APA Convention 2024
LEADING THE CHANGE: THE NEW HORIZONS OF GLOBAL PSYCHOLOGY

“Global Dialogues – Diálogos Globales“
Program

PDF of the program

Global Dialogues-Dialogos Globales Program

This new and innovative program is fully aligned with this year’s theme Leading the Change: The New Horizons of Global Psychology. The Global Dialogues-Dialogos Globales Program offers an exploration into how contemporary psychology is evolving on a worldwide scale. The diversity of presentations illustrates emerging trends, innovations, and creative responses shaping the field today. Our presentations include Spanish-speaking information and encompass various topics such as:

  1. Cultural Worldviews: Understanding how cultural contexts influence psychological processes and behaviors, and vice versa.
  2. Global Mental Health: Addressing mental health issues from a global perspective, considering diverse societal, cultural, and economic factors.
  3. Technology: Exploring the impact of digital technologies, AI, and virtual environments on mental health treatments and research.
  4. Environment/Climate: Investigating how the natural and built environments affect human behavior and well-being globally.
  5. Social Justice and Equity: Examining issues of social justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity within the field of psychology worldwide.

This program embraces a forward-looking approach to understand how psychology is adapting to a changing world, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative research methods, ethical considerations, and leadership in global psychological practice.

Notes: Times are PDT (Seattle, Washington time) – All programs are 50 minutes long –
Presentations can be in-person or virtual.

Thursday August 8, 2024
Room: Hyatt Regency Seattle, Queets level 5, #505

9:50-10:05 AM
Introduction to Div 52 Global Dialogues – Dialogos Globales Program – in English and Spanish
Drs. Pina Marisco, Antonio Puente, Martha Zlokovich; Theo Lazarus; Carlos Zalaquett

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Diverse Women Academics Dismantling White Dominant Spaces: Useful Recommendations
Sandra Dixon
This presentation addresses a topic that is often not given adequate attention in dominant White academic spaces. The lived realities of diverse women academics (DWAs) across various socio-cultural contexts will be explored. Effective strategies to dismantle systemic barriers in the academy will be discussed to better understand research and practice.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Keynote Program: Psychology, Culture and Social Actions: A Global Perspective-in English
Drs. Pina Marsico, Theo Lazarus, Lawrence Gerstein, Raffaele Modugno, Victor Velasquez, Camila Perez (Chile)
This hybrid session aims at discussing  a culturally competent psychological approach that may provide the model to promote a culturally sensitive social actions. What are the principal factors of an effective and culturally-appropriate psychological intervention in vulnerable socio-cultural conditions? Six authors form different countries will try to indentify the basis to develop an undestanding of the cultural component of the psychological intervention within a community systems.

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Global Psychology Alliance and Climate Awareness and Actions – in English
Alvaro Rovira, Spain; Richard Plenty, England
This program introduces the Global Psychology Allience and their initiatives regarding climate impact, knowledge, and suggested actions.

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Keynote program: Meeting the needs of Spanish speaking psychologists at APA – in English
Dr. Antonio Puente (UNCW) Chair, Dra. Melba Wazquez (APA), Dr. Jaime Diaz-Granados (APA), Dr. Amanda Clinton (APA), Dra. Mayra Ortiz (Division 31 of APA)
Leadership for Spanish-speaking psychologists in APA.
5-minute brief presentations for each speaker, followed by questions and discussion.

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM
Effectiveness and Outcomes of Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) with global aid workers – in English
Scott Grover
High fidelity stress exposure training has been seen by some professionals as controversial. Concerns have been raised by aid workers, NGO’s, and some mental health professionals about the risks and benefits of HEAT trainings. This symposium will explore these concerns and explore original research that provide data driven answers.

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Global Psychology: Navigating Ethical Differences Around the World- in English
Gurusewak Khalsa
This Critical Conversation will address the ethical complexities of cross-cultural service provision by outlining several existing cultural ethical frameworks. Facilitated discussion will provide attendees with the opportunity to identify default personal frameworks, and to collaboratively develop intentional, comprehensive approaches to global ethical navigation, leading to more culturally sensitive service provision.

