Different shades of self: True dialogue on skin color, identity, and privilege
Saturday, Oct 28 10 am to 1 pm $35
Two mental health professionals of color will discuss their experiences with navigating the complex world of being bicultural. Ideas on creating safe, color-conscious, and respectful professional relationships with both clients and colleagues will be shared. Participants will explore the strong impact of micro-aggressions committed by the unsuspecting mental health professional and have a greater appreciation for within-group differences when considering cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Participants will reflect on their own culture and upbringing and examine its impact on their outlook and cultural assumptions, be able to describe ways in which their own cultural background affects their behavior and statements in cross-cultural settings, be more likely to recognize well-meant comments that have the potential to offend, and distinguish between helpful generalizations and stereotypes that we use to categorize people, being able to use the first, and avoid the latter.
Kavita Avula, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides organizational support to humanitarian aid organizations to enhance wellness and ward off burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. An international psychologist, she previously served as a consultant at the World Bank Group Counseling Unit. With experience in Uganda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, India, Ukraine, Afghanistan and the West Bank, Kavita provides psychological support to individuals and groups living or working in high stress environments and trains international aid and other global workers to understand the effects of trauma and the healing power of building community.
She is a speaker and educator on the subjects of cultural competence, acculturation, group dynamics, trauma, suicide, critical incident response and staff care. She serves as a consultant to the executive leadership at Georgetown University and supports GU's efforts to inspire a culture shift on university campuses to inspire flourishing in students. She is a member of the faculty of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute and has completed Harvard University’s program in Global Mental Health and Refugee Trauma. She incorporates mindfulness and meditation techniques in her international work and private practice in Seattle, WA.
Sahana D’Silva, MD, MS is a licensed psychiatrist, currently at the University of Washington, where she is completing a research fellowship on mental health in primary care, and an MPH in Global Health, with a focus on Leadership, Policy and Management. Clinically, she specializes in working with psychological trauma, recovery and wellbeing, incorporating cross-cultural healing modalities and spirituality, and is now beginning a career in global mental health program development. Having a bicultural background herself, she spent a year between medical school and residency traveling globally, seeking to understand spirituality in healing practices and integrative treatments. She enjoys writing creative nonfiction stories about the interplay between society and mental health. She believes in pushing the boundaries of cultural and diagnostic frameworks, moving her students to appreciate the complex interactions of body, mind, society and spirit. She looks forward to continuing her private therapy practice next year, with an integrative, transpersonal style natural to her personality. She also seeks to promote emotion-based leadership development by conducting programs for healthcare provider burnout prevention and wellness, as well as training in effective communication and leadership skills in medical education.
To register, email staceyprincephd@livingroomseattle.com.
image courtesy of https://www.insidehighered.com
Participants will reflect on their own culture and upbringing and examine its impact on their outlook and cultural assumptions, be able to describe ways in which their own cultural background affects their behavior and statements in cross-cultural settings, be more likely to recognize well-meant comments that have the potential to offend, and distinguish between helpful generalizations and stereotypes that we use to categorize people, being able to use the first, and avoid the latter.
Kavita Avula, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides organizational support to humanitarian aid organizations to enhance wellness and ward off burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. An international psychologist, she previously served as a consultant at the World Bank Group Counseling Unit. With experience in Uganda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, India, Ukraine, Afghanistan and the West Bank, Kavita provides psychological support to individuals and groups living or working in high stress environments and trains international aid and other global workers to understand the effects of trauma and the healing power of building community.
She is a speaker and educator on the subjects of cultural competence, acculturation, group dynamics, trauma, suicide, critical incident response and staff care. She serves as a consultant to the executive leadership at Georgetown University and supports GU's efforts to inspire a culture shift on university campuses to inspire flourishing in students. She is a member of the faculty of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute and has completed Harvard University’s program in Global Mental Health and Refugee Trauma. She incorporates mindfulness and meditation techniques in her international work and private practice in Seattle, WA.
Sahana D’Silva, MD, MS is a licensed psychiatrist, currently at the University of Washington, where she is completing a research fellowship on mental health in primary care, and an MPH in Global Health, with a focus on Leadership, Policy and Management. Clinically, she specializes in working with psychological trauma, recovery and wellbeing, incorporating cross-cultural healing modalities and spirituality, and is now beginning a career in global mental health program development. Having a bicultural background herself, she spent a year between medical school and residency traveling globally, seeking to understand spirituality in healing practices and integrative treatments. She enjoys writing creative nonfiction stories about the interplay between society and mental health. She believes in pushing the boundaries of cultural and diagnostic frameworks, moving her students to appreciate the complex interactions of body, mind, society and spirit. She looks forward to continuing her private therapy practice next year, with an integrative, transpersonal style natural to her personality. She also seeks to promote emotion-based leadership development by conducting programs for healthcare provider burnout prevention and wellness, as well as training in effective communication and leadership skills in medical education.
To register, email staceyprincephd@livingroomseattle.com.
image courtesy of https://www.insidehighered.com