Beyond Competency: Building an Actively Inclusive Therapy Practice
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Instructor: Charla Yearwood, LCSW
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Level: Intermediate
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1.25 CE credits
This continuing education course challenges mental health professionals to move beyond surface-level cultural competency and commit to actively inclusive, anti-oppressive clinical work. Participants will explore the historical foundations of mental healthcare and how oppressive systems have shaped current practices. The course offers practical strategies to audit clinical documentation, expand referral networks, and evaluate personal and organizational policies through a justice-oriented lens. Attendees will leave with an actionable plan to build a more affirming and equitable therapy practice for marginalized communities.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze
the historical foundations of mental health and their ties to oppressive
systems.
- Identify
current barriers in mental health that perpetuate inequities in care.
- Apply
strategies to integrate anti-oppressive therapy models into clinical practice.
- Evaluate
community-based models combating inequities in mental healthcare.
- Develop
an action plan for making therapy actively inclusive and equitable.

Charla Cannon Yearwood, LCSW
Charla Cannon Yearwood, MSSW, LCSW (she/her) is an educator and social worker licensed in Indiana and Tennessee. As a strong advocate for equity in mental health, Charla specializes in trauma, racial justice, and identity exploration. Her work focuses on dismantling oppressive systems within mental healthcare and guiding clinicians toward inclusive, liberation-focused practices. Charla is known for engaging workshops that inspire reflection, accountability, and transformation in the therapeutic space.
