Rituals are actions done in purposeful ways that symbolize something much more than the acts themselves. Every culture has rituals that provide purpose and meaning to experiences. Rituals are made up of actions that represent ideas, thoughts, myths, or beliefs about something specific. They give purpose to action and always serve to connect us to something else, generally something greater than ourselves. In difficult times, rituals provide a certain order to an existence that otherwise might be full of confusion and chaos. Given the current pandemic, loss and grief have taken a front seat. A sense of loss permeates in many of our lives, and for many clients this may be difficult to name. Furthermore, the inability to perform rituals in our habitual ways can be distressful for many. The current webinar will discuss the experience of loss and grief for Latinos during the current pandemic: including physical and symbolic losses. The presenters will discuss Latinos values and rituals as they relate to the current pandemic. The importance of the therapeutic relationship will be discussed as well as approaches and strategies that promote new rituals, new meanings, and a transformative experience. Three case studies will be included for group discussion.

Download the slides HERE.

About the presenters: 

Salvador Treviño, PhD- Dr. Treviño has taught professional psychology for over 40 years and lectures extensively on the theories and practices of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, primitive mental states, and Latino behavioral health. Drawing on his scholarship of more than 43 years of clinical work with Latino immigrants and families, Dr. Treviño is active in furthering the national conversation on cultural diversity, the impact of historical trauma on Latino behavioral health, the psychology of racism, and matters of social justice from a psychoanalytic perspective. Dr. Treviño is Executive Director of GCAPS - Guadalupe Counseling & Psychological Services in Santa Barbara, CA and is adjunct faculty of the Antioch University Santa Barbara Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Treviño is licensed as a psychologist and marriage and family therapist specializing in salud mental Latina.

Darice Orobitg, PhD- Darice Orobitg is a clinical psychologist. She obtained a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and completed her PhD at Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, PR. Dr. Orobitg worked at the PR Rape Crisis Center where, she was a therapist for children, adolescents, and adult survivors of sexual violence. At the PRRCC she was also a clinical supervisor and coordinator of clinical services. She later worked at the National Hispanic and Latino ATTC as trainer and TA consultant offering training and TA to clinicians, counselors, social workers, and other professionals offering services to Hispanic and Latino populations with SUDs. Dr. Orobitg was also a clinical consultant at Proyecto Mujer- a gender-specific treatment program for Latinas with SUDs and trauma histories. Darice is currently the Training and Content Specialist for the National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center. She has been in private practice since 2005.