Workforce Language Services

John F. Kennedy University is poised to begin a ground-breaking Master’s program focused on offering culturally appropriate training for future licensed therapists who wish to cater to Latinos. 

The Santa Cruz Sentinel article is spot-on in its description of the necessity of offering such a program as well as the possible challenges because of cultural attitudes toward mental health services in the Latino community. 

Organista agreed that cultural competency training must include sensitivity to folk traditions.

“You must be aware that people look to other modes of health care,” she said, adding that there is sometimes a taboo in Latino families regarding seeking mental health care. “There is conflict between seeking outside help and trying to resolve it internally [with relatives.]”

Although JFKU will not require students in the new program to be bilingual or take dual-language classes, the course will train graduates to wade through language barriers or cultural traditions therapists don’t usually understand that might stand in the way helping a client. And because Latino culture is not monolithic, students will learn about how to best assess the needs of clients from varying generations and backgrounds, including diverse Mexican heritages and South American traditions.

“You need to figure out where on the continuum they fall and how you’re going to work with them,” Bautista said.

Should this proposed program receive accreditation, the idea of having a specialized group of licensed therapists able to provide mental health services to a population that faces a unique set of issues is very exciting.

To read more about the specifics of the program as well as some of the practical challenges in starting out, click here.