UHCL to host free, two-day Bilingual Counseling Conference
University of Houston-Clear Lake is hosting a free, two-day bilingual counseling conference, “Culturally Responsive Counseling with Latinx – Our Past, Our Present, Our Future,” Jan. 27-28 in the university’s Bayou Theater, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. Among conference focus is to review the steps the psychology and counseling professions are taking toward the current state of mental health for Latinx, especially those faced with legal status issues.
“Given the recent political climate,” explains conference organizer and UHCL Professor of Counseling Cheryl Sawyer, “this timely conference provides a forum for mental health and educational leaders to present cutting edge strategies that address the social-emotional stressors currently faced by our Latino community, especially children and families. We hope this open dialogue will serve to clarify misperceptions as well as validate the realities associated with today’s highly stressful political environment.”
“We’ve assembled an outstanding agenda of nationally-recognized keynote speakers, and one of the highlights of the conference will be the Friday panel discussion,” she says.
Conference speakers include renowned psychologist and author Patricia Arredondo, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Associate Professor Selma Yznaga, University of Colorado Denver Associate Professor Carlos Hipolito-Delgado, as well as Sawyer.
Arredondo, author of “Culturally Responsive Counseling with Latinas/os,” is recognized for her groundbreaking work in multicultural counseling with more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and training videos. She has also served as a scholar and professional pioneer in mental health issues in the Latinx population. Yznaga, best known for founding one of the most progressive divisions of Texas Counseling Association known as Texas Counselors for Social Justice, has conducted extensive research of the many issues surrounding Latina/o immigration. Hipolito-Delgado’s work in multicultural competencies serves as the foundation and development of many of today’ s counselors. Sawyer serves as administrator of the multi-year Collaborative Bicultural Counseling Training Project, which prepares Spanish-speaking bilingual school counselors in the Southeast Texas area. Her current focus is working with traumatized Central American refugee children.
The conference, which features presentations, panel discussions and breakout sessions, begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, and runs until 5 p.m. followed by a reception. The Saturday program begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
Reserve your seat at castellon@uhcl.edu. For additional information about the conference contact sawyer@uhcl.edu.
