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Intersectionality in Therapy for African American and Black Women 5 Based on the development of the GRMS, Black women experience silenc- ing and marginalization, controlling imagery or stereotypes, and a reduc- tion to physical qualities (Lewis & Neville, 2015). Silencing and Marginalization. Black women are often rendered insig- nificant and invisible, which complicates their workplace and professional experiences. Therapists should be aware of marginalizing behavior occur- ring during therapeutic interventions with Black women. For example, silencing may occur in therapy when a therapist minimizes a Black female client’s emotional reaction to a sexist experience tied to race by referencing all women’s experiences with gender discrimination. Instead, therapists may empower Black female clients to name experiences of silencing or marginalization during therapy, as a means of establishing voice and an egalitarian relationship. In the example above, using process comments or inviting interpersonal feedback from the client could mend the thera- peutic relationship and allow the therapist to process potential anxiety or discomfort arising in the present moment. Stereotypes. Therapists working with Black women may increase cul- tural competence and treatment outcomes with Black female clients by understanding the sociopolitical context of Black women’s stereotypes (Watson-Singleton, 2017). Collins’s (2000) Black Feminist Thought high- lighted sociohistorical images of Black women. These controlling images include Mammy, Jezebel, and Welfare Mother. Other imagery includes the Superwoman schema and Angry Black Woman stereotype (Collins, 2000 Woods-Giscombé, 2010). Black women’s endorsement of these ste- reotypes reveals some benefits. For example, enacting the Superwoman schema (e.g., displaying strength, being independent) helps some Black women survive despite barriers and limited resources (Woods-Giscombé, 2010). However, the benefits associated with endorsing stereotypes are at the expense of Black women’s mental health. Black women’s stereo- types are associated with increased psychological distress, increased anxiety, and depressive symptoms (Watson-Singleton, 2017). Moreover, Black women’s stereotypes may negatively impact help-seeking behav- iors. Despite being at risk for physical and mental health concerns, Black women underutilize treatment services (Ward, Clark, & Heidrich, 2009). In addition to stigma and cultural mistrust, characteristics of Black wom- en’s stereotypes, such as displaying strength, serve as barriers to treat- ment therapists should be aware of. Racialized Sexual Objectification. Sexual objectification refers to a pro- cess of dehumanization that reduces people to sexual objects (Szymanski, Carr, & Moffitt, 2011). Black women are often reduced to their physical attributes, receiving undesired and uninvited sexualized comments, cat- calls, body viewing and touching, and sexual advances (Lewis et al., 2013).