Northstar Counseling

There is a dynamic global community in the US which continues to grow and expand as we welcome refugees and immigrants from many parts of the world. In response, we must ensure that our practices are culturally appropriate, equitable, and trauma-informed. This course will help participants build their cultural competency and explore ways to increase language access to improve quality of care in therapeutic, social work, and other related settings. Through a series of short lectures and guided reflection, participants will engage with the following topics: defining refugees and immigrants, non-Western perspectives of health and mental health, barriers to care, language access, using interpreters and translations services, and overall best practices in working with diverse populations.

Participants who complete this course will be able to: 

• Understand who refugees and immigrants are, and what impacts the migration experience has on mental health.
• Identify cultural perspectives of health and wellness, and common barriers faced by refugees and immigrants.
• Describe cultural competency and discuss how it can improve care practices in various contexts.
• Identify and discuss ways to increase language access and utilize interpreters and translation services effectively.