4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Exploring Global Journeys: Unveiling Transformations in the Psychological Landscape of Sojourners – in English
Mijin Kim, Jungeun Kim
This session delves into the complexities that sojourners face during cross-cultural transitions. The presenters will discuss useful theoretical frameworks to understand sojourners’ psychological landscape, highlight trailing spouses’ unique challenges and growth opportunities, and provide essential considerations and practical suggestions for psychological services tailored to the specific needs of this population.

Friday August 9, 2024
Room: Hyatt Regency Seattle, Queets, Level 5 #505

8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Psicología en la Diaspora Interaméricana – en español
Dr. Antonio Puente (UNCW), Dra. Viviane de Castro Pecanha (SIP), Dra. Blanca Ortiz (SIP), Dr. Julio Santana (Universidad Albizu), Dr. Jaime Diaz-Granados (APA), Dra. Amanda CLinton (APA) 
Mesa redonda con líderes latinos de las Américas.

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Psicooncología Integral a través de las Américas: De la Intervención a la Transformación– en español
Ester Daniel, Jennifer Morales, María del Carmen Llanta, Olimpia Petzold, Marilyn Toledo, Dr. Carlos Zalaquett
Este simposio plantea un enfoque integral que abarca el trabajo interdisciplinario y transdisciplinario en la evaluación e intervención psicooncológica en cinco países de las Americas. Considera la ética de la transformación, que promueve la apertura y construcción conjunta de un camino con el paciente, su familia y el equipo sanitario. Los temas abordados incluyen un enfoque contextual y relacional, basado en la necesidad de profesionales formados y sensibles ante el padecimiento subjetivo, la psicooncología dentro del modelo de la psicología de la salud, estrategias de intervención psicooncológica, el manejo de la incertidumbre desde la psicooncología y la evaluación de experiencias de la enfermedad a través del arte.

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Adaptaciones Culturales de la Psicoterapia – en español
Jessenia D. Zayas-Ríos, DBH, MPHE, CHES® Program Manager Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, Institute of Research, Education and Service in Addiction (IRESA), Universidad Central del Caribe; Dr. Ibis Carrion; Erick A. Senior Roges; Darice Orobitg
Apoyando la equidad en la salud mental mediante la promoción de apoyos de prevención, intervención y recuperación impulsados por la comunidad, culturalmente arraigados y centrados en la persona para diversas comunidades hispanas y latinas.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Immigracion en Latinoamerica – en español
Dr. Pareicio Cumsille y Colaboradores
Procesos y desafios de la inmigracion en países latinoamericanos

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
La robusta actualidad del legado de Ignacio Martín-Baró – en español
Dra. Esmeralda Valdivieso (Departamento de Psicología y Salud Pública, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, El Salvador); Dr. Amalio Blanco (Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid); Dra. María Santacruz Giralt (Departamento de Sociología y Ciencias Políticas, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, El Salvador).
En esta sesión oral se discutirán las contribuciones de la obra de Ignacio Martín-Baró a la psicología y a otras ciencias sociales. La sesión dará comienzo con una breve semblanza biográfica de su vida y obra, haciendo hincapié en los correlatos histórico-sociales de sus aportaciones teóricas, sus principales trayectorias de estudio para terminar destacando el impacto que su obra ha tenido en los planteamientos teóricos de la psicología de habla hispana, particularmente en el campo de la psicología social, y en el replanteamiento de la formación profesional de psicólogos salvadoreños y latinoamericanos (Esmeralda Valdivieso). A continuación se expondrán los supuestos sobre los que Martín-Baró construye su perspectiva psicosocial (el realismo crítico) y su formulación en tres de sus teorías más emblemáticas: el fatalismo, la violencia y el trauma psicosocial (Amalio Blanco). La sesión finalizará con algunos apuntes sobre las imágenes e imaginarios acerca de la mujer en algunos textos de Ignacio Martín-Baró (María Santacruz Giralt).

