Join the Houston Psychological Association for our annual Ethics + Diversity Day this fall, a full-day continuing education event focused on timely topics in ethics, diversity, and clinical practice.
The Council on Recovery
303 Jackson Hill St
Houston, TX 77007
This annual training offers psychologists and mental health professionals an opportunity to engage with important professional considerations, strengthen culturally responsive practice, and reflect on the evolving needs of the communities they serve.
The day will include an in-person morning session from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM featuring Michelle Fingeret and The Big Wellness Institute, followed by an online afternoon session from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM featuring Connesia Handford. For those attending in-person, we will view the afternoon session together as a watch party.
Lunch, for those who are attending both events in-person, will be provided by Salata for an additional fee.
Morning Session: Helping Clients Adjust to Body Changes Following Illness and Medical Treatment: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Psychologists
Body image concerns are among the most common yet overlooked psychological challenges experienced by individuals affected by illness and medical treatment. This interactive workshop equips psychologists with practical strategies for recognizing and addressing body image concerns, using cancer survivorship as the primary clinical focus while highlighting applications across a range of medical conditions. Participants will also explore how interdisciplinary collaboration with oncology aesthetics and oncology massage can complement psychological care and improve patient outcomes. Through case discussions, guided self-reflection, and interactive learning activities, attendees will leave with greater confidence in supporting clients as they adjust to body changes throughout the medical journey.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the multidimensional impact of body changes following illness and medical treatment on psychological adjustment, functioning, and quality of life.
- Recognize common body image concerns and identify opportunities to integrate body image care within routine psychological practice.
- Apply practical communication and intervention strategies to support clients experiencing body image concerns using clinical case examples.
- Explain how interdisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships with oncology aesthetics and oncology massage professionals, can enhance body image care for individuals affected by illness and medical treatment.
Participants will gain practical tools to more confidently identify, assess, and address body image concerns in clients affected by illness and medical treatment. They will leave with concrete strategies for initiating conversations about body image, integrating body image considerations into treatment planning, and collaborating with complementary healthcare professionals when appropriate to provide more comprehensive care.
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About Michelle Fingeret, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Michelle Fingeret is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in body image and psychosocial oncology. She served on the faculty at MD Anderson Cancer Center for more than a decade, where she developed the first comprehensive clinical, research, and educational program in the United States dedicated to body image care for cancer survivors. In 2017, she founded Fingeret Psychology Services to expand access to specialized body image support, professional education, and consultation. She is also the co-founder of the Body Image Group (BIG) Wellness Institute, an interdisciplinary educational initiative that provides innovative training and resources to help healthcare and wellness professionals integrate body image care into oncology practice.
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Afternoon Session: The Ethics of Being Seen, Heard, and Valued: Exploring Epistemic Injustice and Racial Trauma Support
At its core, a primary function of mental health support is to help clients feel affirmed and supported in their endeavor to navigate distress. However, despite being a salient experience for many, racial stress and trauma is often overlooked in clinical practice and conceptualizations. Through an ethical lens, this presentation will explore the impact of gaps in racial trauma informed treatment and training and the role mental health professionals play in alleviating or perpetuating the experience of epistemic injustice for the clients we serve.
- Attendees will deepen their understanding of epistemic injustice and its ethical implications
- Attendees will explore what epistemic injustice looks like across mental health practices
- Attendees will learn practical strategies to disrupt the experience of race-based epistemic injustice in their practice
After this training, attendees will have a deeper understanding of their role in fostering a psychologically safe space where clients are believed, affirmed, and supported as they navigate their lived experiences.
About Connesia Handford, PsyD, Racial Trauma Consulting Psychologist
Dr. Handford is a licensed psychologist, published author, and consultant specializing in racial trauma and its impact on identity development. Both the identity of individuals and the identity and culture of systems. As a consultant, she partners with organizations with anti-racist intentions to guide and support systemic transformation. With a diverse range of professional experiences, she integrates rigorous psychological training into her consulting approach with a deep commitment to healing justice, equity, and community empowerment.
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