Dr. Sandra Espinoza, PsyD, LMFT (she/her) is an Associate Professor and Branch Director of the Couple and Family Therapy program at Alliant International University in Los Angeles. A bilingual therapist and second-generation Mexican-American, Dr. Espinoza integrates cultural humility, social justice, anti-oppressive, anti-carceral approaches, and advocacy in her scholarship, teaching, and practice. She maintains a small private practice supporting mostly interracial couples and Latinx clients. She has over 14 years of clinical experience working with the undocumented community and has presented on the topic of immigration and deportation at both local and national levels. She is also deeply grounded in her roles as a mother, partner, and daughter, which continue to inform her work and commitment to her work.

This session offers a trauma-informed family systems approach to trauma caused by ICE detention. Participants will examine how clinical presentation differs among detained individuals, their partners and children. Participants will also learn how family roles may be reorganized during a member’s absence as well as how to resource families and individuals post-release. The presentation will review literature on continuous traumatic stress as well as suggestions for clinical interventions and resources for immigrant families impacted by socio-political threat.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:  

• Apply at least two trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, clinical interventions that support the release of an individual from detention
• Describe at least two clinical presentations in detained individuals and their family members before, during and after detention
• Identify at least two resources commonly needed by individuals and families following release from ICE detention