Alfonso Ferguson, Ph.D.: Counseling for All - Expanding Mental Health Access for Our BIPOC & LGBTQIA Populations

 Welcome to another episode of Saybrook Insights. Over the past year and a half, we've all been touched by the flurry of political posturing resulting in everything from "woke-ism" to critical race theory to trans rights. Despite all of this hyper-posturing, one thing is for certain; there are real people - scores of young kids to adults from marginalized populations - caught in the crossfire of these debates. And these very real people deserve to be heard, listened to, and supported, including mental health access! Our mental health infrastructure, while increasingly better, still has a long way to go. From the dearth of Black and Brown psychotherapists to the increasing need for LGBTQIA+ therapists and mental health support, much work is needed to support the health and well-being of our communities. 

 Enter Dr. Alfonso Ferguson, a faculty member in the department of Counseling. Though he is still early-ish in his career as both a counseling professional and academic, Alfonso seems to have circled the globe and back with his varied efforts and accomplishments. I am particularly interested in learning more about his work in diversity and intersectionality, specifically as it applies to counseling and how institutions and organizations are managing, especially today. We will also dig into his work with marginalized populations, specifically BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals. What's the current state, and where does he see this heading into the future? We will cover a lot of territory in this interview - this is one not to be missed.