Course Description

This has been a year of adversity and increased awareness. We are now awakening to the trauma of white privilege and systemic racism. EMDR therapists are challenged with effectively responding to the mental health needs of those impacted by this system of privilege, power and oppression. This special plenary presentation—led by David Archer, MSW, MFT; Wendy Ashley, Psy.D., LCSW; Quandra Chaffers, LCSW and Rocio Hernández, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC—will contain a panel of experts who will discuss the importance of educating ourselves about systemic racism, the challenges and opportunities to address racism in EMDR therapy and what we can do to challenge systemic racism.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe systemic racism as well as its impact at a micro-level, a mezzo-level and a macro-level.
2. Participants will be able to identify three challenges of racism in EMDR therapy.
3. Participants will be able to identify three things that they can do to challenge systemic racism, improve client outcomes, and prevent further related socio-cultural trauma.

Presenter(s)

David Archer, MSW, MFT

David Archer, MSW, MFT, is an anti-racist psychotherapist from Montreal, Canada (Tiohtià:ke). He is an Approved EMDR consultant, works full time in private practice, and provides consulting services for organizations and other therapists. In addition to being trained as a clinical social worker, he is also a registered couple and family therapist. His philosophies are informed by mindfulness, intersectional feminism, and critical race theory. Mr. Archer is an ally of LGBTQ, Black, Indigenous, and oppressed people of color around the world. He is also the recent author of a book called Anti-Racist Psychotherapy: Confronting Systemic Racism and Healing Racial Trauma.

Wendy Ashley, Psy.D., LCSW

Wendy Ashley, Psy.D., LCSW is a Professor and Associate Chair of the California State University Northridge’s MSW program. Dr. Ashley maintains certifications in Diversity and Inclusion Practices from Cornell University and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has over 25 years of clinical practice experience. Dr. Ashley is the author of multiple publications, speaks at conferences nationwide and internationally, maintains a private practice and provides training for multiple organizations. Her research interests emphasize the promotion of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in practice, pedagogy and organizational culture.

Quandra Chaffers, LCSW

As a trauma specialist, Quandra helps teenagers and adults overcome intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. Quandra is also a kink & poly knowledgeable sex therapist. She specializes in areas of sexless marriages, painful sex, and problematic sexual behaviors. For 4 and half years, Quandra treated on average 90 survivors per year as a Case Manager-Therapist at the YWCA St Louis Regional Sexual Assault Center. As a volunteer of Rape and Violence Ends Now (RAVEN), She co-facilitated batter’s intervention programming for 6 years, working to rehabilitate men who have been abusive.

Rocio Hernández, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC

Rocio “Cio” Hernández, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC, is CEO and founder of Got This! Inc. In her practice, Dr. Hernández offers EMDR and other modalities to replace haunting memories with a new outlook on life or to help people reach a positive life goal. Her Got This! App has now been used to lower stress and boost confidence using EMDR elements and other techniques. For over 20 years, she has worked on policy, philanthropy, public information, the Kaiser research board, teaches continuing education, and serves on the First 5 Children and Families Commission. Her goal is to diversify access to EMDR and mental health care.