Breaking the Flow: Omi CBT for African American Boys

Omi Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Omi CBT) is a culturally responsive intervention framework designed for African American males with emotional/behavioral disabilities. Grounded in African-centered principles, it integrates evidence-based CBT techniques with positive male mentorship to address the emotional dysregulation exacerbated by gender-imbalanced environments (e.g., schools and homes). The model targets four core outcomes: (1) resilience building, (2) emotional regulation, (3) selfawareness development, and (4) positive identity formation. Currently in theoretical development, Omi CBT prioritizes training culturally responsive clinicians from Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous backgrounds, while requiring rigorous cultural competency training for White clinicians. Preliminary analysis suggests potential applicability to other marginalized populations and institutional settings (e.g., juvenile justice systems). The framework simultaneously advocates for policy reforms to reduce systemic barriers limiting Black male representation in education and mental health professions, including criminal record expungement initiatives. Empirical evidence supports that increased positive male mentorship correlates with improved socioemotional functioning, academic performance, and reduced behavioral incidents among African American youth. This abstract outlines Omi CBT’s theoretical foundations, clinical applications, and sociopolitical implications for culturally competent mental healthcare.