Webinar: When Fear Becomes Reality: Intersectional DBT for Immigration Status Fear

“How do I even start to help my community?”

“I feel so helpless.”

“I don’t even have the words for my clients during this difficult time.”

You and thousands of other therapists have had these thoughts in the last few weeks due to the ICE Raids and terrorization that’s happening in our community.

I led this webinar a few days after the raids in Los Angeles with over 150 therapists from across the nation in attendance. I shared how to adapt evidence-based practices and interventions for us and our community as they face real immigration anxiety and stress.

As therapists, we have a responsibility to adapt our evidence-based practices for ALL clients — including those whose immigration status creates daily trauma and fear. Today, our community is in deep, justified fear.

This workshop isn’t just about DBT skills (though we’ll definitely dive deep into COPE AHEAD and PLEASE skill modifications). It’s about therapeutic justice. It’s about recognizing that our undocumented clients deserve mental health support that acknowledges their reality — not one that pretends systemic oppression doesn’t exist.

When your client’s biggest fear isn’t an abstract worry but a daily possibility, standard protocols need cultural adaptation. We’ll explore how to honor both clinical excellence and cultural humility.

Because healing happens in community, and our immigrant communities deserve therapists who see their full humanity.

Workshop Overview: Learn to adapt the DBT skills COPE AHEAD and PLEASE specifically for undocumented clients experiencing chronic fear of ICE detention (these skills will also help you as providers too). This training combines evidence-based DBT techniques with culturally responsive approaches, addressing the unique mental health needs of clients whose immigration status creates ongoing traumatic stress. This training will also offer you skills for yourself as you navigate these difficult conversations and scenarios with the people you serve.

You’ll Learn:

• Cultural considerations when working with undocumented communities
• Discussion around Enhancing Evidence Based Practice with a Decolonizing lens
• Modifications to standard COPE AHEAD protocols for immigration-related fears
• Practical self-soothing skills
• Addressing intersectional trauma
• Rehearsing coping scripts
• Dialectics of joy and fear as a tool to navigate these turbulent times

You’ll receive:

• Unlimited access to a 2-hour recording of the originally aired webinar (June 29 2025). You’ll receive it in an online course platform.
• Community – shared sense of humanity and connection, cultural affirmations from our ancestors.
• Self-Soothing Exercises for you.
• Sound Bath Meditation focused on holding compassion for yourself as you hold space for others.
• Presentation Slides
• Accompanying English and Spanish worksheets (8)
  • Detailed Cope Ahead Instructions with calming techniques
  • Cope Ahead Plan for Client to Create
  • Page of Compassionate Phrases for immigrants
  • Page of Compassionate Phrases for loved ones/helpers of immigrants

All registrants will receive webinar recording, slides and worksheets.

*This is also fundraiser for July 2025: Join me in donating to a legitimate community organization. A percentage of the webinar’s proceeds will go toward Orale – Long Beach, an “immigrant-led movement to end the criminalization of immigrants and secure bold protections and opportunities that allow immigrant communities to thrive.” *Donation to Orale will be sent on August 1, 2025 from all July 2025 sales. Register before August 2025. *

Proceeds from the June 29th webinar went toward the immigrant rights organization CHILRA who is providing legal support and resources to the community.

Who Should Watch this Webinar: Licensed therapists, clinical social workers, counselors, healers and mental health professionals working with BIPOC and immigrant communities.

Presenter: E. Sofia Mendoza, LCSW First Gen Latina therapist specializing in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care. EMDR Certified, Consultant-in-Training. Sofia is also a RESI (Racial Equity Support Initiative) 2025 EMDRIA Leadership Awardee for her work in helping to alleviate the suffering that comes from racial trauma and stress. Additionally, she’s LA County DBT and CBT Certified by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and CBT Champion versed in adapting EBPs for BIPOC community. Sofia is also currently co-authoring a book focused on Healing from Race Based Stress and Trauma.

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Should you, your company or agency want to sponsor spots for therapists who might not be able to afford this webinar please donate here. I’ll also be offering scholarships and free slots as well. In the last round, I was able to offer 2 free slots to student therapists who were just starting their social work careers.