Panel Discussions
Professional/ Interprofessional Issues
Monica Shah, Psy.D.
Psychologist
Behavioral Wellness of NYC, St. John’s University
New York, New York
Monica Shah, Psy.D.
Psychologist
Behavioral Wellness of NYC, St. John’s University
New York, New York
Janie J. Hong, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Stanford University School of Medicine and Redwood Center for CBT and Research
Stanford, California
Michelle E. Roley-Roberts, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Natalie R. Holt, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology Fellow
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Antioch, Tennessee
Shirley B. Wang, M.A.
PhD Candidate
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Ashleigh Coser, Ph.D.
Health Service Psychologist
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Despite the availability of mentorship programs for mental health professionals, there is currently a dearth of programs serving those who hold minoritized identities. Mentored individuals are more satisfied and committed to their professions than non-mentored individuals, with these individuals often earning higher performance evaluations, higher salaries, and faster career advancement (Wanberg, Welsh, & Hezlett, 2003; Shen et al., 2022). Mentorship can come in different forms, including formal or informal (Chao, Walz, & Gardner, 1992) psychosocial support and/or career development (Kram, 1985), and across dimensions of a mentee’s experience including career stage and/or identity. Given the variety of benefits, coupled with the lack of programs for mentees with minoritized identities, it is important to understand how to best meet the unique needs of these individuals when developing and implementing mentorship programs.
Panelists include graduate students and professionals who have experience leading and/or participating in a mentorship program specifically geared towards individuals with various intersecting minoritized identities. Individuals from different ABCT Special Interest Groups will come together to discuss their experiences with mentorship. The discussion will review the need and evidence for mentorship programs, as well as challenges and lessons learned from these experiences. The goal of the panel is to provide practical strategies when creating mentorship programs to meet the needs of individuals holding a range of minoritized identities.