Heidi Zetzer

Santa Barbara County Psychological Association (SBCPA) members welcomed Gevirtz Professor, Dr. Heidi A. Zetzer, to present A Humanistic Approach to Culturally Sensitive Clinical Supervision on Friday, May 31, 2019.

The talk advocated for a more holistic, culturally sensitive supervision relationship between senior members of the counseling profession and their more junior colleagues emerging into it. Cultural sensitivity—being cognizant to cultural differences can be executed in practical ways, as Dr. Zetzer provided to SBCPA members, including the recognition of personal social locations (i.e., awareness of power, oppression, and privilege in areas such as age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, Indigenous heritage, religion, etc.), and the addressing of cultural complexities in practice and supervision (including factors that impact a whole person, like internalized beliefs, external resources and barriers, and behaviors and decisions). With the group, Dr. Zetzer also discussed influences on the multicultural supervisor/visee relationship (e.g., empowerment, affirmation of diversity, and cultural humility), and described evidence-based joys that taking a culturally sensitive approach and person-centered mentoring model yields. You can view the PowerPoint presentation Dr. Zetzer used as a PDF, attached below (titled "Dr. Zetzer's Presentation").

Dr. Heidi A. Zetzer is the Director of the Hosford Counseling and Psychological Services Clinic and a Lecturer with Security of Employment in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Zetzer teaches Theories of Supervision & Consultation, Supervision Practicum, supervises student clinicians and student supervisors, and coordinates externships. Dr. Zetzer is the President of the Association of Psychology Training Clinics, Chair of the Section for Supervision and Training in the Society of Counseling Psychology (Div 17) of the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Zetzer is a former president of the Santa Barbara County Psychological Association (SBCPA), for whom she gave this talk.

The Santa Barbara County Psychological Association (SBCPA) includes approximately 150 licensed psychologists, registered psychological assistants, and student members within Santa Barbara County. Founded as an informal group in 1947, some Santa Barbara psychologists began to work within the community addressing local mental health problems and the broader spectrum of professional interests. In 1977 SBCPA became a chapter of the California Psychological Association (CPA), a state association of the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA is the national psychological association with over 159,000 psychologists, and SBCPA members follow the ethical standards and guidelines for professional practice set forth by APA.