Saturday Breakout 2 

Option 3 

Monica Sesma-Vazquez

Dreams and Realities: Supporting First and Second-Generation Latino Immigrant Families through Cultural Integration and Belonging Approaches

This presentation explores the unique challenges family therapists encounter when working with first- and second-generation Latino immigrant families in North America, particularly in Canada and USA. As these families navigate complex cultural integration issues, therapists often face the need to balance traditional family values with the pressures of assimilation and the pursuit of the “North American Dream.” Participants will gain insights into the intricate family dynamics influenced by cultural heritage, economic pressures, and generational divides, all of which shape the immigrant family experience.

The presentation will address the unique systemic and structural challenges these families encounter, including barriers to accessing mental health services, language limitations, and socioeconomic constraints. For many parents in these families, their sacrifices and efforts are motivated by the desire to create a better life for their children. However, this dream often collides with pressures to adapt, creating tensions around identity, belonging, and values between generations. These complexities can challenge family cohesion and complicate family therapy approaches. After this presentation, participants will be better equipped to provide family therapy that respects and uplifts the cultural heritage, resilience, and aspirations of first- and second-generation Latino immigrant families. 

Bio: 

Monica Sesma-Vazquez, PhD, RSW, RMFT-SM (She/Ella) is a social constructionist-oriented social worker, relational family therapist, educator, supervisor, and researcher who lives in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. Monica is an Assistant Professor and the Academic Coordinator of the Post-Masters in Couple and Family Therapy Program at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. She works at the Eastside Community Mental Health Services and the Calgary Family Therapy Centre as a family therapist, researcher, and supervisor. Monica is currently a Board Member of the Canadian Association for Couples and Family Therapy and the Family Process Institute.