Panel Discussion: Trauma-Sensitive Group Work with Afro-Caribbean Clients
Sponsored by:
The Association for Specialists in Group Work Special Initiatives
(Contact: Dr. Jennifer Culver at jennifer.culver@sru.edu and Dr. Claire Martin at clairemartin@webster.edu)
and
The AMCD Midwest Regional Representative
(Contact: Dr. Claire Martin at clairemartin@webster.edu)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
CEU: 1 Credit Hour
Moderators:
- Shana Gelin, PhD, LAC, NCC, (She/Her/Hers), Assistant Professor, Kean University
- Linzy Andre (she/her/hers), MSED, LMHC, NCC, ACS, Doctoral Candidate, Syracuse University
Panelists:
- Claire Martin, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH (she/her/hers), Assistant Professor, Webster University
- Kathy Altidor, (she/her/hers), RMHC, M.S., Doctoral Student, Florida Atlantic University
- Nadiya Boyce, (she, her, hers) PhD, NCC, PMH-C, Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida
Description:
The well-being of diverse communities in the United States is increasingly under threat due to the implementation of discriminatory policies and practices by the current administration. Afro-Caribbean communities continue to be targets of xenophobic sentiments, which exacerbate fear and contribute to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
This panel will focus on exploring the lived experiences of Afro-Caribbean populations in the U.S., highlighting their unique strengths and the challenges they face. Special attention will be given to current issues disproportionately impacting this group, such as fears of deportation, xenophobia, the defamation of Haitian people, and threats to critical resources. The discussion will examine how these factors influence the overall well-being of Afro-Caribbean individuals and communities, while also emphasizing effective interventions grounded in therapeutic group work as pathways to resilience and advocacy.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:
- Gain insight into the lived experiences of Afro-Caribbean people within the US context.
- Learn how current socio-political issues in the US can impact the overall well-being of Afro-Caribbean people.
- Learn effective strategies for providing mental health care for Afro-Caribbean people.
Bio of Presenters:
Shana Gelin, PhD, LAC, NCC, (She/Her/Hers), Assistant Professor, Kean University
Dr. Shana Gelin is a passionate professor, board-certified counselor, researcher, author, speaker, and consultant. With a deep commitment to education and personal growth, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience (2013) and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2015) from Rider University, where she is a proud double alumna. Dr. Gelin further pursued her academic journey by earning a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, along with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Women and Gender Studies, from Syracuse University.
With eight years of collegiate teaching experience, Dr. Gelin is a dedicated faculty member in the Counselor Education Department at Kean University. She loves mentoring students, fostering their intellectual curiosity, and inspiring them to reach their full potential. Her research centers on multicultural and feminist counseling issues, particularly within the Afro-Caribbean community, and she actively seeks to illuminate the diverse experiences of individuals through her published work.
As an NBCC Minority Fellow, Dr. Gelin has received grants and fellowships for her impactful work on both national and international stages. Currently, she collaborates with the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, supporting New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy in implementing the $2.22 million New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center Act (S3864), an initiative close to her heart.
Dr. Gelin has approximately nine years of clinical experience and has worked as a counselor for adults, children, adolescents, and families across various settings, including outpatient, school, crisis, and university environments. Beyond her professional pursuits, Dr. Gelin is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, advocacy, and cultural competency in every environment. When she’s not working, Dr. Gelin enjoys engaging in community outreach, exploring new cultures, and spending quality time with her family and friends, which continuously fuels her desire to create positive change.
Linzy Andre (she/her/hers), MSED, LMHC, NCC, ACS, Doctoral Candidate, Syracuse University
Linzy Sunshine Andre is a New York base counselor, educator, supervisor, and advocate. She earned her Bachelorette in Psychology and Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College, City University of New York, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Counseling and Counselor Education at Syracuse University, preparing for graduation this spring.
Linzy’s parents are both Afro-Caribbean immigrants – her mother was born in Guyana and her father was born in Haiti. Linzy’s experiences as a first-generation American have been influential to every aspect of her personal and professional identities. She has been inspired by her mixed heritage and experiences of growing up in predominantly Black New York City neighborhoods to become a counselor. She has 10 years of experience as a counselor; she prioritizes clinical work with Black people with lineages from across the African Diaspora. She started her private therapy practice, Sunshine Advocacy Counseling, in 2019 before returning to academia to pursue her doctorate in 2020. In her doctoral journey, Linzy has established her teaching philosophy, scholarly interests, and commitment to service leadership.
