Description

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

1. Learners will learn about the unique mental health needs and increased risk of trauma among immigrant communities and the importance of culturally responsive practices with immigrant communities.
2. Learners will learn about the benefits of utilizing body and movement-oriented interventions in the treatment of trauma and PTSD.
3. Learners will learn about the use of holistic healing practices among immigrant communities, and how these practices can be incorporated to decolonize trauma treatment.

Presenter Bio

Natalie Gutierrez is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker (LMSW) based in New York. Natalie received her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services and her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Old Westbury. Natalie is a current doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky’s Doctorate of Social Work Program with a focus in Administrative Leadership. Natalie currently works as a School Social Worker at a transfer high school in New York City, supporting students with social-emotional support, crisis support, and community resources. Additionally, Natalie is the founder of Release Wellness NYC, a 501c3 Non-Profit providing wellness resources, workshops, advocacy, and support to survivors of gender-based violence.

Natalie’s expertise and research centers on addressing trauma-informed treatment and the integration of trauma-informed practices in mental health treatment with immigrant and BIPOC communities. Through her capstone research, Natalie advocates for decolonizing social work practice in terms of trauma-informed care by offering a conceptual framework rooted in collective care, group healing, and holistic approaches to treat trauma amongst the immigrant community. The goal of this capstone research is to make trauma-informed treatment more accessible and culturally responsive to meet the unique needs of immigrant communities.

In 2024, Natalie was published in Latinx in Social Work Volume 3, a chapter book highlighting the accomplishments and stories of Latinx social workers. In this chapter, Natalie detailed her journey into social work and her passion for advocacy for trauma-informed care and treatment for survivors of gender-based violence.

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.