Multiculturalism and Clinical Practice

Mid-Peninsula District

Presenter: Zonya Johnson, PhD

Description: Dr Johnson will discuss the critical importance of cultural context in all aspects of clinical practice. She will examine claims of theoretical and therapeutic neutrality, and the impact of unacknowledged cultural values upon the therapeutic process. Culture and race have historically been difficult for our society at large to address, but clients, clinicians, and the broader society pay a price for leaving race and culture unaddressed. Further, the presentation will address the thorny issue of identifying and owning our personal biases that can negatively impact our clinical work.

Goals: 

1. Describe reasons that the goal of maintaining a relationally neutral stance in the therapeutic relationship is both impossible an undesirable, from a cultural perspective
   
2. Describe the importance of understanding the cultural context, the role of unacknowledged privilege and bias, and its impact upon therapeutic work
   
3. Identify examples of internal cultural bias and its potential impact on the therapeutic process.

About the Presenter: We are delighted to have Zonya Johnson, PhD present at our March Social Work Meeting. Dr. Johnson is the Dean of the Sanville Institute, Berkeley, California. She is a Clinical Psychologist with an esteemed background who has worked as a clinician, consultant, professor, writer. She began her early work in Boston and was an Instructor of Psychology at the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School. In the 80's, she moved to the San Francisco Bay area. She was the Faculty Chair of the Wright Institute in Berkeley among other things. She is a dynamic speaker. Hope you can join us for this program.

LOCATION INFORMATION: 

The meeting room is on the third floor next to the cafe with free parking below the building. Take the Main Elevator. Meeting time is 12-2:00 PM with the first 15 minutes reserved for signing in and networking. The presentation starts at 12:15 PM following announcements. 

CEU INFORMATION: 1.5 CEUs will be offered for LCSWs - members earn credits at no cost. Non-members are charged $10 admission and an additional $15 for CEUs

COORDINATORS:

Virginia Frederick | ginnyfred@aol.com 
Joan Burman | berman.joan@gmail.com

All clinical disciplines are welcome. ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs with the approval of your supervisors, can use these educational credits toward your hours. To register and to sign up for membership or for more information contact info@clinicalsocialworksociety.org or Call 650 460-9210.