Corrections_Today_Winter_2025-2026_Vol.87_No.4

5. Family systems exploration (if clinically appropriate)

Goal: Deconstruct family dynamics and generational trauma that reinforce Brian’s identity conflict. Intervention: Conduct intergenerational genograms to map relational ruptures and repeating patterns of stigma, silence or favoritism. Use this data to help Brian understand family roles and develop agency. Expected Outcome: Insight into family pathology, boundary clarification and possible pathways to rec onciliation or acceptance of estrangement. Therapists should also remain informed on the socio political climate affecting minority populations, as these external factors deeply influence internal realities. Conclusion Brian’s experience is not isolated. His case reflects a growing clinical reality in which youth from marginal ized backgrounds face dual oppression: one rooted in family rejection and another in systemic exclusion. His desire to disassociate from his Hispanic identity is not a rejection of culture, but rather a survival mechanism in the face of unrelenting invalidation. This case exemplifies the urgent need for clinicians to go beyond surface-level interventions and address the complex intersections of ethnic identity, mental illness stigma, generational trauma and sociopolitical stress. Mental health providers must center cultural humil ity, trauma-informed practice and identity safety as pillars of treatment. It is not enough to help a client function within broken systems; we must actively work to help them heal from the damage those systems cause. Brian’s progress will depend not only on internal work but on his ability to develop external systems of support, rooted in validation and community. Through guided narrative, emotional regulation strategies, psychoeducation, and intentional connection to affirming environments, Brian can begin to recon struct a version of himself that is whole, proud, and emotionally grounded. This is the essence of culturally attuned therapy: not simply to treat symptoms, but to affirm the self. CT

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Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis . W. W. Norton.

Gonzalez, L. M., Stein, G. L., & Huq, N. (2019). Latino youths’ perceived discrimination in relation to self-esteem: The role of acculturation . Journal of Latinx Psychology, 7(1), 1–16.

Miroff, N. (2023). GOP revives call to end birthright citizenship . The Washington Post.

Moskowitz, A. L., et al. (2020). Family rejection and health outcomes in LGBTQ and mentally ill populations: A meta-analytic review . American Journal of Community Psychology, 66(3-4), 232–248.

Pierce, S., & Selee, A. (2017). Immigration under Trump: A review of policy shifts in the year since the election . Migration Policy Institute.

Rivas-Drake, D., et al. (2014). Ethnic and racial identity in adolescence: Implications for psychosocial, academic, and health outcomes . Child Development, 85(1), 40–57. Romero, A. J., et al. (2007). Resilience to discrimination stress across ethnic identity and social support . Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 28(5-6), 524–536.

Schwartz, S. J., et al. (2010). Identity in emerging adulthood: Reviewing the field and looking forward . Emerging Adulthood, 1(2), 96–113.

Tummala-Narra, P. (2015). Cultural identity, trauma, and mental health in diverse youth: Clinical applications . Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 14(4), 349–364. Umaña-Taylor, A. J., et al. (2014). Ethnic identity and self-esteem trajectories among Latino adolescents: Examining the role of cultural socialization and family functioning . Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(12), 2012–2027.

Dr. Joy Moseri is the Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director of Newport Integrated Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

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