2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Counseling Immigrant Women of Color: Dos and Don'ts for Culturally Responsive Counseling is presented by S Anandavalli, PhD.

This program reviews the importance of centering cultural responsiveness in treating immigrant women of Color for their mental health concerns. Dr. Vali addresses socio-cultural and systemic challenges faced by this population and outlines how they impact the community's mental health. 

There is a discussion on intersectionality theory, its key tenets, and its application to conceptualize a client's mental health distress. Also, she provides culturally empowering treatment strategies that clinicians can apply in their work with this population. As part of sharing resources to facilitate treatment, a resource packet is provided to attendees to easily share with clients. There is a case study to help attendees apply their takeaways. 

The unique intersection of immigration, gender, and race is rarely discussed in mental health fields. With the increase in immigration and crises around the world, more professionals are likely to work with immigrant women of Color than not. Learning culturally responsive treatment strategies can help address the distress faced by this population. This program is intended for community workers, medical professionals, and allied professionals who work with immigrant women of Color.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe common socio-cultural challenges facing immigrant women of Color in the U.S., including xenophobia, fetishization, and racism
  • 2 Describe intersectionality theory to conceptualize client's mental health concerns
  • 3 Describe culturally responsive treatment strategies, including expressive arts approaches

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health, medical, and allied professionals who support immigrant women of color, with a focus on those committed to culturally responsive care and addressing the unique mental health and social needs of this population. It is most relevant for professionals specializing in culturally responsive mental health, community mental health, or social services for immigrant populations.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, psychologists)
    • Medical professionals (doctors, nurses, physician assistants)
    • Allied professionals (social workers, case managers, community health workers)
    • Community workers and advocates
    • Staff at nonprofit organizations serving immigrant populations

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience working with immigrant women of Color.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to culturally responsive care for immigrant women of Color and seek foundational knowledge of intersectionality theory and common socio-cultural challenges.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience working with diverse populations and are looking to deepen their understanding of intersectionality and apply culturally empowering treatment strategies in clinical practice.

  • Practice Setting

    Providers practice in community-centered, safety-net, and integrated health and social service environments serving immigrant women of color. Care is interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally and linguistically responsive, delivered in person and via telehealth across urban, suburban, and rural contexts. They collaborate across systems to address intersecting mental health and social needs.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Community mental health clinics
    • Hospital behavioral health and integrated primary care clinics
    • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and safety-net clinics
    • Nonprofit agencies and refugee resettlement programs
    • Domestic violence/sexual assault shelters and advocacy centers
    • School- or campus-based counseling and health centers
    • Public health departments and community-based organizations
    • Telehealth and mobile outreach services
Presented By

S Anandavalli, PhD

S Anandavalli (she, her, hers), PhD, NCC, LPCA, CCTP, is an award-winning, nationally recognized trauma-informed mental health counselor and counselor educator. She is the owner and founder of Soulfulness Counseling, LLC, a private practice dedicated to serving women who have been exposed to early childhood trauma. An expert on minority women’s mental health needs, she has served as a consultant and speaker for nonprofits. She is a leader and change agent within the counseling profession and has spearheaded several grant-funded research initiatives which have been published in top-tier peer-reviewed counseling and allied journals.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.