BOP-Building an inclusive practice: The case for cultural humility

The field of psychology is on the precipice of change. As a profession, we finally have the courage to self-reflect and acknowledge the ways in which psychology, especially clinical psychology, has perpetuated harm to a range of populations. We now have the opportunity - and the privilege - to engage in critical thinking, self-reflection, and identify ways to improve our practices. 

This lunch and learn session aims to enhance self-awareness among clinicians regarding those they serve by exploring the complexities of culture, race, privilege, and oppression. This exploration will illuminate what often remains invisible in our interactions. Psychologists must strategically invest in developing cultural humility and engage in it with clients, peer psychologists, and within the culture of our practices and organizations.

Building a practice that facilitates access and equity necessitates fostering cultural humility. By the end of this session, participants will understand how engaging cultural humility leads to increased access and equity in practice and learn strategies to foster their own development.

Dr. Fiona C. Thomas is an assistant professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), specifically with research and teaching interests in culturally-informed clinical practice. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Department of Psychology at TMU and MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Health, Community and Development. Additionally, she completed her predoctoral residency with the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium and a postdoctoral fellowship in implementation science and evidence-based trauma interventions on a joint project between labs at Stanford University and TMU.

Dr. Thomas’ research and clinical work examines culturally-responsive and sustainable mental health interventions locally and globally, focused on addressing structural inequities and reducing mental health disparities among marginalized communities. She works toward improving current systems of care by using multiple methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, participatory) with diverse stakeholders to understand the interconnections and complexity of factors that influence psychopathology. A nascent research area includes adapting, implementing, and disseminating evidence-based protocols to better fit families and communities impacted by social upheaval and multigenerational traumas. Dr. Thomas works at the nexus of clinical and public health interventions in collaboration with researchers locally (e.g., Toronto), regionally (e.g., United States) and globally (e.g., Sri Lanka, Nepal). 

This session is only available to active OPA members.  

Recordings will be made available within one week of the webinar. 

This webinar has been accredited by the Ontario Psychological Association for 1 CE credit.