3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Working With Immigrants and First Generation Americans: Clinical Considerations is presented by Maria Veronica Laguna, MSW.

Given that the United States attracts the largest number of immigrants in the world, the experience of working with immigrant and first-generation Americans is not foreign to clinicians. Due to the current socio-political climate, issues around acculturation, identity conflicts, and intergenerational trauma are becoming more and more prevalent in the consulting room. By drawing on several concepts of Object Relations theory, this program aims to help clinicians identify some of the salient issues, unconscious processes, and internal conflicts that tend to occur among immigrant and first-generation Americans. Clinicians are introduced to theoretical and technical tools to strengthen their assessment and engagement skills when working with this population.

This training is intended for any clinician or student interested in working with immigrants or first-gen in clinical or social service settings. No previous knowledge of psychodynamic theory is required. 


Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe 3 defensive processes and at least 3 clinical tools to understand their implications in the immigrants' subjectivity and daily functioning
  • 2 Describe the impact of immigration in First Gen Americans and identify at least 3 clinical tools to engage this population
  • 3 Describe 2 common transference/countertransference reactions and their impact on the working relationship
  • 4 Describe common biases, ethnocentric assumptions, and blindspots in multicultural assessment

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for clinicians and students interested in working with immigrants or first-generation individuals, focusing on the unique challenges these populations face, such as acculturation, identity conflicts, and intergenerational trauma. Drawing on Object Relations theory, the workshop will introduce theoretical and technical tools to help participants better assess and engage with immigrant and first-generation clients. No previous knowledge of psychodynamic theory is required. The training will incorporate clinical vignettes and encourage active group discussion.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Psychologists
    • Marriage and Family Therapists
    • School Counselors
    • Case Managers
    • Community Support Specialists

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience working with immigrant and first-generation American clients.

    • Beginner: Clinicians with limited or no prior experience working with immigrant or first-generation American clients, or those new to psychodynamic concepts, seeking foundational knowledge and practical tools.
    • Intermediate: Clinicians with some experience working with immigrant or first-generation American clients and a basic understanding of psychodynamic or multicultural concepts, looking to deepen their assessment and intervention skills.

  • Practice Setting

    Clinicians practice in culturally responsive, trauma-informed clinical and social service environments that support immigrants and first-generation individuals across the lifespan. Work typically involves assessment, psychotherapy, and care coordination within multidisciplinary teams, often using interpreters and community partnerships to address family dynamics and social determinants.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Community mental health centers
    • Hospital outpatient/inpatient programs
    • Primary care/integrated behavioral health clinics
    • School-based and university counseling centers
    • Refugee resettlement and immigrant service agencies
    • Private practice
    • Legal aid/forensic evaluation programs
    • Telehealth services

Presented By

Maria Veronica Laguna, MSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)/Private Practice

María Verónica Laguna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in private practice in New York City. She is a faculty member of the Metropolitan Center for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (MITPP) and an instructor of Social Work at Mercy College. She has also taught Critical Psychology and Immigration issues for international audiences and institutions. She recently co-authored the book "From Grad School to Private Practice: a Roadmap for Mental Health Clinicians" (2023). Maria is the founder of the Bicultural Collective, a virtual space that offers resources and support for clinicians and patients from multicultural backgrounds.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Maria Veronica Laguna, MSW

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Factors Influencing mental health outcomes in immigrant clients

  • Psychic Journeys of the Immigrant

  • Cultural Mourning and its impact on children of immigrants

  • Fantasies Activated in the Immigrant's mind

  • First Generation Americans: definition and challenges

  • Technical Considerations when working with this population

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.