Kenneth V Hardy is Professor of Family Therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and is the Director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York City. He is an internationally recognized clinician, author, educator, and consultant.
Dr Hardy has received considerable acclaim for the contributions that his numerous publications and videos have made toward challenging mental health professionals to think critically about issues of diversity, trauma and oppression.
Dr Hardy serves on the editorial boards of: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Journal of Family Psychotherapy, Journal of Divorce, Journal of Couples Therapy, Journal of Family Counseling, and Psychotherapy Networker.
Dr Hardy has co-authored books, including: Culturally Sensitive Supervision – Diverse Perspectives and Practical Applications; Minorities and Family Therapy; Teens Who Hurt – Clinical Interventions for Breaking the Cycle of Violence; and Revisioning Family Therapy – Race, Class, Gender and Culture.
Dr Hardy’s video “The Psychological Residuals of Slavery” serves as a catalyst to promote conversations about race relationships. Dr Hardy provides consultation and Diversity and Racial Sensitivity training across higher education institutions and human services agencies.
Dr Hardy maintains a practice in New York, New York.
Workshop Overview
The changing complexion of our society, the evergrowing wave of new immigrants rushing to United States soil, and the shifting definitions of what and who constitutes a family are just a few of the emerging trends that make living and practicing in today’s complex and diverse world a formidable challenge for
many of us. The one size fits all approach that has for so often guided our thinking and ways of being is no longer an effective or desirable instrument for negotiating human interaction. The changing backdrop of our society now means that “truth” and “reality” are largely dependent upon the interlocking dynamics of who is observing and who is being observed. Fluid definitions of truth and reality have accentuated many of the difficulties inherent in building, maintaining, and understanding relationships. Seemingly simple tasks such as ‘knowing’ what another wants, likes, or means… suddenly has become more complicated. The emergence of reality as a subjective, culturally based experience has left many of us questioning truths that were once considered unquestionable, thus contributing to a sense of tentativeness in our interactions.
In the increasingly diverse world in which we live, it has become imperative for us to examine the myriad of contextual variables such as race, class, gender, religion, and sexual orientation (just to cite a few) that give meaning to our lives and what we consider as truth. Nowhere are these struggles and sensitivities more critical to consider than in the process of family therapy. The psychosocial and socio-cultural landscapes upon which we practice require each of us to engage in the process of rethinking and revisioning psychotherapy. This requires us to consider the ways in which both complex family dynamics as well as the process of therapy are profoundly shaped by the nuances of race, class, gender and a host of other contextual variables. This revisioning asserts that effective therapists must not only understand and master the complex rudiments of psychotherapy, but must also possess a comprehensive understanding of how cultural factors shape both family dynamics and the therapeutic process as well.
Contact Information
For questions about the conference please contact Shardae Washington 302-593-3487 or spulliam18@gmail.com.
Accommodations
A discounted rate of $94 per night is available at Hampton Inn & Suites, 1080 Hospitality Lane, Fredericksburg. (540) 786 5530. Make reservations prior to 9/15/16 to receive this rate.
If you are paying by check, please make it payable to VAMFT, and mail both your check and a registration form to:
Scott Fowler
101 Nat Turner Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23606
Or, you may
click here to register online through PayPal.
