29th Annual Conference
Thursday, January 7 - Sunday, January 10, 2027
Complimentary Pre-Conference: Wednesday, January 6, 2027
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Amor, Familia, y Conexión: Working with Latino Couples

Friday, March 19th, 2027   10:00 AM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Melanie Ricaurte
$59.99 USD

Latino couples bring rich and diverse cultural experiences into the therapy room, including values and traditions related to family, gender, spirituality, sexuality, communication, and intimate relationships. At the same time, there is no singular “Latino relationship experience.” Cultural identity intersects with factors such as country of origin, race, immigration history, acculturation, generation, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic context. This presentation will explore how culturally informed clinicians can recognize the influence of values such as familismo, personalismo, and respeto, while thoughtfully examining traditional gender expectations, intergenerational dynamics, religion and spirituality, and experiences of migration and acculturation. Particular attention will be given to avoiding cultural assumptions and approaching each couple with curiosity, humility, and an appreciation for the strengths and resilience embedded within their cultural identities.

Drawing from culturally responsive practice, attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and the Gottman Method, this presentation will translate these cultural considerations into practical interventions for couple therapy. Participants will explore how culture may influence conflict, emotional expression, intimacy and sexuality, boundaries with extended family, help-seeking, and expectations of partnership. Through clinical examples and opportunities for reflection, participants will learn strategies for initiating conversations about culture, identifying differences in cultural values within the couple, and adapting familiar couple-therapy interventions to better fit each couple’s lived experience. The goal is not to provide a formula for treating Latino couples, but to help clinicians develop a more culturally attuned framework for understanding and strengthening the relationships of the couples they serve.

About the Presenter

Dr. Melanie Ricaurte is a licensed psychologist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, and Clinical Director of Harmony Holistic, a group psychotherapy practice specializing in relationships, sexuality, and integrative mental health care. She earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and M.Ed. in Human Sexuality from Widener University and her B.S. in Human Biology, Health and Society from Cornell University. Dr. Ricaurte specializes in working with couples and has advanced training in relationship and sex therapy, incorporating approaches including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), attachment-based interventions, and culturally responsive care. Her work focuses on helping couples understand the ways that culture, family-of-origin experiences, identity, sexuality, gender expectations, and relational patterns intersect within intimate relationships. A native Spanish speaker with a bicultural background, Dr. Ricaurte has a particular interest in working with Latino individuals and couples and in exploring how cultural values can shape relationships across generations. Her clinical work considers themes such as familismo, gender roles, religion and spirituality, immigration and acculturation experiences, intergenerational expectations, communication, sexuality, and the negotiation of individual and collective needs within relationships.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify at least three cultural values or contextual factors that may influence relationship dynamics among Latino couples, including familismo, respeto, personalismo, gender-role expectations, acculturation, and intergenerational influences.
  2. Describe at least two ways that cultural identity, acculturation, family-of-origin expectations, gender roles, or religion may influence communication, conflict, intimacy, and attachment processes within Latino couples.
  3. Apply at least two culturally responsive strategies to a clinical case involving a Latino couple, incorporating cultural humility and adaptations of evidence-based couples therapy approaches such as EFT or the Gottman Method.

Agenda:

0:00–0:10 | Welcome, Introductions & Framing
Learning objectives, terminology, cultural humility, and diversity within Latino communities

0:10–0:25 | Understanding Cultural Context
Cultural identity, intersectionality, immigration, acculturation, language, and generational differences

0:25–0:45 | Core Cultural Values & Relationships
Familismo, respeto, personalismo, simpatía, family involvement, boundaries, and cultural strengths

0:45–1:05 | Gender, Sexuality & Intimacy
Machismo, marianismo, evolving gender roles, religion, sexual values, LGBTQ+ identities, and intimacy

1:05–1:15 | Break

1:15–1:30 | Acculturation & Intergenerational Dynamics
Bicultural identity, acculturation differences, migration experiences, family-of-origin expectations, and intergenerational dynamics

1:30–1:50 | Applying Couples Therapy Models
Culturally responsive applications of EFT, the Gottman Method, attachment theory, assessment, and clinical interventions

 

1:50–2:00 | Clinical Case, Key Takeaways & Q&A
Case application, discussion, practical strategies, and questions

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • This program meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. AASECT Core Knowledge Areas: C.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.