Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Examine how the DSM-5 can unintentionally contribute to diagnostic harm when applied without adequate cultural, historical, and structural context.
2. Apply harm-reduction and culturally responsive strategies to clinical assessment in order to reduce misdiagnosis and support ethical, affirming care for Black women.

Presenter Bio

Cryssy Miller, MSW, LLMSW, is a clinical social worker and Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate with a concentration in interpersonal practice and mental health. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, her lived experience deeply informs her commitment to equity-centered, community-responsive mental health care. She is currently a social work fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine. During the first year of her fellowship, Cryssy provided clinical services in a perinatal mental health clinic, supporting individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In the second year of her fellowship, she provides substance use treatment at UMATS, working with individuals navigating substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns.

Prior to her clinical fellowship, Cryssy completed six years of service with AmeriCorps, working across community-based and educational settings with underserved populations. This experience strengthened her understanding of how structural barriers, systemic inequities, and access to care shape mental health and substance use outcomes.

Cryssy’s scholarly and clinical interests center on misogynoir, diagnostic equity, and culturally responsive mental health care for Black women. Her capstone project examines the use of the DSM-5 in clinical social work practice and applies a harm-reduction framework for clinicians aimed at reducing misdiagnosis and over-pathologizing. Grounded in Black feminist thought, intersectionality, and anti-oppressive practice, her work translates research into practical tools and education for clinical social workers.

Cryssy is committed to advancing clinical social work through practice-informed research, clinician education, and advocacy that center dignity, context, and justice in mental health and substance use care.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.