigma of substance abuse recovery. Using a group therapy and counter-storytelling intervention, clinicians can begin to suspend how they traditionally think about treatment for Black-emerging adult males and engage in more effective practices to support this population.
