Family and Systems Seminar (Jodie Kliman, Ph.D.)

This seminar introduces family and systemic thinking and practice with primary attention to humility and responsiveness regarding race, culture (ethnicity and religion), social class, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, immigration history and status, health, and other intersecting aspects of social location. It will offer ways of thinking systemically – at levels of family, community, and larger systems – for a wide range of clinical situations. The seminar will focus on socially just practices in family and systems work, encouraging interns to consider the impact of their own social locations, including all aspects of privilege and marginalization, on their work and their clinical assumptions. Drawing on experiential learning and discussions, the seminar will also introduce interns to reflective practices that can be used in clinical consultation, supervision, and clinical training. We will regularly engage in reflecting teams to deepen the group’s understanding of material covered in seminar, including case presentations, and to prepare interns to use reflective practices at the annual Identity Dialogue in the spring. The Family and Systems Seminar will meet 15 times over the year.
.

Research & Scholarly Inquiry Seminar (Tahirah Abdullah-Swain, Ph.D)

This one-and-a-half hour seminar will be conducted once per month. The focus of this seminar is to facilitate interns’ research interests and productivity. For many interns the primary focus will be on completing and successfully defending their dissertations during the internship year. Others may focus on submitting their research for publication and/or conference presentations, or may work towards submitting a grant application. During this seminar interns will (1) discuss and set monthly research goals, (2) gain peer and faculty supervision, support, and consultation on their research projects, and (3) explore research related career opportunities. In addition, each intern will give a formal research presentation to their fellow interns and to the faculty for critique, support and feedback.

 

Multicultural Psychotherapy Case Conference Seminar (Shamaila Khan, Ph.D.)

In keeping with the mission of the CMTP, to “train ethnic minority and other cross-culturally oriented Psychologists to work with inner-city, low income and racially/ethnically diverse populations”, this seminar offers to increase the competence of our interns in working with patients from diverse backgrounds (race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc.) and providing culturally-sensitive and attuned mental health care. Held throughout the year, on a monthly basis, this seminar explores clinical case material that involves multicultural issues. It aims at providing direct instruction, clinical exploration and consultation regarding culturally sensitive mental health practice. As part of the seminar, all interns are encouraged to examine their own worldviews, values and biases as well as the ways in which their personal cultural framework impacts clinical practice. They are also encouraged to learn about the values, life experience and concerns of many different cultural communities that their patients bring to fore. In preparation for the case conference presentations, interns are expected to review current theoretical models on multicultural therapy, identity development models (Racial/Bicultural, LGBT, White identity, etc.) and explore implications for clinical encounters.

 

Integrated Behavioral Health Seminar (Cara Fuchs, Ph.D, MPH)

This two-hour seminar meets on a quarterly basis. Integrated behavioral health is a rapidly changing model of health care delivery that has the potential to eliminate health disparities by expanding the reach of behavioral health services. The focus of this seminar is to provide an overview of the current state of integrated behavioral health and the multiple roles that psychologists can play in integrated care. Interns will be encouraged to reflect on the strengths of integrated care models as well as areas for improvement. Relevant research will be discussed and interpreted through a multicultural lens.

Psychological Testing Seminar

The Psychological Testing Seminar meets on the 4th Thursday for 120 minutes. It has two principal objectives: to present evidence-based concepts and practices related to psychological testing and clinical case formulation; and to review instruments and issues relevant to effective and appropriate cross-cultural assessment. Topic areas for the course include: general testing issues (e.g., ethics, report writing, test selection, logistics such as prior authorization and billing), differential diagnosis questions, working with special populations (e.g., young children, elderly, transgender individuals), and selected topics in neuropsychological assessment (e.g., memory, language).

Within each of these areas, multicultural considerations regarding interpretation, conceptualization, and diagnosis are a primary focus. Additionally, interns will continue developing competencies in working with diverse populations, particularly with respect to economic status and racial, ethnic, and cultural identity. Seminars are made up of lectures, active group discussion, and some hands on review of testing materials.

 

Forensics Seminar (John Brown, Ph.D. & Andrew Clark, MD)

The seminar meets every month for 90 minutes per session.  It is co-lead by a forensic psychologist (Dr. Brown) and a forensic psychiatrist (Dr. Clark).  The seminar is designed to help students increase their familiarity with a wide range of forensically related issues from a multi-cultural perspective.  Topics include the role of the mental health clinician in the criminal justice system, the distinctive aspects of forensic evaluations, the strengths and inadequacies of the court system, and report writing and testifying.  Sessions will include selected readings and case discussions, and will be augmented by guest speakers and local field trips.

Considerations when Working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers (Linda Piwowarczyk, M.D.)

This four-session seminar is meant to raise awareness as to the specific challenges faced by the refugee and asylum seeker population. We will speak of triple trauma, which relates to potential persecution in the country of origin, in transit, and after having arrived in the United States. We will look at the specific ways in which the immigration legal system differentiates between these two distinct populations, and the inherent implications. Moreover, we will address clinical issues including the relevance of social determinants of health, the role of spirituality, screening for torture, and mental health stigma. Sessions will include selective readings. Finally, we will learn about the elements of an asylum seeker evaluation for immigration purposes using the Istanbul Protocol.

Applications of Community Psychology to Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice Seminar (Nickki Pearce Dawes, Ph.D)

This seminar will meet on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The purpose of this seminar will be to develop the ability of multicultural Psychologists to assume leadership positions in the field. This course will focus on current issues, ethics, supervision, historical trends, administrative/managerial challenges and strategies, budgeting, program evaluation, conflict resolution, life-balance and networking aimed at the advancement of junior colleagues as leaders in the field of multicultural Psychology. This seminar will be led by Psychologists and other mental health professionals outside an including CMTP faculty who present on various relevant topical issues in Psychology.

Topical Seminars in Multicultural Psychology (All Staff)

This seminar will meet on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The purpose of this seminar will be to develop the ability of multicultural Psychologists to assume leadership positions in the field. This course will focus on current issues, ethics, supervision, historical trends, administrative/managerial challenges and strategies, budgeting, program evaluation, conflict resolution, life-balance and networking aimed at the advancement of junior colleagues as leaders in the field of multicultural Psychology. This seminar will be led by Psychologists and other mental health professionals outside an including CMTP faculty who present on various relevant topical issues in Psychology.

On Practicing Morally in an Immoral Society (Alice LoCicero, Ph.D.)

The central question of this seminar is how we, as clinicians, can continue to provide services in a moral, ethical, and competent way, while holding awareness of the immorality and unlawful actions of the larger society of “the west,” exemplified by the US and European countries, and implemented through institutions and even professional societies. At CMTP, where training focuses on serving poor, ethnically diverse, urban clients, the very act of providing egalitarian, strength-based, culturally humble, competent services is inherently an act of radical resistance to the status quo. Still, clinicians must engage in self-reflection and peer consultation, to continue providing services that encourage clients toward self-empowerment and self-advocacy. All this within a system that is not designed to welcome such advocacy or empowerment. And clinicians must make decisions for their careers in light of these stark realities.
We discuss specific approaches to therapy in this difficult context, including our obligations to ourselves and our clients. As we consider the immorality of wealth disparities, acceptance of violence, and the conditions of war, we will also consider the responsibility of clinicians in safety towards those in unsafe conditions. How can we hold awareness and provide assistance to our colleagues? What specific actions of accompaniment, support, and even relief can be provided? And how can our connection with colleagues all over the world inform our proactive efforts towards humanitarian values.