From July 24-26, 2013 C-Change clinician, Amara Benjamin-Bullock, attended the 45th Annual Association of Black Psychologists International Convention as a panelist in a discussion assembly titled, “Pan African Psychology: A Diasporan and Continental Dialogue,” and participated in two presentations titled “DSM V Conversation Hour,” and “Human Trafficking in the US.” Amara was also honored in a SAGE sponsored reception for her article contribution to the Journal of Black Psychology Special Issue on Pan-African Psychology.
Category Archives: publications
WCC Staff presents 3 papers to American Education Research Association Conference
Alea Holman presented 3 papers at the American Educational Research Association(AERA) conference in April. They are: Catalysts and Challenges to Gendered Racial Socialization in Black Families; Before the Bell Rings: Black Families’ Efforts to Support their Children’s Educational Excellence; and African American Parents’ Experiences with Schools: How a Community-Based Program can Strengthen Family-School Relationships.
A Phenomenological Investigation of Meta-emotions of First Generation Asian Indian Immigrant Mothers
Jonathan Fishman presented A Phenomenological Investigation of Meta-emotions of First Generation Asian Indian Immigrant Mothers as part of a panel entitled Parental Socialization of Emotion and Values: Variation Across Ethnic Groups in North America on April 20th at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development in Seattle.
Article by WestCoast staff listed as top ten cited in Journal of Personality Assessment
Training Assessors in Therapeutic Assessment by Marianne E. Haydel, Barbara L. Mercer, and Erin Rosenblatt was recently listed as one of the top ten cited articles from the Journal of Personality Assessment. The article focuses on the use of the comprehensive Therapeutic Assessment training model (Finn, 2007) with a child and his mother, and offers ideas about learning and training in the context of the case presented. You can access the article at this link.
Research to Action: Sexually Exploited Minors Needs and Strengths
We are pleased to announce the release of WestCoast’s first research brief, “Research to Action: Sexually Exploited Minors Needs and Strengths.”
The disturbing underground industry that thrives on selling children for sex is an alarming and complex problem that has no simple solution. But we’re dedicated to doing what it takes to end child sexual exploitation. Continue reading
Crossing the Cultural Divide: Issues in Translation, Mistrust, and Cocreation of Meaning in Cross-Cultural Therapeutic Assessment
Crossing the Cultural Divide: Issues in Translation, Mistrust, and Cocreation of Meaning in Cross-Cultural Therapeutic Assessment
published in the Journal of Personality Assessment Volume 94, Issue 3, 2012
by Audrey Rosenberg, Angelica Almeida & Heather Macdonald, WestCoast Children’s Clinic, Oakland, California
Abstract
This article examines cross-cultural therapeutic assessment in a community mental health clinic. The first case describes the work between a Caucasian assessor and a Mexican American family. The authors explore the metaphorical and literal translation of the findings from English to Spanish and the parallel process of translation of the self, experienced by both assessor and client. The second case describes the work between a Caucasian assessor and an African American adolescent. We describe the inherent challenge between the Eurocentric “task” orientation of the evaluation and the Afrocentric “relationship” orientation. We suggest that bridging the gap between cultures and overcoming cultural mistrust lay in the building of the assessor–client relationship. Fischer’s concepts of rapport and intimacy are emphasized and expanded on as we emphasize the importance of cocreated meaning in cross-cultural assessment work.
Visit the publisher’s website for access to the full article.
Why Did She Put Nail Polish in my Drink? Applying the Therapeutic Assessment Model With an African American Foster Child in a Community Mental Health Setting
Why Did She Put Nail Polish in My Drink? Applying the Therapeutic Assessment Model With an African American Foster Child in a Community Mental Health Setting
published in Journal of Personality Assessment Volume 93, Issue 1
by Brooke Guerrero, Jessica Lipkind, and Audrey Rosenberg, WestCoast Children’s Clinic
Abstract
Although the majority of research on Therapeutic Assessment (TA) discusses the application of TA in research or private practice settings, we found that the model could be applied in a community mental health setting. We argue that when implementing this model with racially diverse, low socioeconomic status children, it is essential to integrate issues of class, privilege, and race into the assessment process. A case is presented that illuminates the specific concerns and struggles of adapting this model to a community psychology population. This analysis includes the interface with systems, placement stability, and consideration of culturally responsible treatment. We also demonstrate how the support of a treatment team helps the individual clinician process and integrate the levels of trauma and pain with which these families present.
Training Assessors in Therapeutic Assessment
Training Assessors in Therapeutic Assessment
Published in the Journal of Personality Assessment Volume 93, Issue 1
by Maryanne E. Haydel, Barbara L. Mercer, and Erin Rosenblatt, WestCoast Children’s Clinic
Abstract
This article focuses on the use of the comprehensive Therapeutic Assessment training model (Finn, 2007) with a child and his mother. The mother observed the child’s testing sessions and was actively involved in a family intervention session as a way of translating assessment results into practice. One psychologist administered the psychological tests with the child, and 2 other clinicians worked with the mother throughout the process. We offer ideas about learning and training in the context of our case in Therapeutic Assessment. We investigate the parallel process between the way in which parents learn about their child’s perspective and the way in which clinicians learn about the family’s perspective. We discuss our discoveries in the context of planning case interventions. We explore the impact of trauma and ways of holding and containing this difficult work within our community and with each other.
Psychological Assessment of Children in a Community Mental Health Clinic
Psychological Assessment of Children in a Community Mental Health Clinic
published in Journal of Personality Assessment Volume 93, Issue 1
by Barbara L. Mercer, PsyD, WestCoast’s Assessment Program Director
Abstract
Collaborative and Therapeutic Assessment (TA) models (Finn & Tonsager, 1997; Fischer, 1985/1994) use psychological tests to answer clientconstructed assessment questions in an understandable language, to be an intervention in and of themselves, and to initiate recommendations related to the referral. This article considers the application of Finn’s TA model to an urban community psychology clinic in Oakland, California, where foster and kinship care, the child welfare system, trauma, neglect, and attachment disruptions are children’s usual experience. These children hide their pain and complaints (Kelly, 1999), but show highly problematic behaviors to bewildered and frustrated caretakers, social workers, and school personnel. Their trauma, however, also often permeates the assessment data and shocks the assessor. A rationale is made for the necessity of a relational, culturally aware, systemic model in providing psychological assessment services to children and families in a community setting.
Rethinking Dependent Personality Disorder: Comparing Different Human Relatedness in Cultural Contexts
Rethinking Dependent Personality Disorder: Comparing Different Human Relatedness in Cultural Contexts
Published in the Journal of Nervous and Medical Disease Volume 197, Issue 11
by YuJu Chen, Psy.D, Margaret E. Nettles, PhD, and Shun-Wen Chen, PhD
Dr. Margaret Nettles is WestCoast’s Intern Training Program Director
Abstract
We argue that the Diagnotstic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders dependent personality disorder is a culturally related concept reflecting deeply rooted values, beliefs, and assumptions of American individualistic convictions about self and interpersonal relationship. This article integrates social psychology concepts into the exploration of psychopathology. Beginning with the construct of individualism and collectivism, we demonstrate the limitations of this commonly used framework. The indigenous Chinese concept of Confucianism and Chinese Relationalism is introduced to highlight that a well-differentiated self is not a universal premise of human beings, healthy existence. In East Asian Confucianism the manifestation of dependence and submission may be considered individuals’ proper behavior and required for their social obligation, rather than a direct display of individuals’ personality. Thus, the complexity of dependent personality disorder is beyond the neo-Kraepelinian approach assumed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders system.