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Spring 2026 Evening Series
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Webinar

S26-901 History, Harmony and Healing: Music as a Culturally and Trauma-Informed Modality in Therapy with African American Clients

Total Credits: 3 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices CEs

Bundle(s):
Spring 2026 Evening Series | Spring 2026 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Workshops
Categories:
700 Professional Growth & Development |  900 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice |  DC Public Health Priorities |  New |  Evening
Instructor:
Tania DeBarros, LCSW-C, LICSW
Course Levels:
Intermediate
Duration:
3 Hours 15 Minutes
Target Audience:
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Dates
Please Note: Programs with a ☾ insignia begin after 5pm or air on the weekend.
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Description

Discover the history and transformative power of music within African American culture and explore its potential benefits as a supplement to psychotherapy. Music has long served as a vital form of expression and resilience, offering a unique pathway to healing and social justice. This presentation delves into the evidence-based practice of creative arts therapy, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing trauma and emotional well-being. By integrating culturally appropriate care, therapists can enhance client treatment and foster deeper connections. Learn how to harness the therapeutic potential of music to support and empower African American clients on their healing journey.   

 

This workshop is in accordance and in compliance with the NASW standards with a focus on the principles of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and competence; and the standard of responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, and to the broader society.  

Maryland: This workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5). This workshop meets the requirement for Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice for the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners COMAR 10.42.06.03.A.(1)(d) with a focus on cultural humility.    

District of Columbia: This workshop meets the continuing education requirement for DC Public Health Priorities in the following topic: 4. Healthcare Professional Retention and Capacity Building. 

Instructor

Tania DeBarros, LCSW-C, LICSW Related Seminars and Products

Tania DeBarros is a licensed clinical social worker and mental health advocate specializing in person-centered and trauma-informed care for all adults. In her current role with the Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) at the University of Maryland, Tania focuses on workplace wellness. She provides workplace consultations for supervisors and collaborates with other university service providers to offer comprehensive support to faculty and staff. As a counselor, she utilizes solution-focused brief therapy to help individuals achieve their self-identified wellness goals. Tania is passionate about engaging the university community and creating impactful programming, such as trainings, workshops, and events, to promote mental health and well-being across the campus.  

Tania is also an outpatient clinician in solo private practice. She has previously served as a community residence director for a residential program housing residents with co-occurring disorders, and as a clinician for a neighborhood trauma team with the Boston Public Health Commission. In these roles, Tania honed her clinical skills through community outreach, crisis management, and collaboration with providers. She has provided crucial support to trauma survivors and families affected by community violence. Tania also has experience and a fondness for working with musicians, artists, other creatives, and the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Tania earned her BA in child development with a minor in jazz voice from Tufts University and later received her MSW from New York University, focusing on evidence-based practices for adults with serious mental illness. She continues to integrate her musical background into her work by using music and singing as tools for healing, expression, and connection in therapeutic and wellness settings. 

Agenda & Learning Objectives

AGENDA:

5:50 pm – 6:00 pm Log on   

  

6:00 pm – 9:15 pm   

  

There will be one (1) 15-minute break.   

  

Welcome & Introduction  

  • Brief introduction of facilitator  

  • Overview of session objectives and Agenda  

  

Historical & Cultural Context of Music in African American Communities  

  • Overview of the historical role of music as resistance, encouragement, communication, and cultural preservation  

  • Exploration of different Music Genres in African American History 

  • Listening to the different genres throughout the years  

 

Transition activity 

  

Break  

  

The Therapeutic Power of Music  

  • Define Music Therapy  

  • Explain evidence based benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy  

  

Aligning with the NASW Code of Ethics  

  • Review of ethical principles: cultural competence, client dignity, empowerment  

  

Ethical Use of Music vs. Music Therapy   

  • Clear distinctions between board-certified Music Therapy and the therapeutic use of music  

  • Guidelines for ethically using music as a social worker or counselor  

  • Discussion - Ethical vs Unethical Case Study  

  

Closing Activity  

  • Case Study and Group Activity 

  • Participant questions  

  • Closing & Resources  

  • Summary of key takeaways  

  

9:15 pm Adjournment 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the historical context: gain an understanding of the historical and cultural significance of music within African American communities and its role as a tool for expression and resilience.   

