Keynote Speaker

Dr. Lourdes Araujo

Ed.D, LMHC

Bio:

Dr. Araujo is a bilingual, licensed mental health counselor specializing in trauma and mood disorders across various age groups, including children. Guided by a humanistic-constructivist philosophy, she employs both pedagogical and clinical approaches to foster holistic well-being in individuals. Her research interests encompass trauma, education, diversity, and multiculturalism, with a special focus on her extensive engagement within the Latino community. Additionally, she has conducted thorough research on issues such as domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual abuse, making significant strides in the mental health field as a seasoned therapist. Dr. Araujo holds the position of Assistant Professor in Higher Education, teaching within a master’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She also serves as the President-Elect in both the Florida Counseling Association and the Suncoast Mental Health Counselor’s Association. Dr. Araujo’s commitment to community service and her dedication to improving lives, one person at a time, underscore her humanitarian passion. Her efforts, though modest, have a profound impact, reflecting her profound dedication to making a positive difference.

Topic: 

Understanding the Intersection of Trauma and Cuban Immigration: Exploring Mental Health Implications

Summary: 

Dr. Araujo shares insights into how trauma affects the mental well-being of Cuban immigrants. Her study explores the consequences of persecution, displacement, and assimilation challenges on individuals' mental health. The research investigates conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety, shedding light on their impact on resettlement and adaptation. Additionally, the study highlights innovative, culturally sensitive approaches to meet the mental health needs of Cuban immigrants. She underscores the importance of understanding and addressing mental health disparities among immigrant populations. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders interested in immigration and acculturation in the United States, shaping future endeavors in this field. Dr. Araujo holds firsthand experience, as her family sought refuge in the United States amidst the fear and persecution imposed by the Fidel Castro regime in Cuba.

Learning Objectives:

Investigate the historical and socio-political elements contributing to trauma among Cuban immigrants, encompassing experiences of persecution, displacement, and challenges in assimilation.

Assess the psychological ramifications of trauma within the Cuban immigration framework, including conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders, and their impact on resettlement and adjustment processes.

Delve into approaches and initiatives designed to support the mental health and overall well-being of Cuban immigrants, including culturally sensitive methods, community-based resources, and advocacy endeavors to overcome systemic barriers to care.

Plenary Speaker

Dr. Jenny Hughes

Ph.D, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Founder of The Brave Trauma Therapist Collective

Bio: 

Jenny Hughes, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with 15+ years of experience in the field of trauma. She founded The BRAVE Trauma Therapist Collective to support trauma therapists as they manage vicarious trauma, prevent burnout, and enhance vicarious resilience. She served as a clinical mentor for children and adolescents while attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, earned her Ph.D at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and began to specialize in infant mental health during her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Science Center (New Orleans). Later, as the trauma psychologist at a Level 1 Trauma Center, she began supporting other helping professionals and co-developed a comprehensive wellness program for hospital staff. Clinically, she currently works with adult survivors of trauma and PTSD and supervises pre-doctoral psychology interns treating children and families affected by trauma.

Topic: 

Two Sides of the Same Coin: How Vicarious Trauma and Resilience Serve us as Trauma Therapists

Summary: 

This workshop will enhance clinical practice for certified counselors by defining and demonstrating the presence of vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience in clinical settings and their impact on clients and clinicians. Through live teaching, in-vivo practice, and skill building activities, participants will strengthen their ability to identify vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience, develop strategies around these experiences, which will in turn improve attendee's ability to provide trauma-informed interventions with a wide-range of client presentations. At a macro-level, this will increase certified counselors' ability to achieve client outcome goals while supporting clinicians' well-being, which may increase availability of services for clients who might otherwise lack access to trauma-informed care.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will examine the impact of vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience on therapeutic practices of certified counselors in the clinical setting. 

Participants will develop strategies to more effectively identify experiences of vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience in their clinical work, thus improving their ability to deliver trauma-informed interventions in clinical practice.

Participants will demonstrate use of strategies to effectively manage vicarious trauma and enhance vicarious resilience as certified counselors, which will strengthen a trauma-informed approach to clinical care.