Linzy has received the 2022 Syracuse University School of Education Research & Creative Grant, the 2023 Joan N. Burstyn Endowed Fund for Collaborative Research Grant, and the 2024 Chi Sigma Iota Excellence in Research Grant. She was a 2022 Emerging Leader for the North Atlantic Regional Division of the Association of Counselor Education & Supervision, a 2023 Emerging Leader for Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, and currently serves as the Graduate Student Representative for the Counselors for Social Justice.
Her commitment as an educator, scholar, and service leader centers on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, with particular emphasis on Black people’s lived experiences, their narratives, and their meaning-making processes as acts of resistance against oppression.
Claire Martin, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH (she/her/hers), Assistant Professor, Webster University
Claire Martin, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Department at Webster University. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an M.A. in Psychology from the City University of New York-Hunter College. Dr. Martin is committed to developing counselors’ competencies in multiculturalism and trauma-informed practices. Her scholarly activities focus on the intersectionality between oppression, discriminatory policies and practices, and the development of psychological trauma in marginalized populations.
In 2019, she received the Counseling Fellowship in Social Justice Award, and in 2020, the E. Desmond Lee Urban Education Scholarship from the University of Missouri-St. Louis; both are awarded based on scholarly interests and advocacy that reflect a commitment to social justice in counseling and urban education. Dr. Martin has presented nationally and internationally on Black women’s experiences. She is a research associate member for the Center for Communally Bonded Research (CCBR) and serves as the Midwestern Region Representative for the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) and the Co-Chair for the Specialist Initiatives Committee for the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW).
Additionally, Dr. Martin is a nationally board-certified and licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Missouri with extensive clinical experience with complex trauma. She is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) and uses these modalities in her practice to help individuals heal from trauma. She also provides culturally competent and trauma-informed clinical supervision to counselors-in-training seeking state licensure. Prior to her clinical and teaching career, Dr. Martin worked as a Program Evaluator for Children’s Services in New York City, evaluating nonprofit agencies servicing immigrant and refugee families in the NYC area.
Kathy Altidor, (she/her/hers), RMHC, M.S., Doctoral Student, Florida Atlantic University
Kathy Altidor is a doctoral student at Florida Atlantic University pursuing a degree in Counselor Education. Kathy received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic University. She attained her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Kathy is a Registered Mental Health Counselor specializing in serving diverse populations with a focus on Black-identifying individuals. Kathy is active in many professional organizations and provides presentations at the local, state, and national levels. Kathy’s research interests center on the inclusion and belongingness of Black individuals, destigmatizing mental health and increasing awareness in the Caribbean population, integrating religion and spirituality in counseling, and overcoming inter-generational curses.
Kathy is a West Palm Beach native of Haitian descent and provides her clients with essential therapeutic services in English and/or Haitian Creole. Her passion for counseling stemmed from her awareness of unaddressed mental health issues in her Haitian community. Representation and removing language barriers have been influential in helping the Haitian community receive therapeutic services.
Nadiya Boyce, (she, her, hers) PhD, NCC, PMH-C, Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida
Nadiya Boyce, PhD, NCC, PMH-C, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida.
Dr. Boyce received her Bachelor of Science in Business and Psychology (dual degree) from Florida State University. She attained her Master of Education in Professional Counseling at the University of West Georgia and her Doctorate in Counselor Education from Florida Atlantic University.
Dr. Boyce has served as an ACES Graduate Student Representative, ACES Executive Committee member, and received the 2023 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Award and the FAU 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Dr. Boyce has presented and published nationally and internationally on Social Determinants of Health, microaffirmations, and Community Cultural Wealth within school and mental health counseling practice.
Additionally, she is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) in Florida and a Licensed School Counselor in Georgia and Florida. She is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), AutPlay, and Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and uses these modalities in her practice to support child and adult clients dealing with trauma, life transitions, and finding their voice. Dr. Boyce is passionate about helping children, women, and mothers navigate the stressors of modern life and uses play, humor, and mindfulness to encourage growth and resilience.