Clinical Round Tables
Culture / Ethnicity / Race
Pina, A. A., Polo, A. J., & Huey, S. J. (2019). Evidence-based psychosocial interventions for ethnic minority youth: The 10-year update. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 48(2), 179-202.
,Hinton, D. E., & Patel, A. (2017). Cultural adaptations of cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychiatric Clinics, 40(4), 701-714.
,Kapke, T. L., & Gerdes, A. C. (2016). Latino family participation in youth mental health services: Treatment retention, engagement, and response. Clinical child and family psychology review, 19, 329-351.
, ,Sandra L. Cepeda, M.S.
Graduate Student
University of Miami
Davie, Florida
Denise Chavira, Ph.D.
Professor
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Ana J. Bridges, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Giselle Colorado, Psy.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
NYU Langone Medical Center
Hackensack, New Jersey
Laura Saldana, M.A.
Doctoral Student
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
Bianca T. Villalobos, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Sandra M. Estrada Gonzalez, B.A.
Graduate Student
University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Hispanic/Latinx youth in the United States (U.S.) commonly face a number of unique stressors, including an increased risk for developing emotional difficulties. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are among the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting Latinx youth and their caregivers, and only a small portion of those affected are likely to access adequate care for their presenting concerns. Language skills may present as a significant barrier among others (e.g., socioeconomic status, acculturation stress, stigma) impacting Latinx families from accessing and engaging in evidence-based care. Language-minority youth and their caregivers (e.g., monolingual Spanish speakers, etc.) may experience particularly high levels of stress in the U.S., as emotional distress is compounded by communication barriers.
While traditional CBT is well-supported as an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions, culturally and linguistically adapted CBT may be better suited for addressing the unique treatment needs of diverse subgroups of Spanish-speakers in the U.S., as well as Hispanic and Latinx families more broadly. The use of culturally-informed approaches can also improve treatment engagement and adherence, which is a key step towards reducing existing disparities in mental health care among Latinx families. Research continues to expand in this area but is presently limited in terms of understanding the efficacy and best practices for culturally adapting evidence-based interventions, as well as psychological assessments, for Spanish-speakers living in the U.S.
The goal of this clinical round table is to discuss specific cultural considerations for the adaptation and delivery of CBT for Spanish-speakers living in the U.S. Panelists will: (a) describe their relevant experience working with Hispanic/Latinx families; (b) discuss examples of important cultural adaptations implemented within own research and clinical work to address unique treatment needs of Hispanic/Latinx families; and (c) explore overall challenges and strategies for overcoming barriers related to the assessment, treatment, and engagement of US Spanish-speaking youth and their caregivers.