PESI’s Guide to Diversity in CE

PESI, Inc. is committed to providing education that connects knowledge with need, improving clinicians' ability to serve all clients. We believe in embracing differences and positive clinical outcomes that can be achieved when diversity is at the forefront of both education and clinical intervention.

PESI, Inc. encourages all presenters and content experts to incorporate diversity into each and every continuing education program. To assist with this goal, we have provided the following information to help guide and prompt program planning. As you’re developing your program content, please consider the questions and suggestions below.

Note: Please remember that people are diverse in many ways, and diversity applies to many additional experiences beyond culture, race, and ethnicity. Diversity considerations can and should also include age, ability, sexual orientation, gender presentation, religion, and/or socioeconomic status.

• Where is more research needed?
• Are there underrepresented groups that have not been considered during the development or study of a particular therapy?
• What barriers exist to implementation or research?
• What are potential client biases and responses to therapy?
• What cultural considerations should be considered?
• Are there special considerations for certain client groups?
• How might the use of assessments and their results be impacted by the client’s cultural background?
• How might your choice of treatment interventions change based on a client’s abilities? What about their religion or socioeconomic status?
• How can you inspire action through your CE content?
  • Identify personal bias through assessment and self-reflection
  • Create a personalized learning plan to improve education and awareness
  • Implement steps to improve diversity in your own practice
  • Incorporate empathy and compassionate healthcare practices

Examples:

• Cultural considerations in wellness and trauma
• Cultural and social contexts in shaping adverse religious experiences
• Sensitivity to cultural attitudes and beliefs about exercise
• The role of cultural and social identities in shaping brain health
• Designing culturally responsive treatment plans
• Assessing your own negative and positive expectations
• Supporting same-sex and gender diverse couples
• Important notes on personal values and self-disclosure
• Transracial and transcultural family dynamics
• Tips for male clinicians
• How to support women in their careers
• Staying objective when our values don’t match our client’s values
• Recognizing differences in client needs without compromising self or acting unfairly to others
• Queer culture and the heteronormative construct
• Diverse relationships – non-monogamy, long-distance, asexual & more
• How and why to access and use clients’ spiritual/religious beliefs
• Exploring therapist implicit bias and assumptions
• Boundaries: The What and the Why
  • Identifying personal values and how they relate to boundaries
  • Connections between personal values and professional ethics
  • What to do if your values don’t align with Ethical Standards
• Working with Specific Populations Recovering from Religious Trauma
  • Addressing the unique experiences of women
  • BIPOC: the intersection of religious trauma and racial identity
  • LGBTQ+: Navigating the complexities
• Special Considerations
  • The needs of girls with same-sex parents
  • Affirming care for LGBTQIA+ women
  • Ensure cultural humility

For more information, please visit the following:

Counseling: American Counseling Association: Cultural Identities, Multiculturalism & Diversity

Social Work: NASW Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice

Addictions Professionals: NAADAC Code of Ethics

Psychology: APA

Play Therapy: APT

Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology: ASHA

Occupational Therapy: AOTA

Physicians: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - ACCME

Physical Therapists: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | APTA

American Disabilities Act