91香蕉视频成人在线

The genesis of the Asian Mental Health Program (AMHP) at 91香蕉视频成人在线 and where it stands today are topics Director Catherine Vuky, PhD, has been reflecting on of late. Touted as the first-of-its-kind program upon its inception in February 2020, the AMHP remains the nation鈥檚 sole training program in clinical graduate psychology focused exclusively on the mental health needs of individuals who identify as Asian鈥攖he fastest growing racial minority group in the United States.

鈥淚 never could have foreseen where we would be today,鈥� says Vuky, calling the timing surrounding the program鈥檚 debut nothing short of bittersweet. 

鈥淭he sharp rise in anti-Asian hate that came in the very early days of the COVID-19 pandemic yielded equally unfortunate and fortunate outcomes,鈥� says Vuky, citing the influx of individuals being unfairly targeted as ultimately giving rise to a wealth of resources aimed at reducing barriers and increasing access to mental health services for this population. At 91香蕉视频成人在线, this moment translated to a parallel emphasis on recruiting and training graduate psychology students with the knowledge and skills required to meet the mental health needs of culturally diverse individuals, families and communities.  

鈥淚 felt like I was standing alone as a Filipino-identifying clinician,鈥� says Gladys Khem Quinlan, a 2018 graduate of the 91香蕉视频成人在线 Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her time spent working in the field鈥攂oth as a clinical care manager at St. Vincent鈥檚 and as an inpatient clinician at Monte Nido Walden (formerly Walden Behavioral Care)鈥攍eft her feeling as if she was going it alone when it came to providing culturally-competent care to her patients.  

 In early 2020, Quinlan鈥檚 lived experience came to include being referred to as 鈥減art of the problem鈥�, a painful moment from which she chose to grow. At the urging of Allyson Cherkasky, PhD Director, Health and Behavioral Medicine Area of Emphasis, she decided to pursue another degree with high hopes of turning the tide for others in her wake. Since enrolling in the AMHP, this once-bleak picture has slowly but surely begun to evolve.

鈥淚 feel seen in the 91香蕉视频成人在线 community,鈥� says Quinlan, a fourth year Clinical Psychology doctoral student who is raising a family while pursuing her studies. While returning to the classroom took courage, her experience during the pandemic鈥攐f being lumped into a group rather than recognized as an individual鈥攕erved as an invaluable impetus to continue the work in which she remains personally and professionally invested. 

鈥淚 am so honored to be a part of this concentration, this family, with access to an entire community of individuals doing important work,鈥� says Quinlan, underscoring a little-known fact: The term Asian American (coined in 1968 to unify folks of common descent for political purposes) is inclusive of individuals with origins in one of 48 countries. From east to west, this spans Japan to Turkey; from north to south, it encompasses all of Russia to Indonesia鈥攃lose to 5,000 miles in either direction.

鈥淭hese are the types of conversations currently unfolding in the classroom, about the unique as well as common aspects of our cultures,鈥� says Vuky, nodding to the Introduction to Asian Cultures: The Asian Experience in the United States, a course open to any student at any stage planning to enter the AMHP. A concurrent conversation centers on the dearth of practitioners needed to meet the diverse mental health needs of immigrants across the country, including Massachusetts. 

鈥淭he stigma surrounding behavioral health services is dissipating among the Asian community and giving rise to another challenge,鈥� says Vuky, nodding to the two-year waiting list at her clinical practice at , the premier health organization providing primary care to the Asian Communities in the Greater Boston Area. While she and her colleagues offer services in various languages鈥攊ncluding Vietnamese, Mandarin and Cantonese鈥攖hat鈥檚 not the only thing driving folks to their door.

鈥淚mmigrants feel seen here,鈥� says Vuky of a space filled with artwork reflecting the diversity of experience among those who visit. This single intention, to make folks feel welcome, resonates deeply with Quinlan.

The diverse extended community to which she now belongs will take center stage at the campus-wide Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 8th from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET. Join in the fun of International food and drink (including Filipino favorites lumpia and empanadas); a traditional Lion Dance (performed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits); traditional Filipino dancing (by ); plus children鈥檚 activities, photo ops, and chances to win prizes.

For the second year in a row, Quinlan will don a baro't saya鈥攖he traditional women鈥檚 skirt and blouse of the Philippines鈥攄uring the crowd favorite fashion show; her son, attired in a men鈥檚 barong tagalog, will join her. Both outfits, crafted from pi帽a cloth (hand-woven using fibers from the leaves of pineapple plants) reflect the country鈥檚 Spanish Colonial Era and its lingering influence.

 Lunar New Year鈥攌nown as 鈥淪pring Festival鈥� throughout China and 鈥淐hinese New Year鈥� in Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei鈥攊s celebrated in Asian communities around the world. In 2025, it falls on Wednesday, January 29th and commences the Year of the Wood Snake, a symbol of wisdom, elegance, and intuition.

Amidst the festivities, Vuky will share a PowerPoint presentation detailing student accomplishments鈥攆rom dissertation projects and published papers to expanding the conversation surrounding racism and discrimination to include materials in Arabic鈥攁s well as program milestones, spanning the past five years; four students, including Quinlan, will share reflections on what participating in the Asian Mental Health Program has meant to them and how it fuels their why going forward.

For Quinlan, that answer is simple: Making sure individuals are heard, seen, and understood.

鈥淭his occurs by bridging cultural gaps in understanding and includes acknowledging and addressing cultural nuances,鈥� says Quinlan who highlights the importance of family and community support as integral to thriving鈥攕omething particularly evident during an AMHP immersion trip to Vietnam in July 2024. 

 鈥淲e were warmly welcomed and accepted into the fold, [evidence that] family and cross-cultural community was and continues to be the main theme.鈥� 

While advocating for the Asian population remains an integral part of the AMHP鈥檚 future, Vuky has no idea what that will look like going forward鈥� a fact she鈥檚 more than comfortable admitting. 

鈥淎fter 25 years in the field, I see myself as a facilitator more than anything else,鈥� says Vuky. 鈥淚t is the students  who will continue to determine the direction of this program.鈥�

How to Get Involved in the Asian Mental Health Program at 91香蕉视频成人在线

The Asian Mental Health Concentration is open to students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology and Leadership Psychology PsyD programs; the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master鈥檚 program; and the MA/CAGS in School Psychology program. For more information, email Catherine_Vuky@williamjames.edu. 

 

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