Developing Authentic Cultural Competence:
A Key to Improving your Clinical Practice
Presented by Kimberly M. Ewing, Ph.D. and Bridget Rivera, Psy.D.
Friday, October 4, 2013
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
3 CE Credits offered
Loyola University Maryland
Columbia Graduate Center
8890 McGaw Road
Columbia, MD 21045
Sue, Arrendondo & McDavis (1992) recommended that culturally skilled counselors continuously develop (1) an awareness of their own heritage, cultural values, and biases, and (2) an understanding of the client’s cultural frame of reference. The importance of exploring one’s worldview, privilege, and power have also been recommended in the literature, as they influence counselor-client dynamics, the therapeutic alliance, and premature termination (Sue & Sue, 2003; Hays, Dean & Chang, 2007). This workshop will focus on the development of “authentic cultural competence”, or using the lenses of worldview and power to clarify how we process the specific cultural identity dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation/identity, religion/spirituality, and socio-economic status/class. “Authentic cultural competence” may prove to be a powerful way to embody the Sue, et. al (1992) recommendations and enhance the effectiveness of our clinical work.
Objectives:
1. Recognize how your own identities impact your values and world view.
2. Observe how your values and world view influence the effectiveness of your clinical work.
3. Explain what “authentic cultural competence” is and why it is critical for working with all clients (including those that you share identities with).
4. Critique your case conceptualizations and treatment plans by learning what oppression is and how it creates biases and blind spots within you.
5. Discuss how challenging your sense of power and privilege helps you correct biases that are negatively influencing the therapeutic alliance.
6. Identify or List literature and resources that provide direction for becoming a culturally sensitive counselor.
About the Presenters:
Kimberly M. Ewing is a licensed psychologist who received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The Ohio State University’s Counseling Psychology Program in 1990. She has worked as a university counseling center staff psychologist at University of Delaware and Loyola University Maryland for about 19 years combined. Dr. Ewing served as the Training Director for Loyola’s Externship and Postdoctoral Programs for over 10 years, along with serving as an administrative and clinical supervisor for trainees and professional staff. She also provides training for Counseling Center trainees on professional development issues and cultural awareness, and for various Loyola student leader groups on issues such as sexual assault prevention, bystander intervention, suicide prevention, and stress reduction skills. Dr. Ewing co-facilitates the Loyola Student Development Division’s seminar on diversity and cultural awareness. She has also done private practice, worked in community mental health centers, taught college courses on counseling skills, academic and self-management skill development, women’s issues, and diversity awareness, and done consultation and workshops for community organizations, women’s networking and development conferences, and culturally-targeted populations such as women prisoners, the LGBTQ community, and juveniles in the criminal justice system.
Bridget A. Rivera is a licensed psychologist. She received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in 2002. Dr. Rivera’s clinical experience includes private practice and University Counseling Center work. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. Currently, she is Affiliate Faculty for Loyola University’s Psy.D. Program where she teaches Psychodiagnostics II, Diversity Issues in Psychology, and supervises doctoral students’ clinical work. Dr. Rivera co-facilitates the Loyola Student Development Division’s seminar on diversity and cultural awareness. Her research interests involve personality assessment and how diversity issues arise in the therapeutic relationship.