Ethical and Cultural Issues in Immigration-Related Psychological Assessments
Training Description
The purpose of the workshop is to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills towards a multicultural and ethical approach in working on immigration-related cases in forensic mental health. This workshop will discuss the current trends in the United States demographics and the increased need for inclusion of culture-informed services to our consumers. Awareness of self as a cultural being can enhance self-perceived efficacy and reduce anxiety and burnout risks. Knowledge of intercultural verbal and nonverbal aspects of communication will add to the participants’ already acquired skills to help build rapport with clients and increase productivity. The workshop will provide participants with the skills required for multicultural practice and will include a list of references/resources on this topic. Trauma-informed models of intervention will be presented along with relevant examples. The training will include an in-depth discussion of the impact of trauma in relation to a variety of forensic cases. Examples of interventions designed to improve rapport and to enhance the efficacy of forensic interviewing, assessment, and treatment protocols will be provided.
Trainer Biography
Dr. Mihaela Dranoff is a licensed psychologist with a specialty in forensic and clinical psychology. She holds a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology from Montclair State University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Dranoff has extensive clinical and forensic experience in multiple settings, such as community mental health centers, pediatric clinics, child protection agencies, and private practice with a focus on forensic psychology. She is the founder and director of the Montclair Center for Psychological Services, and adjunct faculty for the Psychology Department and the Center for Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University.
Dr. Dranoff is a member of the Asylum Network at Physicians for Human Rights, where she provides clinical and forensic assessments of asylum seekers. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association Refugee Mental Health Resource Network. Dr. Dranoff has published and presented at regional and national professional conferences on topics related to clinical and forensic assessment in the context of immigration proceedings, trauma, developmental issues, and multicultural psychology. She is an expert trainer for the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies, the Global Institute of Forensic Research, and Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
Dr. Dranoff has been qualified as an expert witness for the State and Federal Courts in New York and New Jersey and has provided expert witness testimony on a variety of cases related to trauma in the context of migration, child abuse and neglect, and child custody. She is the recipient of the 2014 American Psychological Association Early Career Achievement Award and has recently been nominated for the 2020 American Psychological Association Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to…
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- Discuss multicultural competence and apply best practices.
- Apply self-perceived efficiency as a service provider to the culturally diverse.
- Identify and reduce anxiety and burnout risks by enhancing your skills in working with clients in immigration proceedings.
- Discuss ethical considerations in providing services to the culturally diverse.
- Identify intercultural nonverbal cues and communication patterns.
- Describe a trauma-based model for structuring interviews, assessments, and treatment plans from a culture-centered approach.
- Discuss case examples where inadequate intercultural communication may interfere with the provision of adequate services.
