Spring 2024 Presidential Column
Peyman Raoofi, Psy.D. As I sit down to write this year’s spring column article, I reflect on the messages I would like to convey for the coming year as president of LACPA. Still, there is much work to be done. Los Angeles County is home to 10 million people, almost 1 million of whom are students, and over 2 million of whom are above the age of 60. In addition, 14% of our County population lives below the poverty level, with over 75,000 of our community members experiencing homelessness. Los Angeles is also home to one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the United States. A variety of over 200 languages are spoken and over 4 million immigrants reside here. Our LACPA mission statement of diversity and inclusion is not merely rhetoric, but a value that is embedded into every program and service we provide as psychologists. It is the fabric of our community and what makes us strong. In the past year, we have held processing groups for a number of demographics pertaining to cultural, social, and political issues that pertain to our various identities. When the world is in a tumultuous state, and when the larger globe is suffering, this pain is felt at the individual level as well. Here at LACPA, we are strong because we acknowledge how what humans face as a collective will always translate to the particular level. I am very excited to announce that the keynote speaker at the LACPA 2024 Convention will be Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., one of the most prominent voices in cross cultural studies. With over 150 publications, he is one of the most-cited multicultural scholars today. The topic will be Racism in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Illuminate and Disarm. I invite you all to join us at the 36th Annual Convention to advance our comprehension of mental health through scientific exploration, collaborative initiatives, and shared insights. |