The current sociopolitical climate has magnified historical wounds of racism and oppression.  Additionally, the current global pandemic has disproportionately impacted people of color with people of color dying at higher rates than non-people of color.  This is yet another crisis that is bringing out and deepening old wounds amongst communities of color perpetuated by white supremacy, white fragility, and racism. 

Join us for a gathering for clinicians who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC).  This gathering will be a time for us to hold space for each other as we honor the depth of our feelings and celebrate our ancestral wisdom and knowing.

This workshop will be a process-oriented, experiential, and reflective.  There will be time for both self-reflection and small group process.  The presenter will provide some framework and ideas; additionally, knowledge and ideas will be drawn from the collective experiences of the group.

In this workshop, we will:

• Name collectively the unique challenges of being a clinician of color in the mental health and social services fields during this time
• Identify together some ways to manage these unique challenges
• Discuss ideas on how to overcome colonial mentality in order to decolonize trauma work

Student discount and sliding scale discount available. Please contact us at chicagominds@gmail.com for details.

Workshop participants who opt to receive CE certification, please select the CEU option. This workshop fulfills requirement for 2 CE credits. CE sponsorship is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), credits are applicable to LCSW and transferrable to LCPC in Illinois. If you have a different licensure or are licensed outside of Illinois, please check with your licensure body before purchasing. Please note that we require your live attendance in order to issue CE certificates.

***This workshop is for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC).  Clinicians who are bi- or multiracial are also welcome.  If you do NOT identify as BIPOC, please do NOT register for this workshop.

***Due to the process-oriented, experiential, and reflective nature of the workshop, the workshop wouldn’t be recorded and will require your live attendance.

About the Speaker

Alissa Catiis (she/her/hers), LCSW, RYT is psychotherapist and yoga teacher who specializes in working with trauma survivors.  She enjoys integrating art, literature, movement, and writing into her clinical work as a means of building relationships and exploring how life transitions and challenges lead us all towards rich, complex life journeys.  Her clinical interests include working with people of color and folks in the LGBTQ+ community, and she understands that identifying as a trauma survivor can lead to additional marginalization in society.  She teaches trauma-sensitive yoga as well as contemplative practice to both her clients and to other clinicians.  She is also trained in EMDR therapy and does anti-racism consulting work.  Currently, Alissa works at the Howard Brown Health Counseling Center in Chicago and at Womencare Counseling Center in Evanston.