Lecture Notes: Week 1 - Diversity and the Family

Introduction

• Lecturer: Dr. Baj
• Course: Diversity and the Family
• Duration: 15 weeks
  • Weekly lectures on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM
  • Pre-recorded lectures possible for holidays

Instructor Background

• Alumni from Alliant
• Teaching since 2019
• Experience in various clinical settings:
  • Inpatient mental health hospitals
  • Group homes
  • Private practices
  • College campuses
  • Associate Dean of an online psychology school
  • Current work: Private practice in Orange County focusing on psycho-oncology

Course Structure

• Combination of two sections for lectures
• Open office hours: Thursdays 10 AM - 12 PM
  • Flexible scheduling outside office hours upon request

Course Materials and Assignments

• Lectures recorded and slides provided weekly
• Syllabus includes important course dates, materials, policies
• Required textbooks:
  • "Revisioning Family Therapy" (3rd Edition)
  • "Counseling the Culturally Diverse" (9th Edition)
• Assignments submitted online; attendance marked by submission
• Late submissions penalized, specifics in syllabus

Weekly Assignments

• Week 1:
  • Lecture reflection
  • Introspective paper due Sunday 11:59 PM
  • Icebreaker video assignment (submission process being clarified)

Course Content

• Focus on diversity: race, power, privilege, culture, ethnicity, gender, etc.
• Interactions and respect emphasized in discussions
• Learning outcomes include foundational knowledge, community engagement, scholarship
• Assignments involve real-world applications, multicultural genogram, synthesis paper

Evolution of Family Therapy

• Traditional male-dominated origins in the 60s and 70s
• Shift towards inclusion of women and minorities in the 80s and 90s
• Cultural diversity became more integrated by the late 1980s
• First woman president in family therapy in the late 1900s
• Cultural diversity workshops began in the 1990s

Influence of Culture on Family Therapy

• Expansion of minority representation in therapy conferences by the 1980s
• Double AMFT's evolution in recognizing diversity
• Guidelines and standards began including culture and diversity in the 1990s
• Definition of family therapy expanded beyond traditional norms

Important Dates

• University closed on certain holidays; schedule adjustments may occur
• Thanksgiving week might involve pre-recorded lecture

Communication

• Announcements via Canvas; ensure notifications are enabled
• Email and text communication options provided

Questions and Interaction

• Encouraged to ask questions; interaction during lectures appreciated
• Next lecture: Tuesday at 1:00 PM, covering Week 2 content

Note: This lecture was introductory, setting the stage for the course with a focus on inclusivity and understanding in family therapy.