The AAMFT Blog

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing Diversity in Marriage and Family Therapy

Written By Julian Crespo, Ph.D., LMFT. 

As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, it's impossible not to reflect on the rich multiplicity of Hispanic cultures. This annual observance provides marriage and family therapists an opportunity to consider the profound influence of Hispanic heritage on our field and society as a whole.

The Hispanic community defies simple categorization. It's a composite of cultures, traditions, and identities shaped by centuries of mestizaje – the blending of Indigenous, European, African, and other ancestries. This intricate history has fostered a wide array of perspectives on individual and family identity formation. Some Hispanic families celebrate their indigenous roots as a cornerstone of their identity, while others may emphasize their European heritage. Many embrace a fluid, multifaceted identity that honors all aspects of their lineage.

For marriage and family therapists, this diversity within Hispanic cultures is a wellspring of insight. It underscores the need for tailored approaches to therapy, even among seemingly similar cultural groups. Each family brings to the therapeutic space its unique historical narrative, cultural values, and identity constructs. Additionally, the multifaceted nature of Hispanic populations can significantly enrich and foster inclusivity in the United States. As therapists, we can draw valuable lessons from how Hispanic cultures have navigated complex identities and histories. This knowledge can shape our approach to working with all clients, helping us develop more inclusive and culturally responsive therapeutic practices.

Many Hispanic cultures, for instance, place great importance on strong family bonds, respect for elders, and collective decision-making. These values offer fresh perspectives that contrast with more individualistic approaches. By integrating these diverse worldviews, we can broaden our therapeutic toolkit and better serve a wider spectrum of clients.

Furthermore, the richness and complexities of Hispanic cultures can inform and nurture marriage and family therapy practices to adopt a critical stance. They push us to examine our assumptions and biases, encouraging us to create epistemological spaces where the profession can grow in multiple directions.

Take, for example, the concept of familismo – the strong identification and attachment to nuclear and extended family – prevalent in many Hispanic cultures. This concept prompts us to reconsider our understanding of family systems, encouraging us to look beyond the nuclear family and consider the roles of extended family members and close friends who may be considered family.

Similarly, the diverse spiritual and religious practices within Hispanic cultures can expand our approach to addressing spirituality in therapy. From indigenous spiritual practices to syncretic religions like Santería, these varied belief systems remind us of the many paths people take to find meaning and healing.

The linguistic diversity within Hispanic communities offers another valuable lesson. It highlights the importance of not just literal translation, but cultural interpretation in therapy. This insight can inspire us to be more attentive to the nuances of language and communication in all our therapeutic interactions. 

As we mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, let's embrace these lessons from Hispanic cultures. Let's use this richness and complexity to foster more inclusive, culturally responsive, and critically reflective marriage and family therapy practices. In doing so, we not only better serve our Hispanic clients but also enrich our field as a whole, creating space for multiple perspectives and approaches.

National Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a powerful reminder of the invaluable contributions Hispanic cultures make to our society and our field. It challenges us to continuously expand our understanding, question our assumptions, and strive for truly inclusive and effective therapeutic practices. In honoring Hispanic heritage, we also honor the diversity of human experience and the myriad ways families and individuals construct their identities and relationships.

World Alzheimer's Awareness Day: Understanding and Reducing Stigma

By Vanessa Bradden, LMFT,

Founder and Clinical Director at Lakeview Therapy Group

Did you know that September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day? It is a day intended to increase our understanding of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and diminish the stigma associated with it. Globally, more than 55 million people are living with dementia, and it is estimated that 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year. The number of people with dementia is expected to increase to 139 million by 2050.

Most of us have been affected directly or indirectly by dementia and know that it is a painful, often lonely journey. Receiving and processing a dementia diagnosis is a significant life transition that needs more attention. It is grief work for the patient and the loved ones around them. And like any loss, it is not a linear process. There is denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, which oscillate depending on the day. The feelings associated with such a loss can be paralyzing, overwhelming our ability to cope well.

As marriage and family therapists, we understand that the patient is part of a more extensive system – family, friends, and co-workers. We also know that stigma is an obstacle, imposing shame and making it harder to focus on what needs to happen to adapt and keep a good quality of life. The stigma around dementia can result in premature outcomes if we decide that patients cannot do anything on their own because they have dementia. We all benefit when we encourage diagnosed individuals to use as many capabilities as possible, if they are safe.

Stigma and Its Impact 

 For those directly affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, life changes in ways that are scary and unpredictable. The progressive nature of the disease can alter parts of our loved ones who were once vibrant and productive members of their families and communities. It is a startling moment when you realize someone you know and love is struggling with pieces of their ability to remember things you experienced together or, even more alarmingly, your name and who you are to them.  

Fear of the unknown is difficult for all of us. However, if left unchallenged, it perpetuates stigma around the disease, making it hard for everyone to get proper care and support. Raising our awareness about Alzheimer's disease is one of the best ways to deflate the stigma that negatively affects patients and their families. 

Stigma is a significant concern facing patients and families living with dementia. Many report feelings of abandonment, isolation, and infantilization. Our fear of dementia can cause us to back away from someone when they need us the most. For some, it is a fear of not knowing what to say or do, or more selfishly, an inability to cope with the changes that will happen over time. Either way, it further worsens feelings of loss.

