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The purpose of this mixed methods study was to discover if and how clinicians integrate cultural factors into treatment, what specific 'culturally sensitive' practices clinicians utilize, and who clinicians use these practices with. In Study 1(N = 9) qualitative interviews were conducted with psychologists who shared information about the culturally sensitive clinical practices that they utilize. Based on the results from Study 1, a survey was created for Study 2 and completed by 142 psychologists. There were three overriding conceptual themes that were generated from the analysis of the data regarding how clinicians provide culturally sensitive psychological services and what specific culturally sensitive clinical practices clinicians use when working with clients. It was evident from the data that the delivery of culturally sensitive services was best conceptualized as a process. The process began with being aware that cultural factors existed. This awareness led to the development of hypotheses, which guided the assessment process. Based on the results of the assessment process clinicians then tailored the services they provided to the unique characteristics of their clients. The quantitative results from Study 2 indicate that that the qualitative results from Study 1 are generalizable to a larger sample of psychologists. Results from Study 2 also indicated that the vast majority of participants indicated that they engaged in culturally sensitive clinical practices regardless of client minority-status. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience a vast array of emotional and behavioral consequences, including difficulties in areas related to emotion regulation, and they often qualify for comorbid psychological diagnoses. Although a modified version of DBT has been examined as a treatment for survivors of IPV experiencing emotional dysregulation, there has been little mention of how to treat comorbid disorders among this population. Given that body focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB’s), such as trichotillomania, can be conceptualized as poor coping mechanisms to soothe dysregulated emotions, it seems beneficial to understand how to treat these diagnoses in the context of IPV sequelae. To date, there are limited examinations of DBT enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for those suffering from IPV exposure and trichotillomania. The following case provides a successful example for how and why such therapy can be conducted for the treatment of comorbid diagnoses following IPV exposure.

The aim of the study was to derive an empirically based definition of cultural sensitivity (CS) using psychologists as participants. In Study 1, nine psychologists were interviewed and asked how th...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the current review was to examine the impact of trauma exposure on first responder families, particularly, in terms of their relationships, family roles and obligations, and engagement in risk factors. METHOD Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRIMSA) guidelines, 3,213 articles were screened, and 16 studies met inclusion for the current review. A risk of bias assessment was conducted to determine the methodological rigor of included studies and data was extracted to highlight the research questions, targeted populations, study design, measurement instruments, and outcomes of the included studies. RESULTS The majority of research questions were asked to understand the experience of being a spouse to a first responder and to identify the stressors, supports, and resources of first responders and their families. Additionally, studies in this area were determined to be conducted primarily with spouses or partners of first responders, utilizing predominantley cross-sectional methodologies and measurement instruments with good psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS A discussion of the limitations and gaps in the literature was included and generally highlighted a lack of diversity in sample demographic characteristics and study design. Five concrete recommendations for future research were made to address limitations and strengthen research in this area. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

OBJECTIVE Trauma narration is important to PTSD recovery and is widely used in clinical interventions. First responders experience high rates of exposure to trauma yet there are no studies with a primarily first responder population despite that trauma exposure is a chronic and unavoidable aspect of their occupation. The aim of the current study was to qualitatively examine trauma narratives posted online through a supportive website dedicated for first responders. METHOD 30 trauma narratives of police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel were randomly chosen for inclusion in the study. While some narrative posters remained somewhat anonymous, overall, there was moderate diversity in terms of age, sex, job field, number of years on the job, and the locations of the employer. RESULTS Online narration offered a less formalized opportunity for self-disclosure that allowed for authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability. Thematic analyses revealed 5 themes: idealization with the job, disillusionment with the job, on the job trauma, trauma sequalae, and coping with trauma. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that first responders are exposed to trauma on the job that significantly alters their work and home lives. Although they experience psychopathology, and could benefit from formal treatment, their decision to seek treatment is impacted by stigma in the culture. Implications and future directions are discussed regarding the need to improve perceived connectedness and support and reduce stigma in online platforms and within the subculture to encourage healing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) policy has given unauthorized immigrants access to many opportunities, specifically education. While DACA has improved the lives of many undocumente...

