Colorism, Trauma & Body Image Ideals: Clinical Considerations with Youth & Families: CAMFT CEUs

This course qualifies for CAMFT CEUs.

Colorism, discrimination that privileges light skin that is distinct yet also similar to racism, is prevalent and persistent in our world. It is evident in social media, society, our communities, everyday comments, and systems. Colorism contributes to educational and pay disparities, fueling the skin-lightening market estimated to be $341.9 Million (2022) in the US alone. Experiencing colorism has negative impacts psychologically, emotionally, physically, and socially.

Adolescents may experience colorism in their daily lives through school, celebrity culture and media, the criminal justice system, and employment settings in the midst of navigating biopsychosocial changes and a critical period for developing mental health issues and eating disorders. Colorist incidents may result in traumatic stress or skin tone trauma (Landor & McNeil Smith, 2019). This trauma may increase the risk of appearance-related dissatisfaction, adopting harmful skin-lightening practices, and developing an eating disorder.

Intervention and prevention can lessen the impacts of colorism, skin tone trauma, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders among youth. This workshop focuses on how colorism, skin tone trauma, and body image ideals impact youth's mental health and relationships with food and their bodies. Participants will learn strategies for thinking about these topics with cultural sensitivity and how we can leverage our professional roles to address colorism and skin tone trauma in our working relationships with youth and families.

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Instructor: Ashley Acle, MBA, MFT, LMFT

Ashley Acle, MBA, MFT, LMFT is a consultant, clinical supervisor, and advocate passionate about health equity and culturally sensitive mental health. She frequently speaks on eating disorders and mental health treatment, along with ways we heal from experiences of racism, immigration trauma, colorism, and other marginalizations to promote body acceptance and well-being.

Ashley helps clients with eating disorders and mental health issues through her private practice, consults for organizations, and leads clinical supervision and educational workshops for healthcare professionals. She has been a leader in eating disorders for several years, working in behavioral health operations, research, clinical quality and regulatory compliance, and direct care. Her accomplishments include leading a systematic review of Cultural Considerations in the Treatment of Eating Disorders among Racial/Ethnic Minorities (Acle et al., 2021), highlighting

core insights for researchers and practitioners treating eating disorders. Ashley has also spoken internationally to increase awareness and equitable treatment for eating disorders within Latine, Asian, and Indigenous communities. Ashley is passionate about building community among healthcare providers of color as a mentor and peer consultant. She is a member of several professional associations, including the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and their Margins to Center and Queer and Trans Advocacy Networks (QTAN).

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Other Important Information:

Accommodations: To request additional assistance or accommodations, please contact Brisa Romero, Training Assistant, at bromero@catalyst-center.org.

Grievances: To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email Ivon Favela, Deputy Director of Training at ifavela@catalyst-center.org

CE Certificates: Upon course survey completion, participants will be awarded CE certificates.

Refund/Cancelation Policy: All requests for cancellation and refunds must be submitted in writing to bromero@catalyst-center.org prior to the course date. Otherwise, no refunds will be allowed. 

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CE Statement: California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs (Provider #1000075 ). This course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CACFS maintains responsibility for the program and all of its content.