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Danielle Alyssa Samuel, Ph.D., is a 2024 graduate of the PhD Program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Antioch University, New England

Dr. Danielle Samuel

Dissertation Committee:

  • Kevin Lyness, PhD, LMFT, Chairperson
  • Denzel Jones, PhD, Committee Member
  • DeAnna Harris-McKoy, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

Black feminism, gendered racism, sexual trauma, sexuality, trauma, mixed methods

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The double bind of Black womanhood has been long documented in Black feminist literature. This dissertation seeks to greatly contextualize how Black women experience make sense of, and heal from, sexual trauma given the nature of gendered racism in the United States (U.S). Utilizing a convergent parallel design grounded in Black Feminist Theory and hermeneutic phenomenology, the lived experiences of 98 Black women from across the U.S. were investigated. Regression analyses revealed that the frequency of gendered racial microaggressions and the associated appraisal were not significant predictors of participants’ PTSD symptoms. Additionally, PTSD symptoms were inversely predictive of current perceptions of healing and healing progress. A mediation effect of negative alterations in cognitions and mood on the relationship between sexual objectification, specific to Black women, and progress in healing was also evident. Gendered racism did moderate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and perceived healing at the lowest point but not healing progress. The major themes that emerged from the interviews included “Negative Consequences of Sexual Assault,” “Pathways of Healing,” “Barriers to Help and Justice-Seeking,” “Dimensions of Racial-Ethnic Socialization,” and “Dimensions of Gendered Racial Socialization.” Combined, these findings highlight the unique sociocultural and historical context of Black female survivorship and amplify the necessity for clinicians to integrate Black feminist therapeutic praxis to inform treatment assessment, goal, and intervention. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID.: 0009-0003-3345-7998

Bio:

Danielle Samuel (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). She earned her PhD in Couple and Family Therapy with a focus on social justice from Antioch University New England and graduated cum laude with a Master of Science in Counseling from CSUN. Before joining the CSUN faculty, Danielle was the Associate Director of Programs at a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting trauma survivors. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Bi Task Force. Danielle was also honored with the 2022 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Research & Education Foundation Diversity Scholarship for Emerging Leaders.

Drawing on her Caribbean heritage and queer identity, she is dedicated to advancing cultural humility and trauma-informed care through her leadership, clinical practice, research, and consultancy. Her research and clinical interests encompass interpersonal trauma therapy, queer-affirming services, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and race-based traumatic stress.

Publications:

Samuel, D. A. (2023). Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling: By adrienne maree brown, Chico, CA: AK Press, (2019). 464 pp., $20 (USA). Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 39(1), 288–290. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2023.2246410

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