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Religion & Spirituality

Both Latina ladies interviewed highlighted the significance of Catholicism in their lives. Interviewee 1 expressed that Christmas holds great significance and is highly valued as a holiday in Costa Rica, with the majority of the population adhering to the Catholic faith. Interviewee 2 explained that the practice of the Catholic religion involves praying to patron saints, such as the Virgin Mary. She elaborated on the importance of baptism and confirmation in Latina culture.

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Feminist Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on addressing gender-related issues and the impact of social injustices on women's mental health.  It is not focused on diagnosing or treating a specific illness (Corey, 2018).

According to Diaz-Martinez et al., the Feminist Approach…

· Analyzes symptoms and helps connect life experiences, beliefs, norms, and internal states.

· Incorporates social constructs such as gender, racism, immigration status, social class, etc.

· Offers a safe space and the opportunity to process and cope with oppression.

Techniques

· Viewing symptoms as communication

· Power analysis

· Assertiveness training

· Reframing

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Dia de los Muertas

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What is Día de los Muertos? An expert explains the holiday celebrating loved ones who have died

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Aztecs: Arrival of Cortes and the Conquistadors

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The Woman who helped the Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire

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The Woman who helped the Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire

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Malitzen: Enslaved Interpreter for Hernan Cortés (WAMS E02)

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Familismo- the sense of connectedness and loyalty among immediate and extended family.

Personalismo- a personalized communication style characterized by respectful, interdependent, and cooperative interactions.

Simpatico- the relational style that emphasizes social harmony and a gracious, hospitable, and personable.

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Latino Learning Modules: Latino Culture and Cultural Values

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According to Sue, Latinos experience the challenges below, this was echoed in the interviews with participants:

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Acculturation is the social, psychological, and cultural transformation that results from integrating two cultures into one while adjusting to the dominant culture in the community. As the oldest child in a first-generation family, Interviewee 2 shared that she felt the strain of being in the middle of her parents' expectations and navigating American culture.

Mental Illness Stigma refers to the unfavorable or prejudiced opinions that people may hold regarding mental illness. Both participants had a negative outlook regarding the need for mental health treatment. They both expressed that resilience is important and seemed to view counseling as unlikely to help support them.

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Multiculturalism is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping clients who belong to minority groups or who have characteristics that differ from the dominant social group, such as their race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, income, handicap status, or other social factors (Corey, 2018).

According to Diaz-Martinez et al., Multicultural therapy…

· Demonstrates an understanding of values and concepts that impact decisions such as marianismo (a set of expectations concerning female gender roles), respeto (respect), ser bien educado (being well-educated), familismo (commitment to family), etc.

· Recognizes the challenges linked to acculturation and the impact on children of immigrants.

· Psychoeducation that matches cultural values. It creates a strong therapeutic alliance and builds trust through non-judgmental practices and understanding how the client interprets problems.

Guiding Principles

· Self-awareness-recognizes that clients' identities are complex and can be shaped by various factors, such as cultural privilege, biases, prejudices, race, gender, etc.  Also, being aware of their beliefs can influence their interactions with clients from different cultures.

· Flexibility- recognizes their cultural limitations and adjusts to meet the client's needs.

· Communication- understands that oral and non-verbal communication are crucial in establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship.

· Approach –considers the client’s attitudes, beliefs, and values when selecting a therapeutic approach or intervention.

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Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) refers to various techniques and approaches to managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These can include structured psychotherapies and self-help practices (Corey,2018).

According to Chavira, D. A. et al, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)…

·Focuses on recognizing and modifying misconstrued or exaggerated thought patterns, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses.

·Incorporates treatment strategies such as emotional regulation and mindfulness to address destructive or disturbing thoughts and behaviors.

·It involves identifying irrational beliefs, actively challenging them, and finally learning to recognize and change these thought patterns.