Beneath the Surface: How Race Shapes Intimacy, Conflict, and Connection in Interracial Couples
Saturday, November 21, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm (5.5 CEs)
de Witt Hall, Winslow Academic Center
Lasell University, 1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA
Race functions as both a sociocultural and relational experience that shapes emotional connection, conflict, and sexual intimacy within interracial relationships. When race goes unexamined, unnamed, and lives "beneath the surface" of a couple's relationship, it threatens emotional safety, relatonal satisfaction, and sexual intimacy.
Many clinicians feel unprepared to identify and intervene when race is impacting a couple's relationship. Drawing from psychodynamic, relational, and sex therapy frameworks, this workshop will explore how race can operate both explicitly and implicitly to shape the dynamics of interracial couples. Through video clips, clinician vignettes, and experiential exercises, participants will learn to recognize race-based stressors and facilitate repair that strengthens intimacy and connection. Andre Perreault, LMHC, a graduate of PCFINE's Couple Therapy Training Program, will present a case for consultation from Ms. Tyrell-Williams. this will be an interactive presentation with ample time for audience participation.
Tasha Tyrell-Williams, LCSW-R, CST, is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City specializing in couples and relationship-focused work. She is also adjunct faculty with Adelphi University Postgraduate Program in Couples Therapy.
She has extensive clinical experience in healthcare and behavioral health settings and has completed advanced training trauma through the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis and couple therapy through Adelphi University. She completed sex therapy training through the Modern sex Therapy Institute, then earned credentialing as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.
Tasha is also the creator of Private Parts: An Intimacy Building Activity for Couples; a therapeutic puzzle for couples designed to foster meaningful conversations, deepen emotional intimacy, and strengthen connection through guided dialogue.
Andre Perreault, LMHC, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Newton. He has completed PCFINE's Couple Therapy Training Program, and has a special interest and experience working with interracial couples.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this program the participants will be able to:
1)Provide examples of how racial identity, racial socialization, and racialized experiences can influence attachment, conflict, intimacy, and connection in interracial couples
2)Describe differences between race-related relational distress and general couple conflict
3)Describe how race and racialized messages influence erotic identity, sexual desire, attraction, body image, and sexual connection within interracial relationships
4)Describe how psychodynamic and systemic frameworks provide models to understand how race-based stressors affect emotional safety, vulnerability, trust, and relational security
5)Describe your own countertransference, positionality, and clinical blind spots when working with interracial couples and ways you can productively manage these aspects of the work
6)Describe interventions that facilitate racial dialogue, emotional attunement, accountability, and the repair of race-based intimacy injuries
REFERENCES:
Debnam, K.J. & Avery, L.R. (2026). It's not actually all peaches and roses: "The role Strong Black Woman schema plays in Black women's intimate partnerships. J Social and Personal Relationships, 43(3), 887-910.
Hughes, E. (2026). "No one sees me romantically": Gendered colorism in Black women's dating and intimate experiences. J Black Studies, 57(2), 207-232.
Killian, K.D. (2013). Interracial couples, intimacy, and therapy. Columbia University Press.
Leslie, L.A. & Young, J.L. (2015). Interracial couples in therapy: Common themes and issues. J Social Issues, 71(4), 788-803.
Perkins, J. (2025). Racism's Impact on Black intimacy. The Family Journal, 33(4), 598-606.
Raghunandan, S. & Moodley, R. (2024). The lived experiences of interracial couples: Racialized experiences, reconciling differences, and engendered strengths. J Couple & Relationship Therapy, 23(4), 305-457.
Young, A.A., Jr. (2021). Black men and Black masculinity. Annual Review of Sociology, 47, 437-457.
FEE:
For registration information, please scroll down to the registration section of the flyer.
PARTICIPANTS:
This program is open to all PCFINE members, other interested mental health professionals and students. It is intended for those with beginner to advanced levels of knowledge and experience.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Full refund if notice of cancellation is received by November 13, 2026.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Psychologists -- The Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England (PCFINE) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PCFINE maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program fulfills the requirements of 5.5 hours of CE credit. Participants from states other than Massachusetts will need to file with their respective licensing boards. PCFINE will issue a certificate of attendance to those who complete the program, but this issuance does not guarantee CE acceptance by board other than APA and NASWMA.
Social Workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists may call 781-433-0906 or email pcfine1934@gmail.com for CE information.
PCFINE is committed to non-discrimination and will conduct all activities in strict conformity with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles for Psychologists. If you believe that a violation of ethics has occurred during the program, or have any other complaints or questions, please contact Susan H. Phillips, Ph.D. at pcfine1934@gmail.com.
There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE sponsor, presenters, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as a conflict of interest.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING: See https://www.lasell.edu
REGISTRSTION:
Early Bird registration until November 1, 2026.
The deadline for registration is November 19, 2026, 5:00 pm (EST).
The registration fee includes food during the morning and afternoon breaks and lunch in the cafeteria.
