This course will help you explore and reflect on how racial identity development can be an important part of clients’ journeys as well as how it can impact our own exploration and racial identity development. We'll learn about the People of Color Racial Identity Model, the White Racial Identity Development Model, and the Biracial Identity Development Model. 

Then, we’ll discuss how to use this knowledge and understanding to impact our social work practice at the micro level using an antiracist lens that focuses on awareness, exploration, and engagement.

Simulated therapy session: This course includes a simulated supervision session with the instructor, Kathy Lopes, and Ally (played by an actor). Ally provides  home-based therapy to children and families and is seeking guidance on her work with a family. 

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome!

    2. Our Plan

    1. Overview

    2. What Is Racial Identity?

    3. Exploring Internal & External Identity Development

    4. What is Racial Identity Development (RID)?

    5. My Story

    1. Overview

    2. The People of Color Racial Identity Model

    3. An Example

    4. The White Racial Identity Development Model

    5. An Example

    6. The Biracial Identity Development Model

    7. An Example

    8. Relevance to Social Work

    9. Connections to Our Core Social Work Values

    10. Simulated Session: Background Information

    11. Simulated Supervision: Ally Seeks Guidance in Supervision

    12. Simulated Supervision: Kathy Gives Ally Guidance

    1. Overview

    2. Engaging In Our Own Process of Self-Exploration

    3. Questions to Guide Self-Exploration

    1. Overview

    2. Exploring Racial Identity Development with Clients

    3. Racial Identity Development: Countertransference & Self-Reflection

    4. Supervision with Ally Part 2

    5. Supervision with Ally Continued

    1. Overview

    2. Review

    3. Bibliography

    4. Nice Work!

About this course

  • $29.00
  • 2 CE (Social & Cultural Competency)
  • Online, self-paced, noninteractive course
  • Available in the U.S. and Canada

Meet the Instructor

Kathy Lopes

Kathy Lopes, LICSW is a DEI executive with extensive administrative and clinical experience. She serves as the current Vice President of the National Association of Black Social Workers, the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Newton Public Schools District in Massachusetts, and the inaugural 1st Vice President of the Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders (AMSEL). She is an adjunct faculty member at Simmons University Graduate School of Social Work and is also the founder of inKlusion - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consulting Services. Lopes is also the co-author of Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School.

Course Details

Credits: This course offers 2 social & cultural competency continuing education credits. Learn more

Cost: $29

Format: This is an online, self-paced, noninteractive course that includes reading and recorded videos (asynchronous course).

Registration: To register for this course, click the “Enroll” button. This course is self-paced, so you can join at any time after completing your registration and payment.

Practice Level: Beginner

Target Audience: Social workers who are seeking foundational information about racial identity development and its application to social work practice.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, you will learn to:

  • Define Racial Identity Development and explain how this theory applies to our social work values.

  • Describe how to apply the theory of Racial Identity Development to your own self-exploration as a social worker.

  • Identify examples of how Racial Identity Development can inform how you help clients to explore their own narratives around identity.

  • Identify examples of how Racial Identity Development can help you use an antiracist lens in your work with clients that focuses on awareness, exploration, and engagement.

Continuing Education Credits

Continuing education credits are offered to social workers in all U.S. states except New York and across all Canadian provinces. If your state uses CE Broker, you will need to manually upload your certificate of credit. Learn more

Additional Information

Refund & Cancellation Policy: GetPractice will fully refund requests from learners who have not completed a course. If a learner has completed all requirements of a course and received their certificate of completion, they are no longer eligible for a refund. 

Accessibility: Please email [email protected] to discuss any questions or requests regarding accessibility & accommodations. 

System Requirements: This course is hosted on the GetPractice site. To complete the course and all required course materials, learners will login to the GetPractice course site. Learners will need a computer or smartphone and an internet connection to complete the course.

Course Completion Requirements: To complete the course and receive their certificate of credit, learners will complete all online lessons in the course, a posttest (a passing score of 80% is required, learners can retake the test if needed), and a course evaluation. Once these components are successfully completed, the learner’s certificate of credit will be available immediately on the course page and in their learner account.

Availability Notice: GetPractice courses are only available for sales in the U.S. and Canada.

Questions or Concerns: Please reach out to [email protected] 

Course Creation Date: 5/15/2026

GetPractice LLC, provider #2517, 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:11/14/25-11/14/26. Social workers completing this course receive 2 social & cultural competency  continuing education credits.

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