Perspectives on Posstraumatic Stress and the DSM-5

In observance of PTSD Awareness Month MFP Alumnus Dr. Tanya Sharpe and  current doctoral MFP fellow Mariama Diallo, LCSW, share their perspectives on how trauma is experienced by the communities they serve and how diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder help and hinder treatment. 

Diallo has extensive experience supporting trauma-informed work with survivors of gender violence. Providing mental health services to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and family violence as well as survivors of other types of gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honor killing, and human trafficking, is her primary focus as she pursues her practice doctorate at Rutgers University.

Survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) are more likely to experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among other mental health concerns. Changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) expanded the scope of diagnostic criteria for PTSD, for example by explicitly including sexual assault as a traumatic event. This has enabled practitioners to better understand what can be considered a traumatic event for the purposes of diagnosis and intervention. Furthermore, the four distinct diagnostic clusters outlined in the DSM-5 offer more room to classify and group symptoms that survivors of gender-based violence present into different categories and develop more adequate and effective treatment plans.

However, changes are needed to improve access to services for survivors of gender-based violence among immigrant communities. In my experience, using a trauma-informed approach; taking into consideration clients’ backgrounds, including race, gender, spirituality, and sexual orientation; and going beyond the idea of providing “just” therapy are crucial to fostering trusted working relationships with individuals and support families.

Although it is important to make diagnoses, there are cases in which pathologizing experiences presents a challenge to the working alliance. Additionally, we cannot assume that all our clients understand the concept of trauma and the meaning of mental health symptoms. Helping survivors understand the natural way the mind and the body respond to stressors and its connection with human behavior will normalize their feelings and move forward a healthy healing process. Social workers need to incorporate an anti-oppression practice approach while working with immigrant survivors of GBV who are facing mental health problems. Social workers should use fewer stigmatizing expressions, avoid anthologizing, and involve their clients in all levels of treatment, by allowing them to frame, in their own words, their distress and experiences. In addition, social workers should go beyond “just” the role of therapist and become involved in advocacy, policy work, outreach/education, and identifying barriers that prevent immigrant communities from accessing needed services.

Dr. Sharpe is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work. As a community engaged researcher, Sharpe’s work centers sociocultural factors that influence the coping strategies of Black family members and friends of homicide victims for the purpose of developing culturally responsive approaches and sustainable opportunities that allow Black communities to survive the aftermath of homicide. Dr. Sharpe is the founder and director of the Centre for Research & Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims, an initiative that works towards her larger aim to advance supportive services for African, Caribbean and Black survivors of homicide victims globally.

Although recent changes to the DSM are said to help clarify relationships between different disorders, absent from the discourse regarding these changes as well as the manual itself is the sociocultural context in which many, if not all, mental health issues, or “disorders,” manifest. This omission is particularly relevant for the communities of Black people I work with. Excessive experiences of anti-Black racism and homicide are intersecting realities of chronic trauma for Black people, suggesting that there is no such thing as PTSD for Black people. The DSM is used for determining insurance benefits and disability. It affects the availability of special education and social services to communities and is a staple in court proceedings. To equip ourselves to respond to the needs of clients in a culturally responsive manner, assessments must include the sociocultural context in which Black people exist.  

MFP Spotlight: Luis Alvarez-Hernandez

Current doctoral fellow Luis Alvarez-Hernandez is a licensed clinical social worker and certified anger management specialist who is passionate about supporting mental health in LGBTQ+ communities of color, especially Latinx immigrants. His work focuses on understanding how the sociopolitical context affects the mental health of undocumented LGBTQ+ Latinx immigrants living in the United States. Luis has significant experience in direct practice, having engaged with children, youths and families, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions, adults experiencing mental health and substance use difficulties, community groups, and university students in professional contexts. Additionally, he has presented at national conferences such as the Latino Social Workers Organization's conference and published in peer-reviewed academic journals including the Journal of Social Work Education, Journal of Community Psychology, and the International Journal of Transgenderism. Alvarez-Hernandez taught as an adjunct faculty member at Georgia State University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón de Puerto Rico. He intends to apply his experience as a social work educator, researcher, community leader, and clinical practitioner toward teaching in higher education and developing research that informs person-centered mental health and substance use practice.

