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​This panel presentation examines why Power & Privilege matters in terms of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

The work that we do as therapists places us in the position of assisting individuals who are in need of emotional support, and who may be facing economic, educational, and environmental conditions different from our own. This often creates complicated power dynamics. In an attempt to curb the power imbalance, it’s critical that we acknowledge our socioeconomic position and any systemic privilege that we hold in relation to our clients and among others.

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This event will highlight tools from Relational Life Therapy (RLT) that can be used to support us all through this journey. 
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Presentation Content:

• Discuss definition of words commonly used in social justice work such as prejudice, racism, systemic oppression and culture.
  
• Learn methods to confront entrenched systems of power and privilege, and identify common situations when privilege is not acknowledged, to the detriment of the disadvantaged and oppressed.
  
• Examine personal exposure to cultural diversity in day-to-day interactions and discuss  ways to slowly decrease cultural segregation, to increase intercultural competence. 
  
• Discuss the concept of ‘intersectionality’, a theory that explains how primary identities of privilege intersect with systemic marginalization or power to shape a person’s overall identity. 
  
• Explore the characteristics of white supremacy culture and how racial biases impact self-esteem, health, education, and overall quality of life. 
  

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​Deran Young is a licensed therapist specializing in racial trauma and legacy burdens. She is also a Co-Author of the New York Times Best Seller, You Are Your Best Thing, a retired military officer, & founder of Black Therapists Rock. Black Therapists Rock is a non profit organization with a network of over 30,000 mental health professionals committed to reducing the psychological impact of systemic oppression and intergenerational trauma. She obtained her social work degree from University of Texas, where she studied abroad in Ghana, West Africa for two semesters creating a high school counseling center for under-resourced students. Deran has visited over 37 different countries and her clinical experience spans across four different continents. Her passion for culture and people has led her to become a highly sought after diversity and inclusion consultant working with companies like BBERG, Facebook, Linked In, and YWCA. She resides in the Washington DC area with her 10 year old son.

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LaTrease Nwosu, R-LPC, is a Resident in Counseling and the founder of Connecting 2 Love. She is trained in RLT and offers her clients a space to discover and embrace their intuitive awareness. She values each person's journey to connection and guides her clients with respect, care and gratitude.

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Requina Barnes is a LICSW and IFS Trainer who has been in the field of social work for over 16 years. She is trained in RLT and is a private practice therapist, focusing on attachment, codependency, relationship challenges and issues stemming from childhood trauma. She is also an adjunct professor who teaches undergraduate coursework related to social work and psychology.

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Terry Real is an internationally recognized Family Therapist, Speaker and Author. Terry founded the Relational Life Institute (RLI), offering workshops for couples, individuals and parents around the country along with a professional training program for clinicians wanting to learn his RLT (Relational Life Therapy) methodology. A family therapist and teacher for more than twenty five years, Terry is the best-selling author of I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, the straight-talking How Can I Get Through to You? Reconnecting Men and Women, The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work, and most recently US: Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship. Terry knows how to lead couples on a step-by-step journey to greater intimacy — and greater personal fulfillment.