Therapy with members of oppressed groups is often complicated by the presence of invisible wounds.  These wounds are the culmination of ongoing experiences with injustice, degradation, and discrimination.  While the invisible wounds of oppression may not be readily discernible to clinician or client, they have a profound impact on the course of therapy and its outcome.  Therapists' lack of awareness and sensitivity to the wounds of oppression can stifle the joining process and unwittingly contribute to therapeutic ways of being and interventions that are counterproductive to effective treatment.  Such innocent acts of insensitivity are often the unspoken, unacknowledged, micro-acts that contribute to the premature termination of treatment and perception that oppressed people are resistant to treatment.

This workshop will examine the anatomy of oppression and its impact on the life experiences of those who are targeted.  It will explore the multitudinous ways in which therapy potentially replicates acts of oppression for clients whose life experiences have been maligned by prejudice and discrimination.  Strategies for uncovering and addressing the invisible wounds of oppression will be discussed.  Participants also will be encouraged to explore the ways in which their personal experiences with oppression both enrich and constrain their work as therapists.

Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy is a Professor of Family Therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also Director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York, New York. Prior to joining the faculty at Drexel University, he was a Professor of Family Therapy at Syracuse University where he also held positions as Director of Clinical Training and Research, and Chair of the Department of Child and Family Services. He is the former Director of the Center for Children, Families, and Trauma of the Ackerman Institute in New York City.

Dr. Hardy presents workshops and provides consultations nationally and internationally on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and cultural competency. He has provided training and consultation to an extensive list of Human Services agencies and School Districts devoted to providing culturally competent services to children and families. Some of his clients have included the Children's Defense Fund, The United States Department of Defense, the Menninger Clinic, the New York State Office of Mental Health, Harlem Hospital, the Washington D.C. Superior Court, Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the Westchester County Department of Human Services, and a host of Colleges, Universities, and Post-Secondary Institutions throughout the United States.

Dr. Hardy has published extensively in the area of diversity and has earned considerable public acclaim for the contributions that his numerous publications and videotapes including Psychological Residuals of Slavery and the Experts series which have made great strides toward challenging our society to think critically about issues of diversity and oppression. His recent book, with Tracey A. Laszloffy, is Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions to Break the Cycle of Adolescent Violence. He was co-editor with Monica McGoldrick of Re-Visioning Family Therapy: Race, Culture, and Gender in Clinical Practice (2nd Edition).

In addition to his own writing, he also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the Journal of Family Psychotherapy, the Journal of Divorce, the Journal of Couples Therapy, the Psychotherapy Networker, and the Journal of Family Counseling. Dr. Hardy is a frequent contributor to the print media such USA Today, Jet Magazine, and Good Housekeeping, and also has been featured in the electronic media having appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline NBC, PBS, The Discovery Health Channel, and ABC's 20/20.

Training Registration Policy

Registration closes a week prior to the training and we cannot accept late registrations. Thank you for your understanding.

Training Cancellation Policy

If we cancel training or special event as a result of low registration, for example, registrants will be notified by email or phone one week prior to the training date and receive a full refund. Where courses are cancelled for reasons beyond our control, then registrants will be given shorter notice and will receive a full refund. If a registrant cannot attend training and contacts the Training Institute within 72 hours of the training or special event to cancel, a full refund will be issued. If a registrant contacts the Training Institute outside of the 72 hour period, a refund will not be issued.

Accommodations

In accordance with California Civil Code Section 54.1 any disabled person who may require accommodations to participate in our trainings or special events, please contact the Training Institute at 510-273-4700, x4132 at least 3 days in advance.

Grievances

When a grievance arises pertaining to a Lincoln training, the complainant is expected to notify Minjon LeNoir, Director of Training, either by phone 510-273-4700, x4331, in writing, or in email minjonlenoir@lincolnfamilies.org, as soon as possible so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion in order to be resolved.

Continuing Education

This course meets the qualifications for six (6) BBS CEUs for LPCCs, LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Lincoln, Provider #4906.

Questions

If you have questions or need additional information please contact Minjon LeNoir, Training Director, at minjonlenoir@lincolnfamlilies.org.