Colleague Alumni Magazine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University

Multicultural Research and Training Lab Holds Third Biennial Conference

On October 16 the Multicultural Research and Training Lab (MRTL) presented its third biennial Conference “Tragedy and Triumph: A Multicultural Perspective on Trauma and Resiliency” at the GSEP West Los Angeles Graduate Campus. Hosted by GSEP and cosponsored by the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, this conference showcased doctor of psychology (PsyD) students’ research on multicultural issues. The event also showcased keynote speaker Dr. Gail Wyatt, professor and research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA .

Student presentations included “Influence of Social Support and Intimate Partner Abuse on African American Mothers’ Substance Use,” “Disclosure, Coping, and Conceptualization of Abuse Among Latina and African American Women with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse,” “Giving Voice to Strengths: The Stories of Armenian Immigrants and Refugees,” “Using Traditional Practices to Heal Historical Trauma in Native American Populations,” and “Examining Posttraumatic Growth Theory, Assessment, and Counseling Strategies from a Multicultural Lens.”

MRTL was organized by faculty members to provide PsyD students engaged in multicultural research a space to discuss and receive feedback on their clinical dissertation topics, as well as engage in discourse on the clinical implications of their work. In addition to offering dissertation support, MRTL provides students the opportunity to discuss their views on how effectively the PsyD program contributes to their multicultural competence, and the ways in which GSEP can offer a more welcoming experience for students from diverse backgrounds.

In lieu of a conference registration fee, attendees were invited to support Laura’s House, the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in south Orange County. For more information, visit www.laurashouse.org or gsep.pepperdine.edu/psychology/research-training/multicultural-research-training.