Session Description
This presentation will include key concepts from the "Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice and Organizational Change for Psychologists," (APA, 2003) which were developed because a fact is that racial and ethnic diversity among clients/patients presents challenges for all of us. We tend to relate most easily, in our lives, as well as in our practices, to those most similar to us, including in regard to the major variables of gender,
ethnicity, and social class. This presentation will include the ethical imperatives that underlie the importance of multicultural competence in psychotherapy with members of racial/ethnic minority groups, especially Latino/a populations, including immigrant and international groups. Potential obstacles as well as positive strategies will be identified, especially those relevant for all practitioners wishing to provide competent ethical services to ethnic minority populations. Case vignettes from the presenter's own experience will be discussed. At the end of this workshops, participants will

• recognize APA Ethics Code standards relevant to diverse populations.
• be able to list two potential obstacles to providing competent
• services for members of diverse populations
• be able to identify two positive strategies based on multicultural and
  feminist ethics for increase in competency for delivery of services to
  diverse groups.

Dr. Melba Vasquez is a psychologist in independent practice in Austin, Texas, and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association. She is a past president of Texas
Psychological Association, and of APA Divisions 35 (Society of Psychology of Women) and 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology). She is a Fellow of the APA and holds the Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is a co-founder of APA Division 45
(Society of the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues) and of the National Multicultural Conference and Summit, held every two years for the last 10 years. She publishes in the areas of ethics, ethnic minority psychology, psychology of women, training and supervision and
counseling and psychotherapy. She is co-author, with Ken Pope, of Ethics in Psychotherapy & Counseling: A Practical Guide (2007, 3rd edition) and of How to survive and thrive as a therapist: Information, ideas and resources for psychologists in practice (2005), and of numerous journal articles and book chapters. She has won several awards, including the 2008 Psychologist of the Year Award from APA Division 42 (Independent Practice), the 2008 “Friend of the Asian
American Psychological Association” Award, the 2007 APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Independent or Institutional Practice in the Private Sector, 2006 Woman of the Year from the APA Division 17 Section for the Advancement of Women, and the 2004 James M. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, APA. She will be a candidate for APA President in 2009.