OUT OF THE FIRE

¦ Evidence-based solution: This book offers readers proven-effective skills
grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—an empowering,
strength-based, and non-pathologizing approach to dealing with violence
and trauma exposure and trauma-related symptoms.
¦ An unjust system: Trauma is of significant concern for the African American
population. African Americans more frequently met criteria for posttraumatic
stress disorder than other groups. In addition, African Americans
are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white people.
¦ Pandemic-related trauma: The rate of hospitalization or death from
COVID-19 for African Americans is approximately five times that of non-
Hispanic white persons. And while Black people account for 13 percent of
the US population, they made up 27 percent of the confirmed COVID-19
cases in the US in 2020. (Centers for Disease Control).

Black Americans are disproportionately affected by trauma and historically lack access to mental health resources. With this guide, readers will discover that they
can pull themselves out of the fire of painful experiences and gain the psychological flexibility needed to thrive, not just survive.
In Out of the Fire, Black clinician and professor, Jennifer Shepard Payne, presents culturally tailored acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) skills to help
readers heal from trauma, so they can live a meaningful life that is in tune with their own values. The ACT approach in this guide is empowering, strength-based,
and non-pathologizing. Readers will come to understand that their suffering is not a sign of dysfunction, but rather a product of circumstances and experience.
Once readers face the pain of trauma head on, they will discover the tools needed to feel whole.

Jennifer Shepard Payne, PhD, LCSW, is founder and owner of DTG Counseling and Consulting, where she provides ACT counseling
and coaching. Payne specializes in culturally tailoring ACT for African American communities, both clinically and via research. She is
co-coordinator for the Executive Committee of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Special Interest Group within the Association for
Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).