Cultivating Cultural Humility

 Earn 5 CE Contact Hours

LGBTQ+ youth face a higher risk of adverse mental and physical health outcomes than their heterosexual and cisgender peers; this risk is particularly pronounced among LGBTQ+ Latinx youth. The therapist’s approach is vital to understanding the experiences of Latinx families as they work to foster acceptance and support for their LGBTQ+ children.

As therapists, we need to deepen our understanding of the parent-child relationship, including the cultural gaps and embedded premises that impede healthy emotional connections between parents and children. When Latinx parents struggle to meet the emotional needs of their LGBTQ+ children and adolescents, engagement and cultural attunement are critical.

Through a relational, culturally sensitive approach and a clinical case presentation, we will explore key opportunities for engagement and support for Latinx LGBTQ+ families.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Develop a deep understanding of the importance of engagement as an ongoing process that helps parents connect more authentically and empathetically with their Latinx LGBT+ youth.
• Create space for an examination of the therapist’s social locations and their impact on the therapeutic process.
• Increase the clinician’s ability to remain culturally sensitive.

Who Should Attend:

Mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, counselors, psychologists, educators, and community-based practitioners who work with LGBTQ+ youth, Latinx families, and culturally diverse communities. This workshop is especially valuable for clinicians seeking to strengthen cultural humility, improve engagement with families navigating issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, and support stronger parent-child relationships through relational, culturally responsive, and affirming clinical practice.

Meet Dr. Borrero-Bracero and Silvia:

Néstor Borrero-Bracero is a licensed clinical psychologist and Supervising Staff Psychologist at the CUNY Graduate Center. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. His clinical, supervisory, and scholarly work focuses on couples and family therapy, trauma-informed care, and the mental health of Latinx and LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. Dr. Borrero-Bracero integrates culturally humble, relational, and liberation-oriented approaches in his work and has extensive experience providing psychotherapy, clinical supervision, outreach, and training in university and community mental health settings. His work is informed by social justice values and a deep commitment to culturally responsive care.

Silvia Espinal, LCSW, is Faculty at Columbia University School of Social Work, Faculty at Smith College School of Social Work, Adjunct Faculty at CUNY.