Uncovering What’s Invisible: Cultural Considerations in Therapy with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Clients

July 2026
CE Networking Event & Presentation
including Q&A

Friday, July 17, 2026
9:00am-11:00am

Online Via Zoom

2 CE Credits

Sponsored by

Uncovering What’s Invisible: Cultural Considerations in Therapy with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Clients

with Perla Hollow, M.A., LMFT and Susan Abdel-Haq, M.A., LMFT

This presentation offers a clinically grounded framework for understanding how cultural, historic, and sociopolitical factors shape the mental health experiences of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) clients. Drawing from clinical practice and lived experience, the presenters explore cultural values such as family centrality, honor, and collectivism, alongside systemic barriers including stigma, mistrust, and underrepresentation. Special attention is given to identity development, intergenerational conflict, trauma, and LGBTQ+ considerations within MENA contexts. Participants will gain practical tools for culturally responsive care, deepen their understanding of nuanced client presentations, and learn how to adapt therapeutic approaches to build trust and provide more effective culturally attuned treatment.

Educational Goals:

Attendees will gain a clinically grounded understanding of how cultural, historic, and sociopolitical factors shape the mental health experiences of MENA clients and how these factors influence engagement, trust, and treatment in therapy.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify key cultural values and how they impact clinical presentation and help-seeking behaviors among MENA clients.
2. Recognize common barriers to care and how these may show up in the therapy room.
3. Apply culturally responsive strategies to adapt therapeutic approaches when working with MENA clients, including addressing identity-related complexities (e.g. immigration, LGBTQ+ identity).

Perla Hollow, M.A., LMFT (she/her) is a Middle Eastern therapist in private practice in Manhattan Beach, CA, providing therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include utilizing CBT to address anxiety, depression, phobias, body-focused repetitive behaviors, and OCD. She also provides family therapy for families with challenges around child behavioral issues. Previously, she worked in community mental health at The Help Group Outpatient Services. She has also received training in CBT at the CBT Treatment Center in Manhattan Beach. Perla earned her B.A. in Psychology from USC and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She is a first-generation immigrant from Beirut, Lebanon who is passionate about psychotherapy as well as bridging the cultural gaps that exist in the field, especially for Middle Eastern therapists and clients. She is also excited about being the co-founder of the LA-CAMFT Therapists of Color Mentorship Program and co-founder and co-facilitator of the LA-CAMFT MENA Therapist Community Group.

Susan Abdel-Haq, M.A., LMFT (she/her/hers) is a second generation Palestinian and a licensed psychotherapist practicing in California. She graduated from Pepperdine University in 2015 and has worked across school-based, inpatient, outpatient, and substance use treatment settings. She is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting and specializes in relational trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, family-of-origin work, anxiety, substance use, and cultural identity exploration. Susan is passionate about holding space for people to work through the hard stuff and tap into their strengths. She is dedicated to creating culturally responsive spaces for clients and communities that have historically faced stigma around mental health. She has presented on cultural considerations when working with Arab and MENA clients in clinical and educational settings, including college campuses, community spaces, and corporate trainings on inclusion. She has also facilitated community groups supporting those impacted by the ongoing genocide in Palestine and currently serves as a co-facilitator of the LA-CAMFT MENA Therapist Community Group.

For more information, contact Course Organizer/CE Networking Chair Shiji Yuan.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, Students, & Related Professionals

When: Friday, July 17, 2026 from 9:00am-11:00am

            8:30-9:00: Check-In
            9:00: Meeting/Presentation Begins
            11:00: Meeting/Presentation & Related Announcements End
            11:00-11:30: Participant Announcements (optional)

If you are interested in expanding your professional networking, sign up for Participant Announcements when you register. This segment is from 11:00am-11:30am, and is an optional 1/2 hour after the presentation.

After the presentation we will provide you with a link to a simple online test and evaluation questionnaire. When the test questions and the evaluation are completed, you will be provided with an online CE Certificate that can be personalized with your name and license information and either printed or saved on your computer.

Where: Online Via Zoom (Your registration confirmation email will include the Zoom link and instructions for accessing the event. A reminder email will be sent prior to the event.)

Cost:

$25 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Members, CSCSW Members

$15 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Prelicensed Members

$35 for Non-Members

$20 for Prelicensed Non-Members

Cost (2 weeks before event for licensed members):

$30 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Members, CSCSW Members

$40 for Non-Members

*Registration closes Thursday, July 16 at 10:00pm.*

(To be sure you receive any information we send prior to the event, please add networkingchair@lacamft.org to your known contacts or safe list and check your bulk, junk or promotions mailboxes for any emails from us about this event.)

Register online today! We look forward to seeing you on Zoom.