Multicultural Competency is Focus of Innovative Masters Program
Counseling Psychology Degree New This Fall at Alliant Mexico City Campus
 San Diego, CA – September 14, 2005 – Leticia Gonzalez is becoming a family counselor – a rarity in Mexico. Even in the US, less than 1.6-percent of all family therapists are of Latin-American descent, so families on both sides of the border are vastly underserved by mental health professionals who understand the unique needs of Latinos.
One of 10 children from a family rich with Mexican history and culture, Gonzalez has always drawn support from her family. Because of that, she wants to help guide other Latin-American families to engage and connect.
Gonzalez is among the pioneering students seeking to address the mental health needs of Latin Americans. An innovative new Masters level program offered by Alliant International University, headquartered in San Diego and San Francisco, provides just that. Taught at the Alliant Mexico City Campus, the two-year Counseling Psychology Masters degree is designed to educate and train tomorrow’s multi-cultural practitioners.
“More than any other time in history, we are living in a globalized and interconnected world,” explained Jason Platt, PhD, Alliant’s Mexico Program Director. “To be competent, mental health workers must be aware of and sensitive how different cultural backgrounds influence their clinical work. Students in this program will learn to apply systems theory and grounded clinical approaches in ways that work for Latin-American clients and families.”
Philosophically, the program utilizes the educational ideas of Paulo Freire, who wrote the book Pedagogy of the Oppressed - and draws from the concepts of Liberation Psychology - which was introduced by Ignacio Martin Baro, a Jesuit martyr in El Salvador. These perspectives, says Platt, enables "students to address the mental and relational impact of oppression in the lives of clients."
The Counseling Psychology Program, which anticipates 15 students this fall and is still accepting applications, is operated by the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant. Courses are taught by both US and Mexico faculty, and many courses are offered online.
While most Alliant Mexico City students are from Mexico, all classes are taught in English. By living in the culturally rich south-of-the-border environment, students gain the opportunity to learn and master the Spanish language.
About Alliant International University
Alliant International University has prepared students for professional careers in the applied social sciences of psychology, education and business since 2001. CSPP, now a school within Alliant, has been training professional psychologists for more than 30 years. Alliant offers a unique curriculum that combines academic learning and apprenticeship in all courses of study. With accredited programs at San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Irvine and San Diego locations, Alliant also hosts accredited programs in Mexico City, Mexico and Tokyo, Japan. For More Information Call the Mexico campus at (52.55) 5264.2187. Contact Nicolette Toussaint, Alliant Communication Director
(415) 955-2037; ntoussaint@alliant.edu
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