MSWs in the Making: MFP Master's Graduates 2021 

Of the 42 fellows in the MFP’s 2020–2021 Master’s Cohort, 31 are celebrating graduations this April, May, and June! As these “MSWs in the Making" emerge as fully qualified social workers seeking professional employment in the mental health and substance use spheres, we encourage you to review this booklet that highlights their experience, interests, and career ambitions. As you explore, please take a moment to consider how fellows’ experiences and goals align with professional opportunities in your sphere. In the meantime, please join the MFP team in congratulating our fellows on this tremendous accomplishment.


Raquel Puebla, California Baptist University  |   Labibah Buraik, University of Saint Thomas |  Anthony Jones, Jackson State University

     Nancy Williams, Wayne State    |    Stephanie Davila, University of Texas at Austin 

Maritza Alva, New York University  |  Tania Carrillo, California State University, Fullerton  

Tabari Zahir, California State University, San Bernardino                      |   Christine Cantrell (far left), State University of New York at Stony Brook

 Briana Fair, California State University, San Marcos  |  Kara Haney, San José State University

Congratulations Doctoral MFP Graduates!

Master’s fellows are not the only ones with accomplishments to celebrate this graduation season! Ten doctoral MFP fellows are graduating between May and June of this year, and they are poised to make lasting impacts on individuals, groups, and communities through their postdoctoral work. Please join the MFP team in congratulating our soon-to-be alumni on their graduation.


Amittia Parker, University of Kanas                        |   Dasha J. Rhodes, Morgan State University

Kenya Minott, University of Houston                        |    Lanalle Darden, University of Tennessee

Resources

Job Announcements

Salisbury University’s School of Social Work is accepting applications for one faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level. Applications received by June 20, 2021, will be given first consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Appointment is expected to begin August 2021. Find more information and apply online here.

The National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America seeks to fill an approved full-time (12 months), benefits-eligible, clinical assistant professor position to serve as MSW program director and teach in the program starting in August 2021. Please forward all application documents to Dr. Laura Daughtery, chair of the Search Committee.

Boston Public Schools seeks exceptional social workers to support the implementation of a variety of behavioral health supports that include trauma, healing, and resiliency focused school social work services that help students and educators create conditions in which students may achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. Interested candidates can view the posting and apply here. The deadline to apply is Saturday, July 31. Thank you to MFP Alum Alvin Lee for sharing this job announcement with the MFP community! 

Professional Development

The Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit is currently seeking proposals for presentations on relevant and/or emerging topics in the behavioral health field including substance use and wellness programming. The Summit will engage the Colorado community to break down silos statewide and to bridge gaps in communication and collaboration. Additionally, the Summit will feature a series of workshops and trainings focused on the LGBTQ+ community. To facilitate these conversations, we are honored to invite you to submit a proposal to share your expertise at the Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit. Presentation proposals for this hybrid conference being held October 25–28, 2021, are due Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 11:59 PM (MST). Find the request for proposals and additional information here.

Research Talk Inc is hosting its 18th Annual Qualitative Research Summer Intensive online on July 26–30 and August 4–6, 2021. Courses include but are not limited to Mixed Methods Research: Foundations for Design, Execution and Dissemination; Qualitative Research With Historically Oppressed Populations: Using Cultural Attunement Across the Research Lifecycle; and “Ten Tips” for Publishing Qualitative Research. Access more information and register here. 

As part of a special issue, The Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care seeks to feature works that begin to help us gain a clearer understanding of the problems caused by systemic racism and how to develop solutions. Manuscripts are invited for all sections of the journal. Authors are encouraged to contact the Journal Editor-in-Chief, Ellen L. Csikai or issue co-editor, Karen Bullock with a brief paragraph or outline of their proposed submission. Feedback will be given to authors about appropriateness and/or give suggestions about how to enhance their potential contribution. Find more information on this call for manuscripts here. 

CSWE Spark

Keep the conversation going on CSWE Spark! The Spark platform offers endless opportunities for connection, collaboration, and sharing in the MFP community. To join, navigate to the Spark home page and create an account. Within a few days, your account should be approved, and you’ll be able to search the Spark Directory for connections. Start by adding Ameera Bhanji (MFP program associate) as a connection. When this connection is established, you’ll be given full access to the MFP Community and can engage with existing threads or create your own. Now more than ever, we encourage you to make the most of CSWE Spark as the virtual home for the MFP family.