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Etica en Latinoamerica – en español
Dr. Orlando Uribe y Colaboradores
La experiencia en la construcción y la necesidad de expansión de espacios internacionales para el desarrollo de la reflexión y el pensamiento ético de la profesió psicológica.

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM
Roundtable “International leaders program: how to build a Global Perspective” – in English
Pina Masico (President Div52), Iva Stuchlíková (President Elect  of ESPLAT), Lenka Sokolová (EFPTA), Astrid Triana (Ascofaspi), Maycoln L. M. Teodoro and Katie Moraes de Almondes (Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia, SBP), Sergio Salvatore  (AIP-Italian Asociation of Psychology), Vlademir Gamsakurdia (International Society for Cultural Psychology), Dr. Viviane de Castro Pecanha (Sociedad Interamericana de Psicologia)
This hybrid Roundtable gathers international leaders of nine societies from US, Europe and Latin-America to discuss how to built a Global Perpective in Psychology and how to deal with the global challenges we are facing. This Roundtable aims at defining an agenda for future collaborations.

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Note, Know, Choose: A Theoretical Orientation based on Early Buddhist Teachings – in English
Drs. Kin Cheung George Lee, Wendi Zhang, Chu Ying Hu
The session will provide an overview of the development of Buddhist counseling in Asia, highlighting the theoretical background and social scientific and neuroscientific evidences supporting the Note, Know, Choose counseling model. The session will also introduce a Buddhist case conceptualization framework and demonstrate the applicability of Buddhist teachings in therapy sessions through the use of several Note, Know, Choose techniques.

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Room to be ANNOUNCED – In person
Divisions 48 and 52 Students Mixer
Neha Srinivas – nehasrinivas16@gmail.com

Saturday August 10, 2024
Room: Hyatt Regency Seattle, Queets Level 5, #505

8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Social justice implications for psychologists working with disadvantaged and vulnerable people – in English
Dr. Gershom Lazarus, Emory University, Dr, Theophilus Lazarus, South Africa, Dr. Jace Pillay, University of Johannesburg
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the social justice implications for psychologists working with disadvantaged and vulnerable people including those with a history of trauma such as traumatic brain injuries. A global view and the nature of social justice in South Africa is presented, followed by exploring social justice within the discipline of psychology and how it would apply to the contexts of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. These challenges allude to the point that psychologists must be active agents of social justice who advocate for better learning and development opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable people to succeed within the context of society. Statistics on the profile and demographics of psychologists in South Africa in terms of age, gender, race, socioeconomic classes, and geographical locations are critically analysed in the discussion on social justice issues and the role that psychologists currently play in psychological empowerment of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in society. Arguments for psychologists to become active agents for social and psychological change to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable people in local communities are presented, contributing to a better society. The paper allows for interactive discussions on the role psychologists play in addressing social justice issues in countries across the globe and provides an opportunity for an international forum for psychologists to explore core principles for addressing social justice issues both locally and globally. This global exposure is most likely to provide psychologists with lessons on how to address social justice concerns in their local contexts.

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Mentoring Programs for International Students: Challenges & Solutions – in English
Dr. Yu-Wei Wang, Neha Srinivas
International trainees usually face unique challenges related to their cultural and training backgrounds. In this session, presenters (APA Div. 52 Student Committee Chair and Secretary to the Board) will facilitate discussions about various national and international mentoring programs for psychology students. Challenges and innovative strategies will be discussed.

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
The Pedagogy of Trauma – in English
Elisabeth Fincher
IP students will be exposed to traumatic events as part of their work. International Psychology providers and leaders need the skills to witness, hold space for, and maintain compassion when traumatic events occur. Developing the skill to maintain their integrity is vital for students in IP programs.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Global Immersion Learning for Psychologists – in English
Dr. Amanda Clinton (APA)
The International Learning Partner Program (ILPP)  is a person-to-person cultural experience for psychologists. ILPP is designed to create shared understanding of mental health across countries and facilitate meaningful connections for globally-oriented psychologists. ILPP participants share insights from their exchange travel to Tanzania, highlighting similarities, uniqueness and opportunities for collaboration.

