Dear Pacifica Clinical Psychology Students, Alums, and Incoming Students,
We wanted to share about the events at the upcoming American Psychological Association in Washington DC (August 3d to 7th) that involve our clinical Pacifica faculty, current students, and alums. If you are planning to attend the convention, please join us for these sessions. If not, we hope you join in honoring the work being presented.
Dr. Oksana Yakushko (Chair)
Presentation Title
Flourish, Flow and Keep Happy: Perpetuating Social Oppression Through Positive Psychology
Abstract
Positive psychology, calling itself “fifth force” in the field, has claimed that its offerings can contribute to building of a “good life” and a “moral society.” Its methods in achieving this goal are reflective of the methods typical to perpetuation of social and institutionalized forms of oppression such as the repudiating historical suffering, shifting responsibility to individuals, privileging of attitudes and behaviors that maintain social status quo, and denying the importance of emotions essential to resistance. History of positive psychology as a movement is discussed from the standpoint of its commitments to social justice. Moreover, positive psychology, like other dominant forms of Western psychology, is critiqued for its efforts to legitimatize itself through supposedly “value-neutral” sciences. Historical narratives by dominant groups that required positivity from marginalized groups are reviewed. Special attention is given to how positive psychology is communicated to lay public through popular publications, and how monoemotional approach to human experience is produced by and supports monocultural social structures.
Name: Oksana Yakushko
Session Title: 1266 Don’t Worry, Be Happy— Cultural, Theoretical and Clinical Critiques of Positive Psychology Movement
Session Type: Symposium
Date: Thu 08/03 1:00PM – 2:50PM
Division/Sponsor: 32-Humanistic; Co-List: 10, 12, 24, 27, 48, APAGS
Building/Room: Convention Center/Room 140A Street Level
Shared Suffering: On Healing, Wholeness and Social Justice in Counseling Psychology
Oksana Yakushko
Session Title: 2290 SCP Fellows Addresses
Session Type: Fellows Address
Date: Fri 08/04 4:00PM – 4:50PM
Division/Sponsor: 17-Counseling
Building/Room: Convention Center/Room 146A Street Level
Presentation Title
Witches, Charlatans, Old Wives: Critical Multicultural History of Women’s Indigenous Psychologies
Abstract
Over vast spans of history women-healers were branded as and punished for practicing witchcraft as well as denied influential healing roles because of the patriarchal political and economic monopolization of knowledge and practice. Moreover, centuries of European colonization of other non-Western cultures around the globe resulted in re-shaping of these cultures away from traditions of women-healers, women-shamans, and women-leaders toward male dominance of these fields. This presentation will review history of indigenous practices in relation to women in order to provide grounding in understanding reasons for why indigenous women’s knowledge remains dismissed as witchcraft, charlatanism, and “old wives tales.” The participants will also learn about how the impact of history of femicide, intentional denial to women healing knowledge or positions, colonialism and patriarchy influence contemporary practices and perspectives on indigenous women’s relations to healing and psychology.
Oksana Yakushko
Session Title: 3016 Women’s Indigenous Psychologies—Social Justice Perspectives on Indigenous Women and Practices
Session Type: Symposium
Date: Sat 08/05 8:00AM – 8:50AM
Division/Sponsor: 35-Psychology of Women; Co-List: 9, 17, 24, 26, 42, 45, 52, APAGS
Building/Room: Convention Center/Room 140A Street Level
Presentation Title
On Walls, Bad Hombres, and American Xenophobia: Addressing Anti-Immigrant Prejudice
Hospitality suite conversation hour – Division 32, Humanistic Psychology
Friday, 5pm
Presentation Title
Psychoanalysis for Social Responsibility: Meet and Greet and Plan for Action (hosted by Dr. Yakushko)
Section IX (Psychoanalysis for Social Responsibility), Division 39 (Psychoanalysis), Hospitality Suite
Saturday, 3pm
Dr. Juliet Rhode-Brown, Training Director and Dr. Johanna Hays (PsyD program graduate/alumna)
Abstract
This presentation examines the process of traumatic dissociation through the lens of Kalsched’s description of how early interpersonal breaches stunt the capacity for authentic social engagement and meaning-making. These breaches result in the development of internal protective systems via archetypal imagery that serves a dual purpose of protecting the psyche while concurrently terrorizing the individual’s inner world. Also highlighted is Jung’s “transcendent function” that assists in fostering emotional regulation and compelling the individuation process. Exploring the mechanisms that drive these internal systems through the engagement of hypnotic states, imagery, and mindful somatic processes, this skill-building program will offer alternate perspectives in regard to the understanding and potential reduction of complex trauma symptoms.
