Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0487
ISSN: 2161-0487
Jasmaine Ataga
University of Florida, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Psychol Psychother
African Americans today often report experiencing a disconnect from West African culture and heritage (Parry, 2018). For African American counselors, this may influence competence and confidence in providing therapeutic services to clients identifying as African and African American. This poster will capture the exploration of African American counselors participating in the ‘2019 Ghana: Year of Return’ heritage tourism, clinical outreach, and cultural immersion trip. The presenter will showcase the phenomenological experiences of Black and African-American diasporic counselors reconnecting with West African society, ancestry, and culture. Specifically exhibiting themes of multiculturalism, Black counselor identity, racial-battle fatigue, diasporic connection, and human resillence.
Jasmaine Ataga is a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida in the Counselor Education program. Jasmaine is a National Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia, and a Registred Play Therapist. Her research agenda focuses on sexual trauma and utilizing expressive arts to promote meaning-making and posttraumatic growth. Jasmaine is also the founder of Zen360, LLC a small organization that creates and facilitates expressive trainings and international outreach trips for counseling students, clinicians, and educators. Her trips focus on clinical outreach and cultural immersion experiences in Black and Brown communities abroad.