1:00 – 1:45 PM Check In
1:50 – 2:00 PM Introduction
2:00 – 2:50 PM Round 1 – Concurrent Sessions
3:00 – 3:50 PM Round 2 – Concurrent Sessions
4:05 – 4:55 PM Round 3 – Concurrent Sessions
5:10 – 6:00 PM Round 4 – Concurrent Sessions
6:00 – 6:30 PM Dinner
6:30 – 7:30 PM Keynote
Round 1 Sessions
Click on session titles to read descriptions. Sessions in Round 1 are eligible for 1 CE credit.
This presentation will delve into the ethical dimensions of mental health care for refugee populations. Providing a comprehensive overview of statistics and key facts, it seeks to contextualize the challenges faced by this vulnerable group. Emphasizing mental health concerns and treatment responses, it will address gender-related nuances and ecological hierarchies. By advocating for culturally competent care, it aims to define effective approaches tailored to refugees’ diverse experiences. Ethical considerations inherent in working with this demographic will be explored to ensure best practices. This contributes to the broader discourse on culturally competent care in clinical psychology, promoting strategies to enhance refugee well-being and ethical standards in clinical practice.
* This session is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) for 1 contact hour related to substance abuse.
Islamically integrated psychotherapy merges Islamic theology with modern cognitive behavioral therapy, addressing mental health issues within Muslim communities. Many Muslim Americans avoid therapy due to cultural barriers, rendering mental health a taboo subject. Islamic psychotherapy incorporates Islamic values and teachings into treatment, prioritizing God-centered approaches over individual desires. The presentation will explore mental health from an Islamic perspective, differentiate Islam from cultural backgrounds, and discuss depression and anxiety in Muslims. Participants will engage in dialogue on understanding Islam and better connecting with Muslim clients. Resources will be provided for therapists and clients to support culturally sensitive mental health care.
* This session is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) for 1 contact hour related to substance abuse.
The rising immigrant population in the US, particularly South Asian immigrants, brings unique challenges in acculturating to a new culture. Acculturation involves both external and internal adjustments, impacting attachment styles and relationship dynamics, especially within the family. When caregivers from one culture raise children in a dual cultural environment, conflicts may arise due to differing cultural norms and perspectives on upbringing. This presentation underscores the significance of the acculturation gap in shaping individuals’ attachment styles and perspectives on romantic relationships. Understanding these complexities is crucial for providing culturally sensitive support to immigrant families navigating acculturation processes.
* This session is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) for 1 contact hour related to substance abuse.
Round 2 Sessions
Click on session titles to read descriptions. Sessions in Round 2 are eligible for 1 CE credit.
This presentation delves into intergenerational trauma’s history and common themes when children experience secondary trauma. Research highlights diverse cultural impacts compared to European-Americans, encompassing internalized oppression, hypervigilance, and emotional avoidance (Freeberg, 2022; Gone et al., 2019; Hooper, 2007; Joe et al., 2019; Khuu, 2020; Matheson et al., 2022; Menakem, 2017). The objective of this presentation is to spread awareness of intergenerational trauma, the cultural implications that help reinforce this cycle of trauma, and the current solutions/resources available. The presentation will also address sensitive content, including Holocaust survivors, descendants of enslaved populations, indigenous individuals, and veterans of the Vietnam War.
* This session is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) for 1 contact hour related to substance abuse.
The Middle East, marked by ongoing conflicts, poses ethical considerations for psychologists due to risks to civilian mental health (Soltes, 2017). Historical involvement by Western nations, including Britain and France, adds complexity (Jazeera, n.d.). As future psychologists, cultural competence is crucial, especially considering the influx of Middle Eastern refugees to the USA (Batalova, 2023, Bureau, 2023). With over 3.5 million individuals from the MENA region in the USA, addressing their mental health needs is pressing, yet literature is scarce. This presentation aims to explore the mental health situation in war-torn regions, discussing disorders, cultural nuances, stigma, and our roles as future psychologists in supporting these communities.
* This session is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) for 1 contact hour related to substance abuse.
Round 3 Sessions
Click on session titles to read descriptions.
