Evaluation and Treatment of Diverse and

This course is designed to sensitize students to issues of inclusion, exclusion, and power in clinical work with ethnically, racially, and culturally-defined groups, women and men, gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgendered people, people with disabilities, elders, people with HIV disease, and other groups of involuntary and voluntary affiliation. Students' awareness of their own biases and strengths in human relations is facilitated. Theory and research relevant to the mental health needs of marginalized groups is reviewed, and students develop strategies for integrating this knowledge base into clinical practice. The focus of this course is to empower the students' continual process of self-understanding and awareness in considering the nuances that may impact them as clinicians. In addition, this course supports students in their assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment of diverse and marginalized populations as a means of promoting clinician competency, providing ethical and professional services, and maintaining self-reflexivity.