Description:
Latinx and Hispanic families who migrate to the United States bring with them their traditions, and cultural values. In order to be culturally competent, play therapists must be educated on cultural and ethnic matters that are important to the well-being of this population.
Cultural values, customs and current events impact effective delivery of mental health services with Hispanic/Latinx clients and their families. This workshop will explore the importance of cross-cultural awareness and current sociopolitical implications that impact this population. Examples of how play therapists may create a culturally safe space for the Latinx client will be included. Further, examples of how transference and countertransference present in the play room and in general, and how to intervene will be discussed. Related experiences from the presenter, a Latinx therapist will be shared and processed.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this live webinar, participants will be able to:
· Identify cultural values and customs in the Hispanic/Latinx community, and its impact on health care practices,
to include play therapy.
· Describe how current events such as DACA, recent changes in immigration laws and practices impact the lives
and mental health seeking behaviors of Hispanic/Latinx community, as well and how the aftermath of these
factors may show up in the playroom.
· Describe how lack of affordable health care, threat of deportation, CPS involvement, and family
separation/reunification issues are impacting Latinx/Hispanic client’s participation in mental health treatment,
including delivery of play therapy.
Presenter: Virginia Rivera, LCPC, RPT, CCTP
Ms. Rivera is a bilingual Child and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has over 20 years of providing mental health therapy, primarily to the Spanish speaking population in the Northern Virginia area. She has experience with county-based community mental health, private practice setting, and families facing many challenges and in particular deportation and immigration concerns.