Becoming a culturally sensitive practitioner is not an overnight endeavor—but it’s one that benefits everyone involved in the assessment process. Linda McGhee, JD, PsyD is an attorney, psychologist, and co-founder of the Multicultural Assessment Conference. She explains why it’s vital that practitioners approach psychological assessment with cultural awareness.

First and foremost, the possibility of misdiagnosis is much greater without it. “When people are misdiagnosed, it can affect their life trajectory and even their life expectancy,” Dr. McGhee says. Medications, education, health, and employment can all be influenced by a diagnosis that didn’t consider important cultural factors.

“We’re talking about culture in a broad sense,” she notes. “Race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ status—any way that culture can impact someone.” 

The need for cultural competence in assessments is growing. “This country is changing demographically—and it’s changing rapidly—far beyond the expectations of demographers and census-takers,” Dr. McGhee says. “The very essence and fiber of America are changing, and psychologists have to be at the forefront, making sure we are ready for those changes in the assessment room.” 

This webinar focuses on culturally competent assessment practices, beginning with an overview of research on an increasingly diverse U.S. population. Participants will explore the unique developmental and environmental challenges many populations experience. They’ll also use case examples to investigate how culture shapes assessment outcomes—and how culturally astute practitioners can interpret them sensitively and accurately. 

“It’s putting the tests in context,” Dr. McGhee says, “and the context is the person’s lived experience.”

In any evaluation, the client’s and the clinician’s lived experiences meet face to face. For that reason, self-examination in a safe environment is a key component of this webinar. “It starts with the clinician being aware that their own perspective colors what they write and how they test,” she says. “We are not blank slates.” 

Cultural awareness also shapes these aspects of the assessment processes: 

• Selecting appropriate tests and subtests 
• Deciding whether to request consultation or supervision 
• Preparing the client, parents, and others for the process 
• Gauging your own expectations 
• Setting the tone in the assessment room 
• Adopting a strengths-based approach 
• Writing your report sensitively 
• Explaining to stakeholders how a report can be used

Developing such skills is the work of a lifetime. It takes time, openness, and an ongoing devotion to learning. “It's not always a smooth process. As with everything else you learn, you’re going to make mistakes. It’s not always going to be comfortable. If you can accept that you’re on a lifelong path to becoming more culturally competent and that the path is not always linear, then you can change. Any great movement, any great change, any great elevation of your field, your talent, and your gifts is similar.” 

WPS invites you to join us for this 2-hour, 2-CE learning opportunity—whether you’re taking your first steps or your next steps in the journey toward cultural competence in assessment.