  • Explore therapeutic benefits of music therapy: learn about the psychological and emotional benefits of incorporating music into therapy, particularly for addressing trauma and enhancing emotional well-being.   

  • Recognize connection to social work ethics: identify how culturally relevant music therapy techniques tailored to the unique needs and preferences of African American clients are aligned with the NASW Social Work Code of Ethics.   

  • Summarize how to ethically use music in therapy: give examples of how to use music in therapy and will be able to distinguish the difference between music therapy and the therapeutic use of music in therapy. 

 

Bibliography & References

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Amoah, N. (2001). African-American music as rebellion: From slavesong to hiphop.   

Eseadi, C., & Ngwu, M. O. (2023). Significance of music therapy in treating depression and anxiety disorders among people with cancer. World journal of clinical oncology, 14(2), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.5306/wjco.v14.i2.69  

Floyd, S. A. (2008). Black music and writing black music history: American music and narrative strategies. Black Music Research Journal, 28(1), 111-121.  

Garrido, S., Baker, F. A., Davidson, J. W., Moore, G., & Wasserman, S. (2015). Music and trauma: the relationship between music, personality, and coping style. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 977. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00977  

Goffman, E. (2010). From the Blues to Hip Hop: How African American Music Changed US Cul-ture and Moved the World. ProQuest Discovery Guides, 1-12 .  

Habibi, A., Kreutz, G., Russo, F., & Tervaniemi, M. (2022). Music-based interventions in community settings: Navigating the tension between rigor and ecological validity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1518(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14908  

Keen A. W. (2004). Using music as a therapy tool to motivate troubled adolescents. Social work in health care, 39(3-4), 361–373. https://doi.org/10.1300/j010v39n03 09  

Lomax, T. (2024). Music therapy for depression: is it music to our ears? BJPsych Advances, 30(2), 73–77. doi:10.1192/bja.2023.67    

López de Aguileta, A., Crespo-López, A., & López de Aguileta, G. (2025). Literature Review on Music, Social Work and Respect for Diversity. Social Sciences, 14(2), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14020101  

Mayers, K. S. (1995). Songwriting as a way to decrease anxiety and distress in traumatized children. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 22(5), 495-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-4556(94)00050-6  

Rodwin, A. H., Shimizu, R., Travis, R., Jr, James, K. J., Banya, M., & Munson, M. R. (2022). A Systematic Review of Music-Based Interventions to Improve Treatment Engagement and Mental Health Outcomes for Adolescents and Young Adults. Child & adolescent social work journal : C & A, 1–30. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00893-x  

Shukla, A., Choudhari, S. G., Gaidhane, A. M., et al. (2022). Role of art therapy in the promotion of mental health: A critical review. Cureus, 14(8), e28026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026  

Thomas, N. (2021). How do you play when you’re prey? A personal exploration into black creative healing. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v21i1.3154  

Wang, C. C., Emrich, M., Rives, H., Ovalles, A., Wright, D., Wyka, K., & Difede, J. (2024). Music interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, 6, 100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjmad.2024.100053  

Course Completion & CE Information

Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 3 Category I Continuing Education Units for anti-oppressive social work practices. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education. 

 

ASWB Information 

University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.  

To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance. 

 

Certificate Access

To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.  

Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

 

Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.  

Evaluation

Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.  

After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.

Target Audience

Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists

We welcome anyone interested in the topic!

 

Live Interactive Webinar Platforms

LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS

The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.

System Requirements:

  • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
  • Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.

Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.

  • Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.

**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.

Course Interaction Requirements:

To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.

Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.

Webinar Policies & FAQs

Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs

https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129

 

 

Code of Conduct

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.

 

Expectations for Participant Engagement:

In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.

All participants in the training program are expected to:

  • Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
  • Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
  • Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
  • Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
  • Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.

 

Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified. 

ADA Accommodations

To request ADA accommodations:

Please email our office at least four (4) weeks before the workshop. Late requests may not be accommodated.

Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.  

Late Fees and Refunds

The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.  

Late Fee: On 02/18/26, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.  

Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.**  To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop. 

For more information, please read the general policies on our website.  

 

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