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Pepperdine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Language, Culture and Gender Lab

Overview and Mission

Inspired by Chicana feminism and Martin-Baro's work on Liberation Psychology, the Pepperdine University Language, Culture and Gender Lab seeks to understand and empower diverse communities within a cultural context. The Lab conducts three tracks of scholarship in the areas of language, culture and gender within the field of psychology:

Track One

Examines the supervision and training of psychotherapists to provide bilingual (Spanish/English) mental health services and community outreach. Using a social justice framework, focus is placed on the interaction of linguistic, clinical, and cultural responsiveness and competency.

Track Two

Examines the process and outcomes of culturally congruent practice within Latinx communities. Areas of emphasis are the use of language in therapy and psychoeducational and empowerment-based outreach.

Track Three

Explores the lived experience of Latinx communities through testimonio and other qualitative methods. Areas of attention are the gendered experiences of immigration and ethnic identity development. Recent projects involve the incorporation of a Mujerista theoretical framework in psychotherapy and training.

 

Women in Language and Culture Lab - Pepperdine GSEP

 

Selected Publications

  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L (2018). Weaving identities and Theoretical Perspectives of Cultural Competency in Neplanta. In L. Comas-Diaz and C. Vasquez (eds.), The Practice of Latina Psychologists. Routledge.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L (Spring, 2017). Clinically responsive services with linguistically diverse communities. In V. Jordan (Ed.), The California Psychologist. Invited to write a feature article for the Spring edition of the quarterly newsletter of the California Psychological Association focusing on Language and Linguistic Diversity.
  • Shapiro, E., Castañeda-Sound, C., Comas-Diaz, L. (Winter, 2017). Womanist and Mujerista Psychologies: Renovando our compromiso to inclusive spiritualities. In H.Y. Adames and N.Y. Chavez-Dueñas (eds.), Latina/o Psychology Today: An Official Publication of the National Latina/o Psychological Association. Fall edition of the quarterly newsletter focusing onResistance, Spirituality, and Liberation.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L., Martinez, S., Duran, J.E. (2016). Mujeristas and social justice: La lucha es la vida. In T. Bryant-Davis and L. Comas-Diaz, Womanist and Mujerista Psychologies: Voices of Fire, Acts of Courage (pp. 237-259). APA Press.
  • Gonzalez, D.M., Castañeda-Sound, C.L., Navarro, R. (2014). The mosaic of Latinas. In J. Rice, C. Enns, and R. Nutt (Eds.), Psychological Practice with Women: Respecting Diversity and Fostering Empowerment (pp. 81-108). APA Press.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L. (2013). Hermanas de alma y corazón. Women & Therapy, 36, 51-61.

Selected Presentations

  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L. (October, 2017). Living in Nepantla: Bilingual Children's Experiences with Language and Cultural Brokering. Invited presentation sponsored by the California Association for Bilingual Education and the Latino/a Student Psychological Association.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C. (September, 2016). La Lucha es Vida: Mujerista Psychology and Social Justice. Symposium presentation at the biennial conference of the National Latina/o Psychology Association. Orlando, FL.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C., Martinez, T., Arias Klenk, S., Pazmino, I., & Griswold, L. (September, 2016). Training Graduate Students from a Liberation Psychology Perspective: Dando Aliento a la Comunidad. Symposium presentation at the biennial conference of the National Latina/o Psychology Association. Orlando, FL.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C. (August, 2016). La Lucha es Vida: Centering Social Justice and Mujerista Psychology in Clinical Practice with Latinas. Symposium presentation at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association. Denver, CO.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L., Powell, J., & Sanchez, J. (March, 2016). You Made It! Navigating the Borders of Classism and Women's Personal and Professional Identities. 2016 Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance. Los Angeles, CA.
  • Rogers G., & Castañeda-Sound, C.L (March, 2015). Mentoring of women from three perspectives: Multiculturalism, Feminism, and Spirituality. 2015 Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance. Los Angeles, CA.
  • Castañeda-Sound, C.L, Gallardo, M., & Arredondo, P. (2014, October). Meaning and Purpose in the Lives of Latina/o Psychologists: What Sustains Us? Roundtable presentation at the biennial conference of the National Latino/a Psychological Association. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Comas-Diaz, L. (Chair), Brown, L., Bryant-Davis, T., Castañeda-Sound, C.L., Taylor, S., & Tummula-Narra, P. (2014, August). Dear Sister/Friends: Working with Intimate Female Friendships in Psychotherapy. Roundtable discussion at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C.