Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Multicultural Psychology Training & Mental Health Services
The Center for Multicultural Mental Health (CMMH) has been a pioneering force in multicultural psychology training and community-based mental health services since its inception. Founded in 1972 as the Minority Training Program in Clinical and Community Psychology, our organization has trained generations of psychologists to address the unique needs of racially and ethnically diverse, low-income populations. Our APA-accredited clinical internship program, operational since 1986, remains the oldest of its kind in the nation, reflecting our unwavering commitment to cultural competence and social justice. Through our dual pillarsthe Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology (CMTP) and the Institute for Multicultural Practice and Research (IMPAR)we combine rigorous academic training with real-world application across urban safety-net hospitals, community health centers, and underserved neighborhoods.Our faculty, comprising nationally recognized experts in trauma, disaster response, and multicultural counseling, brings decades of combined experience in addressing systemic inequities in mental health care. We maintain active partnerships with Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine while operating the Family Support Center for pandemic bereavement services. Our training model integrates direct clinical practice, research, and community engagement to address the complex interplay of cultural identity, systemic oppression, and mental health outcomes. With 47 years of continuous operation, we remain dedicated to advancing culturally responsive care through innovation, education, and advocacy.
Services
Clinical Psychology Internship
Multicultural Training Programs
Psychological First Aid Training
Trauma-Based Family Therapy
Bereavement Support Services
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- We offer 47 years of continuous experience in multicultural psychology training
- Our APA-accredited internship program has operated since 1986
- We specialize in culturally competent care for urban, low-income populations
- Our faculty includes nationally recognized experts in trauma and disaster response
- We maintain active partnerships with Boston Medical Center and Boston University
Associations and certifications
- American Psychological Association (APA)
Services
Clinical Psychology Internship
Our APA-accredited doctoral internship program trains psychologists in culturally competent practice through 12-month placements at Boston Medical Center and community health centers. Interns receive weekly supervision and didactic training in trauma-informed care, cultural identity development, and evidence-based interventions for underserved populations. The program maintains a 10-year accreditation through 2031 with a proven track record of training diverse mental health professionals.
Psychological First Aid Training
We provide one-day PFA training programs for disaster behavioral health workers, covering trauma response techniques and culturally competent care for at-risk populations. Our advanced training focuses on specialized interventions for children, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities. Participants gain practical skills through classroom instruction and role-playing exercises that prepare them for real-world disaster scenarios across Massachusetts communities.
Trauma-Based Family Therapy
Our trauma-informed family therapy programs address youth violence and self-harm through culturally responsive interventions developed by leading experts like Dr. Kenneth Hardy. The training combines theoretical frameworks with practical applications for clinicians working with traumatized populations. We offer specialized workshops that examine the intersection of trauma, systemic oppression, and cultural identity in family dynamics.
Bereavement Support Services
We provide pandemic-related bereavement support through individual counseling, family sessions, and support groups for those who lost loved ones at Boston Medical Center. Our services include culturally sensitive grief processing, coping skill development, and community connection opportunities. The program addresses unique challenges of pandemic-related loss, including restricted visitation and modified mourning practices.
Multicultural Research Initiatives
Our Institute for Multicultural Practice and Research (IMPAR) conducts groundbreaking studies on culturally competent practices, disaster behavioral health, and psychiatric residency training evaluation. We provide research consultation services to organizations nationwide while maintaining active partnerships with community health centers and academic institutions to advance multicultural mental health knowledge and practice.
People
Dr. Shamaila Khan
Program Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor with expertise in trauma, multicultural clinical practice, and identity development. Director of CMMH and CMTP since 2020, with extensive experience in disaster behavioral health and psychological first aid training.
Dr. Tahirah Abdullah-Swain
Core Faculty
Associate Professor of Psychology at University of Massachusetts Boston and co-founder of Black Advocacy, Resistance, and Empowerment (BARE) for Mental Health. Specializes in racism's impact on mental health and culturally responsive care strategies for Black communities.
Dr. Olivia Moorehead-Slaughter
Core Faculty
Child clinical psychologist with 35+ years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Former Chair of Massachusetts Board of Licensure for Psychologists and recipient of multiple APA mentoring awards for her contributions to psychology training.
Dr. Nickki Pearce Dawes
Core Faculty
Clinical-community psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health and intergenerational trauma. Research focuses on community-level factors affecting mental health outcomes and culturally responsive care models for diverse populations.
Dr. Linda Piwowarczyk
Core Faculty
Board-certified psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience working with immigrant and refugee populations, including torture survivors. Co-founder of Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights and recipient of multiple human rights awards for her clinical excellence.
Questions
What psychology training programs do you offer?
We offer APA-accredited doctoral internship programs focusing on multicultural clinical practice since 1972, with specialized training in trauma, community mental health, and cultural competence.
Do you provide disaster behavioral health training?
Yes, we offer Psychological First Aid (PFA) training and advanced PFA courses for disaster response professionals working with diverse populations across Massachusetts.
What community mental health services are available?
We provide culturally competent mental health services through community health centers, trauma-based family therapy, and specialized programs addressing youth violence and self-harm.
Do you offer bereavement support services?
Yes, our Family Support Center provides pandemic-related bereavement support through individual counseling, family sessions, and support groups for those who lost loved ones at BMC.
What research initiatives are you involved in?
Our IMPAR division conducts research on culturally competent practices, disaster behavioral health, and psychiatric residency training evaluation with national and international impact.
How do you address cultural competence in training?
Our training integrates cultural identity development, trauma-informed care, and systemic oppression analysis through direct clinical practice, supervision, and didactic seminars.
