Earn 3 CEUs!*
Dr. Kimmery Newsom, Ph.D., LMFT, CFLE, is a marriage and family therapist, educator, and author with nearly 20 years of experience in mental health and higher education. She is the founder and CEO of Kimmery Newsom, LLC, a therapist and education consulting business. Dr. Newsom directs the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Licensed in MN, WI, and KS, she specializes in trauma recovery, racial trauma, and cultural issues. A skilled clinician and researcher, she’s first author on Culture and Diversity in Family Life Education (2020, 2025). Newsom is also a sought-after speaker on diversity, equity, inclusion, and White racial identity development.
Description
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are definitely topics that have a place in marriage and family therapy (MFT). It is important that we address them, as the majority of MFT providers are white and female. This presentation will be centered around our ethical responsibility for developing an ongoing cultural competence, understanding cultural humility, identifying microaggressions, and the psychological impact that they have on our clients.
During this presentation, we will examine the ways that we can educate ourselves on the different cultural aspects clients present with, and how we can be more aware of our own biases. We will talk about intent v impact and how they are necessary for awareness. We will have opportunities for questions and have case examples so it will be an interactive session as well. You will learn principles related to ways to converse with clients regarding your questions about their ethnic heritage, their mindset regarding different cultures between you, as their provider and their family. Additionally, we will address issues that arise for you with work that you do with clients who are of a different cultural background as you. Privilege, power and difference will also be discussed. It is imperative to examine how privilege can be used to create scenarios in sessions that change power dynamics related to difference.
Objectives:
1. Explore Cultural Education: Learn about different cultural aspects that clients may present and how to become more aware of your own biases.
2. Understand Intent vs. Impact: Discuss the importance of intent and impact in fostering awareness during interactions.
3. Engage Interactively: Participate in an interactive session with opportunities for questions and case examples to enhance understanding.
4. Address Privilege and Power Dynamics: Examine how privilege and power influence relationships and discuss ways to manage these dynamics effectively in professional settings.
* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).
This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.
