DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Vanessa Brugge

LCSW BCBA C-IAYT

Healing the Self: A Culturally Grounded and Integrative Approach to Mental Health Treatment for Asian American Women.

Concentration - Clinical Social Work

Abstract

This presentation examines the unique mental health needs of Asian American women, emphasizing the intersection of cultural experiences and societal expectations that impact their mental health. Asian American women are often caught in a complex web of pressures rooted in traditional cultural values, family and gendered expectations, and the challenges of navigating life in a Western society. These experiences can contribute to psychological distress and mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and identity conflicts. However, the mental health needs of Asian American women are overlooked or underrepresented due to cultural stigmas around mental health within Asian communities. By understanding the role of cultural experiences and mental health, clinical social workers can cultivate culturally sensitive spaces for Asian American women to explore and address their mental health needs. It is essential that social workers are equipped to support their mental health needs in a way that respects their cultural heritage and the realities of their lived experiences. This presentation highlights the need for culturally adaptive and non-stigmatizing clinical approaches and provides a novel, integrated framework to clinically conceptualize the cultural influences on Asian American women’s mental health. Finally, practical applications of this framework in outpatient individual therapy are examined and discussed through a case study.

Biography

Vanessa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with honors, in 1995 and her Master of Social Work in 1998 from the University of Central Florida. She is a doctoral candidate with a clinical concentration at the University of Kentucky, College of Social Work. Her interest in integrating interventions to provide culturally tailored and holistic approaches to mental health treatment is demonstrated in her capstone project, "Healing the Self: A Culturally Grounded and Integrative Approach to Mental Health Treatment for Asian American Women".

As an immigrant Asian American woman, Vanessa has personal experience of the cultural pressures associated with achievement and success. In her private practice in Florida, she is passionate about supporting high-achieving professionals and is committed to empowering clients to live balanced and fulfilling lives. She integrates a holistic approach to therapy, blending the wisdom of yoga with modern psychological practices. Vanessa is a certified yoga instructor and a trained yoga therapist, holding certification with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). This deep-rooted yoga philosophy enriches her practice, allowing her to effectively combine yoga psychology with evidence-based therapeutic techniques for a more comprehensive healing approach. Her diverse skill set includes certification in Applied Behavior Analysis and Brainspotting and training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Integrative Somatic Parts Work.