In Part One, listeners had the opportunity to learn to identify implicit biases and build awareness of their automatic perceptions and behaviors. Now what? In Part Two, clinicians can start to understand the historical and contextual impacts of implicit biases in the field of mental health treatment, beginning to understand systemic oppression. Therapists can also learn tools to challenge their biases, address cultural differences with clients, and build cultural humility. This is essential listening for therapists that want to become more intentional about cultural growth.

CE credit counts toward Implicit Bias Awareness and Cultural Competency requirements for counseling and social work licensure purposes!

Learning Objectives

- Deepen understanding of the impact of biases and systemic oppression on therapeutic relationships and the mental health field

- Develop strategies for recognizing biases and practicing cultural humility in practice

Presenter Bios:

Host: Janine Snyder, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Lead Clinical Director at AMK Counseling. Janine works with clients across the lifespan focused on anxiety diagnoses, significant life transitions, and strengths-based healing.

Guest: Emily Kidd, LCPC is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the CEO at AMK Counseling. In addition to direct therapeutic work, Emily is passionate about providing clinical supervision and Continuing Education (CE) trainings for mental health professionals. Emily has worked as an Adjunct Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she taught Diversity in Clinical Counseling.

Continuing Education (CE) & Contact Info:

AMK Counseling is deeply committed to strengthening community and advancing equity across Chicago. Staying true to the mission from our nonprofit, Infinite Possibilities Program (chicagoipp.org), we are proud to offer all Continuing Education (CE) programming free of charge.

This episode is eligible for 1 CE Credit. Visit ⁠amkcounseling.com⁠ for more information or email trainings@amkcounseling.com to complete your post-training quiz & evaluation.

AMK Counseling has been approved by NBCC as an Approved ContinuingEducation Provider, ACEP No. 7277. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. AMK Counseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

References:

• Day-Vines, N L., et al. (2018). Getting comfortable with discomfort: Preparing counselor trainees to broach racial, ethnic, and cultural factors with clients during counseling. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 40(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-017-9308-9
• Erby, A. N., & White, M. E. (2020). Broaching partially-shared identities: Critically interrogating power and intragroup dynamics in counseling practice with trans people of Color. International journal of transgender health, 23(1-2), 122–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2020.1838389
• Gottlieb, M. (2021). The Case for a Cultural Humility Framework in Social Work Practice. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 30(6), 463–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2020.1753615
• McCuistian C, et al. (2022). Consideration of racism experiences in the implementation of trauma-focused therapy in primary care. Health Serv Res, 57(Suppl. 2): 235-248. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.13998

Every therapist (and person for that matter!) carries implicit biases that impact how they view and interact with the world, self, and others. Starting to recognize and uncover these biases is where the real growth begins! In this episode, we will explore how implicit biases form and share strategies to help increase self- awareness of our automatic perceptions and behaviors.

This episode is part one of a two part episode on understanding implicit bias and developing cultural humility. Stay tuned for part two (available on 1/21/26!), which will explore biases embedded in the mental health field and discuss specific strategies to build cultural humility in clinical practice.

CE credit counts toward Implicit Bias Awareness requirements for counseling licensure purposes!

Learning Objectives:

• Define implicit bias and explore how neurobiology and socialization impact biases
• Develop strategies to increase self-awareness and recognize biases

Presenter Bios:

Host: Janine Snyder, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Lead Clinical Director at AMK Counseling. Janine works with clients across the lifespan focused on anxiety diagnoses, significant life transitions, and strengths-based healing.

Guest: Emily Kidd, LCPC is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the CEO at AMK Counseling. In addition to direct therapeutic work, Emily is passionate about providing clinical supervision and Continuing Education (CE) trainings for mental health professionals. Emily has worked as an Adjunct Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she taught Diversity in Clinical Counseling.

Reflection questions for challenging / confronting automatic biases:

• I wonder where this belief, preference or assumption came from?

