Diversity in CBT: A Therapist’s Guide to Effectively Serving Diverse Populations

NOTE: Registration in this course is limited to therapists who are TEAM-CBT Certified Level 2 or above.

Course Description:

Ethnic minorities and other underserved clients experience unique stressors such as microaggressions and oppression. TEAM-CBT therapists need to be aware of unique challenges and barriers that might present when working with diverse populations. This course addresses how to apply CBT in a culturally humble manner that can improve therapy outcomes with diverse clients. Each part includes didactic learning and skills practice through written exercises. A required Practice Group will also be used to practice the new skills.

Format:

This is a hybrid course requiring approximately 6.5 hours of self-paced asynchronous learning, plus two live Practice Group meetings that are each 75-minutes long. You may start and stop the self-paced portion at your convenience. Practice group sessions are required and are only offered a few times each year. We recommend completing your self-paced learning within 4-6 weeks prior to your Practice Group session. 

Learning Objectives:

1) Describe the importance of a multicultural lens in the practice of CBT.

2) Describe the impact of microaggressions and explain why they are harmful.

3) Demonstrate how to handle microaggressions so that harm is reduced.

4) Demonstrate the use of empathy in situations involving racism and diversity.

5) Explain how to enhance therapy measurement to assess aspects of identity.

6) Demonstrate how to validate racial trauma in the agenda setting phase of therapy.

7) Explain how to distinguish distorted thoughts from valid thoughts that stem from situations that are racially traumatic.

8) Describe how to choose an appropriate CBT method that considers systemic oppression.

Course Overview and Instructors:

Part 1:

Instructors: Magdalene Holtam, PhD and Erika Hulse, LCSW

Microaggressions

Intersecting Identities

Ouch-Oops Model

Part 2

Instructor: Magdalene Holtam, PhD

Five Secrets of Effective Communication

Part 3

Instructors: Audrey Kodye, Registered Psych, and Sunny Choi, LCSW

Testing

Invitation

Positive Reframing

Part 4

Instructors: Elizabeth Dandenell, LMFT and Erika Hulse, LCSW

Methods

Course Host: Angela Krumm, PhD

Additional Significant Contributors to Course Development: Kevin Cornelius, LMFT and Marcia Schwartz, PhD.

This course does not currently offer Continuing Education Units.

Statement of Commitment to Cultural Humility, Anti-Racism, and Diversity:

Feeling Good Institute has committed to making best efforts to make this training group an inclusive and equitable space for all individuals. We make humble best efforts to take an anti-racist stance in teaching and request feedback when group members see us falling short of this. Group members should expect that we will discuss implicit bias within TEAM-CBT, CBT, and the larger counseling profession. By joining this course, you are knowingly stepping into a space where these discussions will be welcomed. We invite members to humbly move into these discussions and to practice using communication skills such as ouch/oops and 5 Secrets as all make mistakes.

Anti Discrimination Policy:

Feeling Good Institute stands against discrimination. We believe in acceptance, inclusion, and equality. Discrimination against people based on identify status (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, ability status, country of origin, religion) is harmful and not tolerated. Any hate speech, discriminatory practices, or harmful interventions (defined by clinician’s governing board) will result in immediate removal from our training groups. This includes public statements or behaviors made outside of the trainings themselves.