Diversity & Cultural Competence for Mental Health Professionals
Fulfills Requirement: Diversity for California and other states
While becoming culturally competent is the standard of care, it is not always clear the best way to enhance one’s competency. This beginner/intermediate level course presents various models and insights into how to best achieve this, along with concrete, pragmatic steps in working with certain populations.
The course is comprised of two sections with all content presented in both audio and text version. Section 1 describes a framework for multicultural competency along with a review of findings of social worker perspectives on how they developed their own competence, a process equally applicable to all mental health professionals.
Section 2 provides information on challenges faced by certain sub-populations including African American women, persons with disabilities, and LBGQTI+ persons, all populations mental health professionals frequently interact with. Specific guidance for how to conceptualize and interact therapeutically with such persons is provided by experts in their respective fields.
Educational Objectives
This course will teach the participant to
- Identify the components of the integrative model of multicultural responsiveness
- Explain how the strengths and vulnerabilities of the African American female client can guide assessment and treatment
- Analyze the unique issues involved in treating clients with disabilities (e.g., assessing for discrimination and abuse, helping with empowerment, and avoiding common diagnostic errors)
- Discuss the unmet mental health and addiction needs of members of the LGBTIQ+ communities, the barriers of access to treatment, specific interventions, and future directions in research
Syllabus
Section 1. A framework for multicultural competency
Integrative model of multicultural responsiveness
- Intersectionality
- Explanatory health models
- Preference accommodation
- Feedback informed care
Practice-based knowledge perspectives of cultural competence
- Cultural competence as part of an open stance
- Hazy yet practical view of cultural competence
- Adjusting after making mistakes
- Developing empathy
- Fundamental changes to professional culture
- Organizational reforms
Section 2: Diverse populations
Counseling African American women: Examining strengths and vulnerabilities
- “The Strong Black Woman”
- Barriers to treatment
- Presentation in treatment
- Assessment in light of historical and contextual factors
- Therapeutic responses
- Areas for further education
Unique issues in counseling people with disabilities
- Discrimination and abuse
- Clinicians’ attitudes and beliefs
- Helping to empower clients
- Cultural and identity considerations
- Medical model perspective
- Family impact
- Clinical suggestions
- Mobility disabilities
- Vision impairment and blindness
- Deafness and hearing loss
- Intake considerations
- Common diagnostic errors
Perspectives of Orientation
- History of perspectives of LBGQTI+ population
- Importance of clinician’s educating themselves
- Clinical considerations