Violence against women continues to be a great concern in today’s society. In the United States, women experience high rates of interpersonal violence throughout their lifetime. Among Latinas, interpersonal violence is also highly prevalent however the wide variation of interpersonal prevalence rates among Latinas is problematic. The aims of this systematic review of the literature were to (1) document the prevalence rates of violence among Latinas, (2) determine the types of violence that Latinas are most impacted by, and (3) assess the prevalence rates of interpersonal across Latina subethnicities. The research was based on seven databases including PsycArticles, PsycCRITIQUES, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Social Services Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, and PubMED for articles published from January 2007 up to July 2017. The following key words were used in the search: (Latinas OR Latinos OR Hispanics) AND (victim OR victimization) AND (domestic violence OR intimate partner violence OR Interpersonal Violence). We identified 41 articles in our search that reported rates of interpersonal violence which ranged from 1% to 83% with intimate partner violence and domestic violence being the most prevalent. Interpersonal violence was found to be more prevalent among individuals who identified as Mexican. Based on the findings, it is clear that efforts should be focused on conducting a lager national survey of interpersonal violence among Latinas. It would need to include subethnicity, immigration status, and type of abuse experienced and possibly add socioeconomic factors.

Objective The current qualitative study assessed the immigration experiences of eight Latinos who immigrated to the United States when they were children and who spent their childhood undocumented. While researchers have highlighted the challenges undocumented youth face in healthcare, mental health, and educational contexts, this study addresses the need for additional research on the immigration process and adaptation experiences of undocumented child immigrants. Methods Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol and the interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes using two coding cycles. Results The following themes arose and are discussed in detail: the immigration process, recollections of the process, experiences in the U.S., liminality, and resiliency. Conclusion The findings describe that undocumented youth experience many hardships such as psychological distress, concerns with educational success, and cultural vacillation, however, they continue to persevere in the United States.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order intended to protect undocumented youth from deportation and mitigate the negative impact of their undocumented status. Using qualitative methods, eight DACA recipients were interviewed. Participants were primarily females, ranged in age from 19 and 27 years old, and had immigrated from Mexico. Our findings revealed that as participants grew up, they experienced a sense of liminality, or “non-belonging”; however, upon receiving DACA status, these feelings of liminality were temporarily abated. Problematically, as our participants encountered the limitations of DACA, their feelings of liminality returned. While DACA increases access to education, health care, and legal system participation, it only temporarily mitigates the impact of having an undocumented status. The ramifications of the sense of liminality that occur with being undocumented is discussed and policy reforms in areas of federal and state educational policy and immigration policy are suggested.

This chapter summarizes literature relevant to sexual assault as it relates to ethnic minorities. The range in prevalence rates across studies vary widely possibly due to the manner in which sexual assault is defined, the methodologies used in gathering prevalence rate data, and cultural characteristics that may influence reporting rates. This chapter provides an overview of the literature on ethnic minorities and forensic interviewing, assessment, and treatment to the common sequalae of sexual assault, and prevention of sexual assault.

The current zeitgeist in applied psychology training portrays the development of cultural competence as a necessary and highly valued component of clinical training. The American Psychological Association (APA) has created guidelines for multicultural education, training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists and mandated culturally competent behavior in its Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. If students attending applied psychology training programs are expected to develop cultural competencies, then they must be exposed to structured experiences designed to assist them in this goal. Such experiences include, but certainly are not limited to, didactic classroom instruction. Research on this topic has revealed that studies examining training outcomes have methodological flaws, lack information regarding the specifics of training, implications for trainee benefits are unclear, and trainings have not demonstrated that cultural competency trainings result in improvements for clients. The field as it stands is ripe for the development of evidence-based trainings which should be developed using a clinical science model.