• How is this belief, preference or assumption impacting my behavior and how I approach myself or others?

• Is this belief benefiting me in any way? Is it harming or limiting me? Could it be benefiting others? Harming others?

• What might be some other perspectives?

• Am I ready to challenge this belief, preference or assumption? What feelings come with that?

Continuing Education (CE) & Contact Info:

AMK Counseling is deeply committed to strengthening community and advancing equity across Chicago. Staying true to the mission from our nonprofit, ⁠Infinite Possibilities Program⁠, we are proud to offer all Continuing Education (CE) programming free of charge.

This episode is eligible for 1 CE Credit. Visit ⁠⁠amkcounseling.com/contintuining-education⁠⁠ for more information or email ⁠⁠trainings@amkcounseling.com⁠⁠ to complete your post-training quiz & evaluation.

AMK Counseling has been approved by NBCC as an Approved ContinuingEducation Provider, ACEP No. 7277. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. AMK Counseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Episode References:

Harro, B. (2000). The cycle of socialization. In M. Adams, W.J. Blumenfeld, R. Castaneda, H.W. Hackman, M.L. Peters, & X. Zuniga (Eds.), Readings for diversity and social justice (pp.15-21). New York: Routledge.

National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director Scientific Workforce Diversity. (Updated 2017, December 13 & June 30). Implicit bias & Stereotype threat. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://diversity.nih.gov

Williams, David R. (2016, November). How racism makes us sick [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_r_williams_how_racism_makes_us_sick

Episode Description

In a time filled with uncertainty and constant change, it's hard not to feel helpless at times. In this episode we explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a lens to manage hopelessness and work through complex feelings, both for our clients and ourselves as clinicians.

Learning Objectives:

• Review challenges with hopelessness, impact on functioning and the current state of the world

• • Discuss basic principles and theoretical framework of ACT and how to implement in sessions with clients, as well as using personally as a clinician

  
  

  Presenter Bios:

  Host: Janine Snyder, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Lead Clinical Director at AMK Counseling. Janine works with clients across the lifespan focused on anxiety diagnoses, significant life transitions, and strengths-based healing.

  
  

  Guest: Frannie Siegel, MSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker who serves as the lead clinical director at AMK Counseling. Frannie holds specialized training in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), perinatal mental health and clinical supervision.

  
  

  Continuing Education (CE) & Contact Info:

  AMK Counseling is deeply committed to strengthening community and advancing equity across Chicago. Staying true to the mission from our nonprofit, Infinite Possibilities Program (chicagoipp.org), we are proud to offer all Continuing Education (CE) programming free of charge.

  This episode is eligible for 1 CE Credit. Visit ⁠amkcounseling.com⁠ for more information or email trainings@amkcounseling.com to complete your post-training quiz & evaluation.

  AMK Counseling has been approved by NBCC as an Approved ContinuingEducation Provider, ACEP No. 7277. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. AMK Counseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  
  

  Supplemental Handout:

  The workability worksheet:

  
  

  Episode References:

  • Beygi, Z., Tighband Jangali, R., Derakhshan, N., Alidadi, M., Javanbakhsh, F., & Mahboobizadeh, M. (2023). An Overview of Reviews on the Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Depression and Anxiety. Iranian journal of psychiatry, 18(2), 248–257. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v18i2.12373

  • Harris, R. (2009). ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger Publications

  • Harris, R. (2008). The Happiness Trap: How to stop struggling and start living. Robinson Publishing)

  • Hayes, S.C, Strosahl, K.D., & Wilson, K.G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd edition). Guilford Press

  • Hayes, S.C. (2019). A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters. Avery.

  • McCloskey, J. (2020, September 19). Passengers on the Bus. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLroVwoPFW8

  • New Reports Highlight Depression Prevalence and Medication Use in the U.S. (2025, April 17). Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2025/20250416.htm

  • Stoddard, J. A., & Afari, N. (2014). The big book of act metaphors: A practitioner's guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.