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Attachment and Mental Health of Immigrant Individuals and Families – in English
Chiachih Wang
Immigrants represent a vulnerable yet understudied population for they constantly experience many psychocultural and contextual stressors. Despites its popularity, little attachment research has focused on immigrant individuals and families. This symposium includes three empirical studies utilizing attachment theory to address adjustment and mental health issues experienced by immigrant communities.

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Women’s Human Rights: Education and Advocacy – in English
Dr. Anna Rae, Dr. Judy Kuriansky
This International Committee for Women supported symposium articulates how women’s human rights should be in university education, based upon the APA’s human-rights resolutions.  Participants will learn international agreements to help them advocate for women, as well as the role of education in a culturally sensitive and reflexive health systems.

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM
Transnational Family Dynamics: Lessons Learned from Multidisciplinary International Collaboration – in English
Dr. Laura Dryjanska, Dr. Falu Rami
This critical conversation will encourage the audience to consider their own positive and challenging experiences related to multidisciplinary and/or international collaboration fostering participants’ equity. The chair will share their experience of participating in the bottom-up research network action funded by the European Union, focusing on transnational family dynamics.

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Anxiety: Cultural Representations And Challenges Among Students in the Middle East and North Africa – in English
Khym Isaac De Barros, Elizabeth Roby, Neimat Elkarib, Mareena Deeb, Dana Ammary, Fatma Al Malik, Sara AbuKmeil, Ayah Atqash
Presenters will discuss the increase in the rates of anxiety among students in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Presenters will decipher links between anxiety, attachment styles, acculturation, interpersonal relationships, academic achievements, athletic performance, and decades of conflict. Presenters will discuss effective treatments and recommendations on individual and university levels.

4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Bridging Borders: Unveiling a Global Mosaic of Inclusive Faculty Training Beyond the U.S. – in English
Dr. Jiyoon Lee (New York University), Dr. Hung Chiao (National Taiwan Normal University), Dr. Hanako Suzuki (Ritsumeikan University), Dr. Jungeun Kim, Independent Scholar / Private Practice
International psychologists and practitioners trained in the U.S. often encounter challenges when teaching multiculturalism and social justice upon returning to their home countries to advance their careers and contribute to the education of psychology within contexts outside the U.S. sociocultural framework. This challenge arises due to the experience of reverse culture shock and the realization that their U.S.-based training may not seamlessly align with their own cultural context. Consequently, there is a need to adapt and transfer their knowledge and psychological skills to indigenous cultures. This adaptation is essential for incorporating reflections on cultural identity, intersectionality, social justice, and advocacy within non-U.S. contexts, decolonizing multicultural counseling and psychology.
To empower educators of multicultural training and psychology outside the U.S. sociocultural context, this symposium intends to offer a safe and open space to discuss a critical dialogue on U.S.-centric multiculturalism, social justice advocacy, and psychology training with limited considerations of international perspectives of training and psychology education.

5:00 PM – 5:50 PM
Online Learning in Institutions of Higher Education: Perceptions of College Professors – in English
Ketty Sarouphim-McGill
This session focuses on research conducted on college professors’ perceptions of online learning. The findings presented are part of a larger pool of data collected from students and faculty in Lebanon (low-tech country) and the United States (high-tech country) on their perceptions of online learning. The study discusses the effectiveness of online learning and college professors’ views on the viability of this modality of instruction in developed countries and in developing countries struggling with limited internet access, such as Lebanon’s. The findings pave the way for further inquiry into the stakeholders’ views on offering online degrees and students’ pursuing of online education.

5:50 PM – 6:20 PM
Closing Event
Drs. Pina Marisco, Antonio Puente, Martha   Zlokovich; Theo Lazarus; Carlos Zalaquett
Closing remarks at the end of the program