People of Color in Psychology

In today's episode, we're diving into the world of creating BIPOC spaces for psychoanalysis. As  traditional psychoanalysis has often overlooked the experiences of BIPOC communities, for those that are interested in exploring theory and practice, it can be challenging finding community. Dr. Meiyang Kadaba, shares her journey and effort in creating a BIPOC only space to converse, nourish, a...

The world is a diverse place, and brains are too! Cross-cultural neuropsychology explores how culture and ethnicity shape the way our brains work and how we think. Dr. Eman Rettig will discuss the ECLECTIC model, a framework for conducting culturally responsive neuropsychological evaluations even before the testing process occurs. Dr. Eman Rettig’s Contact: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/e...

Frustrated with the limitations of mental health treatments for BIPOC clients, many BIPOC mental health providers have had to forge their own path. In this episode, Dr. Huh shares how healing past trauma, particularly understanding parent-child conflicts, can unlock a more fulfilling present. Additionally, Dr. Huh delves into her own journey, the power of perseverance, and the importance of creati...

ADHD in the Black and African American population tends to be under diagnosed or overlooked compared to white peers. The interconnected and cumulative effects of systems and biases might play a role. In this episode, we explore these ideas with Casey Redus about the potential of overlooked ADHD diagnoses in the Black and African population as well as the importance of representation in the mental...

It is a conundrum that often many Black women in behavioral health leadership face, their visibility or lack thereof, and sometimes without a choice. And yet both choices come with challenges that must be addressed if we truly want to create the next generation of inclusive leaders. In this episode, we explore bringing identity into the workplace as a Black woman in behavioral health leadership. S...

Currently the DSM5 does not identify race-based trauma as a separate diagnosis, yet it is a real and unique psychological and emotional distress that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) suffer as a result of racism and discrimination. In this episode, we explore the criterion A of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Dr. Hall-Clark and where she discusses ways to overcome challenges ofte...

While the lack of diversity and representation of African American psychologists in psychodynamic therapies is an ongoing challenge, there are those leading the charge in adapting these frameworks to better serve Black and African American communities. In this episode, Dr. Natassia Johnson joins us to explore vital considerations for using psychodynamic frameworks with African American clients. We...

According to the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Sexual Minorities, there is an acknowledgement that much of the psychological research on sexual minority persons reflect the experiences of those with more privilege. Therefore we, as mental health professionals, must strive to support and understand queer clients of color as best we can. In this epis...

Black History Month Series announcements! Music Samples Oleg Kyrylkovv - A Jazz Piano Oleksii Kalyna - Inspiration BlackPyBeats - Ambient Piano Maksym Dudchyk - Hip Hop Jazz Resources The Association of Black Psychologists Racial Trauma Resources & Research Making Black Lives Matter APA President Connects Black History Month to Psychology

Black and African diaspora have a vibrant and multifaceted culture, yet immigrant communities often grapple with navigating the additional complexities of American racism. In this episode, Dr. Alexis Melville sheds light on how therapists can empower immigrant clients. She encourages moving beyond challenges and focusing on fostering growth, well-being, and connection by leveraging existing cultur...

Speaking up about Palestinian humanity is such an important topic especially in the field of psychology which prides itself in trying to address and treat human mental suffering. In fact, understanding the impact of geopolitical conflict is a must if we want to challenge racism. Otherwise how can we adequately show up for American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African (AMENA) colleagues, student...

Imagine a world where mental healthcare for college students, especially students of color, isn't just about individual fixes, but about building a healthy campus community from the ground up. This episode dives deep into a creative approach: a public health and community-based model of care that builds on relationships and access points of where college mental health struggles may show itself...

Applying relational psychotherapy frameworks when working with Queer and Trans clients of color often will require an anti-expressive lens whereby as therapists we must dismantle dominant narratives that shape QTPOC communities. To translate the work into something concrete in the therapy session requires our own self examination of positionality, use of language, and reframing QTPOC experiences....

Being Asian in the psychoanalytic field may be a lonely experience; however, there is a growing number of psychologists who aim to increase Asian American representation. In addition to one’s professional journey as a psychologist, many have creative outlets that may have been brushed aside as a possible professional identity. This episode, we speak with Dr. Theresa Tan as we explore her journey o...

Religious trauma poses a significant challenge for discussion, as religious settings are often seen as places to find refuge, support, and community. However, there are unfortunately situations where religious leaders abuse and exploit individuals. The unique experiences of religious trauma among Asian Americans are rarely discussed, yet they deserve attention. This episode, we speak with Dr. Vale...

Indigenous cultures hold a profound and intricate understanding of healing and wellness, deeply intertwined with their connection to community, spirituality, and the natural world. For psychologists seeking deeper meaning in their practice and exploring alternative approaches to client connection, there is wisdom passed down through generations of indigenous knowledge. Listen to our episode with D...

Through centuries of resilience, Native Americans and Indigenous peoples have developed profound healing practices that address both mental and spiritual well-being. Psychologists can draw invaluable lessons from Indigenous cultures by cultivating deeper connections and honoring their approaches to healing. In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Mark Standing Eagle Baez who developed a culturally re...

As psychologists, we play a vital role in creating a more just and equitable society by speaking up for the voiceless, realigning health and healing practices, and to understand people beyond interpersonal pathology. What better way than to learn directly from the perspectives of Native American psychologists? Listen to my conversation with Dr. Anna Kawennison Fetter as we talk about being an agen...

Native American Heritage Series announcements! Resources: The healing power of Native American culture is inspiring psychologists to embrace cultural humility Native and Indigenous Communities and Mental Health https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about.html https://www.compasshealth.org/native-american-heritage-month/ https://www.bia.gov/NNAHM https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/native-am...

Autism identification tends to lag among racially or ethnically minoritized youth. As therapists, we should be diligent and consider nuances when our clients of color may exhibit behaviors that are different compared to a norm that does not fit the child's cultural upbringing. It is important to consider parental involvement and naturalistic observation. Listen to my conversation with Dr. Anit...

Imagine you're walking down the street and you see a person. What do you notice first? Their hair? Their eyes? Their skin color? We often notice the visible physical features of other people and form certain expectations but what happens if someone is biracial or multiracial? The subtle socialized interactions of people from different cultural backgrounds can influence how biracial and bicultu...

Persisting in the field of psychology can be challenging when the representation of BIPOC psychologists make up only 20% of the workforce. How do we persist and even see that doing amazing things in this field is possible? We must access our inner strength, connect within ourselves, our culture, our community, and seek out mentors and opportunities even when we least suspect it. In fact, we hear f...

Psychodynamic clinical supervision is a type of supervision that focuses on the unconscious dynamics of the therapeutic relationship. It is based on the idea that the therapist's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences can have a significant impact on the client's progress. At times, professionalism, a set of standards and norms expected of the therapists, may be brought up in the context...

Latinx bilingual psychologists are often faced with challenges within a training and professional environment that does not have the adequate resources to support bilingual clinical practice. Beyond that, there are at times a misalignment between a programs’ values vs the values of BIPOC students and psychologists. In this podcast episode, we speak with Dr. Elisa DeVargas, a Latinx psychologist an...

According to the American Psychological Association's press release on September 21, 2023, faculty of color face significant obstacles to promotion, tenure, and retention. Some of the issues they confront include cultural taxation, invisible labor, lack of mentors, and different value systems of achievement. Despite these challenges, faculty of color continue to operate within the current acad...