Reducing Stigma 

Marriage and Family Therapists are the pioneers and leaders of systemic therapy. We think that the individual is more than the sum of their parts, and we value finding strength-based solutions rather than those that enforce stigma and isolation. We believe nothing happens in a vacuum, and effective treatment comes from looking at the broader context of what is happening with the individual and those closest to that person. With staggering numbers projected for the future of Alzheimer's, it is crucial to reduce and even end its stigma.  

Educating yourself and those around you about dementia is one of the most effective ways to reduce stigma. Be direct and factual about what is happening. Being direct can help set expectations for others while also empowering ourselves as advocates of our lives. Being open and honest with others can help people better understand what you are facing and take the pressure off them not knowing what to say or do to help you.  

How Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) Can Help  

Marriage and family therapists (MFT) have a unique skill set and know how to work with individuals, couples, and families. They support everyone in the family system, making processing loss more manageable. Grief work is complex, and there is no easy solution. Each person's experience is essential; tensions can run high in the family, and old wounds can get triggered. Working with an MFT provides an added level of support for everyone. 

Medical Advances Give Us Hope 

While we search for a cure for Alzheimer's disease, we must hold onto hope. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is the leading agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease research, and their unyielding support continues to push researchers toward more effective prevention and treatment protocols for dementia. 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Join AAMFT for a conversation on suicide prevention

Each September, the United States observes suicide awareness and prevention. The nationwide observance aims to raise awareness about suicide, identify ways to prevent suicide, and remember the lives lost to suicide.

In the U.S., someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes. Suicide can impact anyone—people of all ages and backgrounds. The White House World Suicide Prevention Day proclamation underscores this, noting that in 2023, nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide, and in 2022, over 10 million seriously considered suicide. In 2022, suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 14 and 25 to 34, and the suicide rate for veterans was 50 percent higher than for anyone else.

On September 24 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, we invite you to a special LinkedIn live panel discussion titled “Understanding Suicide Prevention: Community, Signs, and Support.”

Hosted by AAMFT Board President Silvia Kaminsky, this critical session will feature insights from AAMFT members Dr. Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin and Dr. Katherine M. Hertlein, along with Dr. Lisa M. Horowitz of the National Institute of Mental Health. Together, they will explore the significant impact of family dynamics on mental health and discuss practical strategies for suicide prevention.

This session will provide expert insights into the warning signs of suicide; help you understand the support systems that can prevent crises; and insights from top professionals about the role of marriage and family therapists in mental health advocacy.

This event is essential for anyone interested in the latest approaches to mental health and wellness, especially in recognizing the crucial role families play in prevention. Whether you're a professional in the field, a student, or simply an advocate for better mental health practices, your participation is valuable.

Save the date and join the conversation that matters. Let's empower our communities with the knowledge to support and save lives.

REGISTER FOR THIS LIVE EVENT HERE

The Private Pay Private Practice

This content is provided by zynnyme, an affinity partner of AAMFT. This information is not necessarily the view of AAMFT and should not be interpreted as official policy.

The landscape of private practice has evolved rapidly since we have been coaching since 2010. We now have tech companies and directories that therapists can work for, online therapy software and companies, laws shifting for providing therapy across state lines, insurance companies that are changing how they do billing and so much more. Yet, even with these changes, the options for structuring your private practice remain to be - private pay, insurance-based, and hybrid.

Private pay practices have a cash fee and do not involve third-party payors in their practice at all. They may provide a superbill, but it is up to the client if they allow a third-party payor’s involvement. Insurance-based practices that exclusively take insurance are often working with billing companies or software to communicate with third-party payors. With many tech companies showing up in the therapy space, some of them are supporting these billing processes, negotiating fees, and managing the claw backs. Lastly, a hybrid practice is one that has a combination of both private pay and insurance provider involvement.

Is one of these options better than the other? Not necessarily. The key is choosing a structure that is profitable and sustainable for you. Profitable meaning that it provides a decent living wage for you and anyone you hire. Sustainable meaning that you can do business without it negatively impacting you, your clients, and your community. You want to look at doing this work in a way that allows for excellent outcomes, ethical practice and that doesn’t burn you out physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

There is no moral high ground for taking insurance. The variance from therapist to therapist shows us that not one single private practice is the same. We all have different circumstances and privileges at play when determining our private practice structure. What is most ethical is to choose that which is best for the client and for the therapist.

That said, many cannot afford to take insurance exclusively or in a hybrid model. If you have longed to be independent, not involving insurance companies in the therapeutic relationship, we want to explore how to make your private pay practice a possibility.

Pillar 1:  Solid Systems for Private Pay

It’s time to ditch the hustle culture and really look at how many hours you can healthily give to your business, beyond your direct client work. Working nonstop is not what will get you a private pay practice. First start with honoring your energy and time and give to the practice what is sustainable for you. Having systems in place is what will help you find flow in working in your private pay practice. Some of the key systems every private pay practice needs are a consultation and onboarding process, financial plan, business plan, marketing systems, and self-care systems. All of these systems work together to make private pay more easeful in your practice.