New CDC research focuses on profound autism prevalence rates and the challenges faced by parents and caretakers, often encountering stigma and trauma (Hughes et al., 2023). Profound autism involves intellectual impairment, seizures, communication limitations, and self-harm, necessitating constant care (Hughes et al., 2023). Black parents face added strain due to institutional biases and racism (Čolić et al., 2021). This talk delves into the struggles of supporting children with profound autism, particularly for Black parents, drawing from research and lived experiences. It emphasizes trauma-informed care for parents and household members and discusses language usage in the autism community. Clinicians treating children with profound autism must grasp the systemic issues impacting these families.
The discussion on cultural competency often centers on race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, yet motherhood plays a significant role in shaping identity. Matrescence, the process of becoming a mother, involves profound transformation akin to the importance of adolescence. Coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s, it has recently gained attention. Despite research on postpartum depression, anxiety, and identity formation, societal focus often neglects mothers’ physical and psychological needs. Social media has provided a platform for mothers to share their experiences. This presentation addresses the cultural and clinical implications of matrescence, highlighting gaps in mental health support for mothers.
This presentation highlights the importance of culturally responsive practices in fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments. With growing diversity in education and society, it’s crucial for educators to adapt their methods to meet the needs of all students. The session explores foundational principles of culturally responsive practices and strategies to integrate diverse perspectives and backgrounds into the curriculum. Attendees will learn about the positive impact of these practices on student engagement, academic achievement, and well-being. The goal is to inspire and empower educators and professionals to create inclusive spaces where every student can thrive.
This proposal explores the link between colonization and domestic violence/sexual assault (DV/SA), highlighting historical trauma and traditional healing. Using the colonization power and control wheel, it reveals how abuse today stems from the disappearance, genocide, and cultural repression of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. By advancing a trauma-informed, decolonial anti-violence approach, it addresses parallels between colonization tactics and DV/SA dynamics. Current trauma-informed practices often perpetuate violence, necessitating a deeper understanding of colonization’s role in DV/SA emergence. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) should critique colonization and incorporate healing from historical trauma. A decolonial approach dismantles colonial frameworks, fostering culturally affirming methods in anti-violence work.
Round 4 Sessions
Click on session titles to read descriptions.
Cultural Responsibility (CR) for Mental Health Providers (MHP) involves a strong connection to one’s cultural identity, shaping decision-making and values. It entails a sense of duty, fulfillment, and advocacy within one’s cultural group, with organizational barriers influencing practitioners’ experiences. Our research reveals that marginalized providers endorse CR, impacting trauma response. We investigate CR’s interaction with vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout as both protective and risk factors. This presentation shares our conceptualization of CR and explores clinicians’ experiences. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions on the importance of cultural responsibilities, mental health advocacy, self-sacrifice, and organizational barriers, fostering a deeper understanding of CR.
America has over 1.1 million Arabic speakers, the fastest-growing language (NY Post, Arab American Institute). Many, especially older adults, speak only Arabic (Al-Jumail, 2020, Alzubaid et al 2015). With rising Arabic-speaking immigrants, culturally sensitive healthcare training is vital. Language barriers lead to dependence, resourcefulness, and isolation (Floyd and Sakellariou, 2017). Early integration of Arabic language and culture in healthcare curricula improves care and patient engagement, fostering better outcomes (Shamsi et al, 2020). Loyola offers Medical Arabic, teaching terms, history-taking, and cultural insights to nursing and medical students in 1-2 monthly sessions.
Neuroscience challenges the idea of a “neurotypical” brain, embracing neurodiversity where body and mind diversity is normal (Chapman, 2021). Society privileges neurotypicality, lagging in accommodating neurodivergent individuals like those with autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities (Walker, 2021). Neurodivergent individuals face poorer outcomes in education, employment, and mental health (Sanford et al., 2011). TikTok gives voice to a generation sharing their experiences (#actuallyautistic, #adhd, #neurospicy), challenging neuronormativity. Using a DisCrit lens and Dr. Nick Walker’s work, this session centers neurodivergent voices, explores impacts on mental health, and suggests neurodiversity-affirming support approaches.
Keynote
Applying Principles and Practices of Cultural Humility to Promote Health
Laprisha Daniels, MPH, MSW (Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice)