Session Title: 4055 Dissociation and Depth—Integrating Kalsched’s Concepts in Working With Complex Trauma
Session Type: Skill-Building Session
Date: Sun 08/06 9:00AM – 9:50AM
Division/Sponsor: 30-Hypnosis; Co-List: 35, 56
Building/Room: Convention Center/Room 143B Street Level
Nadia Thalji, MA (Clinical PhD student)
Presentation Title
The Return of Tribal Women-Shamans: Listening to Hushahu’s Voice
Abstract
Women of the Amazon basin, specifically in Brazilian rainforests, are re-entering the practice of shamanism, denied to them over the centuries of colonization. This contribution focuses on distress and healing practices among the indigenous women of the Amazon in South America. Despite women’s significant role in the indigenous society historically, colonization and contemporary gender relations resulted in exclusion of women from leadership, including positions as healers or shamans. This presentation will introduce the participants to historical and contemporary realities of tribal women of South America. In addition to discussing approaches to indigenous shamanic healing and health, this presentation will provide one of the first known examples of how indigenous women reclaim their unique contributions and practices.
Participants will hear from one of the first known women shamans who has only recently granted her interview to the author of the presentation–Hushahu, who became the first woman to be initiated as a paje or shaman in the Yawanawa tribe. Hushahu’s voice and story will be central to discussing not only women’s roles but also women’s indigenous traditions.
Title: 3016 Women’s Indigenous Psychologies—Social Justice Perspectives on Indigenous Women and Practices
Session Type: Symposium
Date: Sat 08/05 8:00AM – 8:50AM
Division/Sponsor: 35-Psychology of Women; Co-List: 9, 17, 24, 26, 42, 45, 52, APAGS
Building/Room: Convention Center/Room 140A Street Level
Dr. Norma Quintero (Recent PhD graduate/Alumna)
Presentation Title
Torn Apart: The Impact of Deportation on Immigrant Families
Abstract
Division 43 The Society for Couple and Family Psychology: Poster Proposal
Name: Norma Quintero
Degree: Ph.D
Address: 1000 E. Victoria St. Carson, CA 90747
Email: normaquintero@msn.com
APA Member: Student Member
Poster Title: Torn Apart: The Impact of Deportations on Immigrant Families
Institutional Affiliation: Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
Abstract:
According to Pew Research Center (2015), over 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. Given the ongoing polarized debate about immigration reforms, the importance of utilizing a psychological lens to understand the impact of deportation on families is crucial. This poster presentation will provide the results of a phenomenological study that explored the impact of deportation on family members. The study examined the lives of six Latino individuals who continued living in the United States after having their family members repatriated to Mexico. The research demonstrated that deportation has significant impact on individuals. Themes found through analysis included: a) Increased emotional, physical, and financial stress, b) Increased deportee’s dependence on family members remaining in the U.S. for survival, c) Reorganization of family roles, d) Deterioration of relationships between family members and deportees, e) Tremendous fear and concern for well-being of deportee, f) Increased physical, emotional, and financial stress on deportee, and g) Ongoing and unfinished grief experienced by all family members. The results of this research can provide clinically relevant information for psychologists who work with family members experiencing the distress following the deportation.
Norma Quintero
Session Title: 2182 Developmental and Multicultural Considerations in Couple and Family Psychology
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Fri 08/04 11:00AM – 11:50AM
Division/Sponsor: 43-Couple and Family Psychology
Building/Room: Convention Center/Halls D and E Level Two
In addition, congratulations to our Faculty and Affiliate Faculty (Drs. Fanny Brewster, Marybeth Carter, Roger Brooke) as well as recent clinical alums (Dr. Christy Martinez) on presenting at the conference of the International Association for Jungian Studies entitled The Specter of the OTHER in Jungian Psychology held in Cape Town, South Africa! (https://jungstudies.net/registration-now-open-for-the-2017-iajs-south-africa-conference/)
