A Mexico City–Based Immersion Education Program: Training Mental Health Clinicians For Practice With Latino Communities

Abstract

This article describes the philosophical foundations and educational methods of a Spanish language and cultural immersion program based in Mexico City, Mexico. The program is designed to assist U.S. graduate students in marriage and family therapy and clinical psychology programs to improve clinical service delivery with Latino clients. Utilizing critical pedagogy, the program works with future clinicians to develop multicultural and international competencies; acquire increased Spanish language skills; engage in self-of-the-therapist work; and expand their understanding of the historical and cultural influences shaping the mental healthcare needs of Latin American clients. A report of the themes from postimmersion surveys is provided and the implications for training are discussed.

Don't End Up in the Fields: Identity Construction among Mexican Adolescent Immigrants, their Parents, and Sociocontextual Processes

“…The results of this study are consistent with calls for family therapists and other service providers to use approaches that focus on attention to the larger context, multicultural sensitivity, power processes, collaboration, and respect for client strengths (McDowell, Goessling & Melendez, ; Platt, ; Sutherland, Fine & Ashbourne, ). These kinds of approaches encourage therapists to be reflexive and accountable about their own positions of power and privilege and to identify the influence of discrimination and injustice in people's lives.…”

Global Mental Health: A Call for Increased Awareness and Action for Family Therapists

“…Some family therapy training programs and organizations have made international engagement a priority and global study experiences are being incorporated into mental health training programs (McDowell, Goessling, & Melendez, 2012). MFT training programs at the University of San Diego and Appalachian State University have offered study abroad opportunities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe (Edwards, Patterson, Lee, Beh, & Mill, 2011); the MFT doctoral program at the University of Nebraska recently added a specialization in GMH; and Alliant International University offers an www.FamilyProcess.org 76 / FAMILY PROCESS MFT masters' degree in Mexico City (Platt, 2012). Kraus, McDonald, and McDowell (2015) and McDowell, Brown, Kabura, Parker, and Alotaiby (2011) describe a co-training project in Uganda at the Bishop Magambo Counsellor Institute.…”

Counseling Students' Transformative Learning Through a Study Abroad Curriculum

“…The increasingly connected world requires counselors to have a global perspective (Alvarez & Lee, ; Platt, ). Lee () called for counselors to become globally literate by “embracing a way of life that encourages maximum exposure to and understanding of the many‐faceted realities of multiculturalism and diversity” (p. 113).…”

“…Cultural immersion experiences have particular importance in training counselors to have a global perspective (Hipolito‐Delgado, Cook, Avrus, & Bonham, ). The influence of international study abroad programs, one type of cultural immersion, has been examined for training students in school counseling (Alexander, Kruczek, & Ponterotto, ), marriage and family therapy (Barden & Cashwell, ; McDowell, Goessling, & Melendez, ; Platt, ), and counseling (Guth, McAuliffe, & Michalak, ; Jurgens & McAuliffe, ). Findings suggest that international immersion through brief study abroad provides transformative learning opportunities for counseling students (McDowell et al, ).…”

“…Transformative learning occurs when students challenge their frames of reference and points of view through critical reflection and reframe perceptions, beliefs, and meaning to be more inclusive and less ethnocentric (Mezirow, ). Specifically, counseling students experienced personal growth and increased awareness and knowledge of their own and other cultures through study abroad (Guth et al, ; Jurgens & McAuliffe, ; Platt, ). McDowell et al () found that counseling psychology students experienced changes in their worldviews after completing an international course.…”