Family therapists need effective strategies to support Latino families facing continued exposure to institutional racism and discrimination in the U.S. Growing research suggests ethnic-racial socialization (i.e., parent messages to children regarding race and ethnicity) is a key contributor to mitigating the adverse effects of ethnic-racial discrimination. However, a key gap exists in the literature concerning the translation of ethnic-racial socialization practices in the therapeutic context. This study offers important empirical insight into how therapy can serve as a promoting environment where family therapists can support Latino parents through complex considerations and navigations of ethnic-racial socialization-related practices.The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate therapists' experiences in facilitating ethnic-racial socialization practices with Latino parents in therapy. The sample included 20 family therapists of diverse social locations (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, age, generational status, linguistic diversity, geographic location) who reported using culturally competent practices (as measured by the Multidimensional Cultural Humility Scale; Gonzalez et al., 2020) and experience working with Latino families. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews informed by three domains of ethnic-racial socialization: cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and immigration socialization. A rigorous thematic analysis approach was used to identify, analyze, and interpret patterns of meaning within the dataset following the tenets of Braun and Clarke (2006).Data analysis resulted in four primary themes: 1) therapeutic relationship groundwork, 2) shift from implicit messages to explicit conversations, 3) unpack generational cultural expectations, and 4) contextual practice influences and ongoing development. Results indicated significant practices family therapists used throughout the treatment process to support Latino parents to engage in ethnic-racial socialization conversations with their children. Key findings suggest family therapists can be key socializing agents available to support Latino parents and their children from the effects of ethnic-racial discrimination.Several implications for future research and clinical practice were identified. The qualitative findings can inform subsequent quantitative research identifying therapist practices linked to effective outcomes for Latino families in treatment. The results are applicable to family therapists seeking to promote conversations related to race, ethnicity, culture, ethnic-racial discrimination, and immigration with Latino parents in therapy.
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