Details:

In the field of mental health, professionals work with an increasingly diverse ethnic population. However, much of the training that is available is focused on and emic Western approach vs. an etic culturally objective approach. As a result, it is difficult for non-assimilated and ethnic clients to receive culturally sensitive services. The clinical standard of care requires that mental health professionals gain skills to work effectively with individuals and groups of varying cultural backgrounds. In this workshop we will utilize psychoeducation and discuss topics and that will assist mental health professionals in seeking and using appropriate culturally centered therapeutic approaches. Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to incorporate multicultural competency into clinical work to best support their veteran clients. A portion of the workshop will focus on military PTSD and culture.

Training for Mental & Behavioral Health Professionals:

This workshop is open to professionals with mental and behavioral health-related graduate degrees (e.g., MSW, MA, MS, MSN), physicians, dentists, and psychologists (e.g., AMA, ADA, APA), and those professionals who are qualified for membership in, or are members of their respective professional organizations. Graduate students in an accredited mental or behavioral health program may also participate in this training.

Objectives:

1. Identify how multicultural competency impacts clinical work with Veterans.
2. Develop a better understanding of culture through critical thinking activities.
3. Begin to consider how cultural understanding can facilitate cross cultural interaction.
4. Better understand culture and PTSD in regard to the military population.
5. Better understand culture, subculture and socioeconomic influences on the counseling relationship