Supporting Queer Arab/SWANA Americans in Psychotherapy

 “Queer second-generation Arab/SWANA Americans are a rich, vibrant, and diverse community, yet, are marginalized within multiple contexts. Anti-Arab, anti-immigrant, and cisheteronormative structural norms and policies in the United States intersect with intense cultural and religious beliefs about the incompatibility of sexual and gender diversity and Arab/SWANA identity” (Alsamadi, 2025, p.1). Consequently, queer Arab/SWANA Americans may seek psychotherapy for support in managing stress related to intersectional oppression and disenfranchisement (Alsamadi, 2025; Chaney et al., 2020; Habhab, 2018; Ikizler & Szymanski, 2014; Khatib et al., 2023).

The unique needs of this population are rendered invisible in psychology training programs and continuing education programming. As such, this workshop will teach attendees (1) relevant cultural values within Arab/SWANA communities; (2) common themes in psychotherapy with queer second-generation Arab/SWANA Americans; and (3) how the Keeping Radical Healing in Mind (KRHM; Adames et al., 2023) therapeutic approach is relevant to queer second-generation Arab/SWANA Americans. The workshop will conclude with a collaborative case example where attendees will apply the KRHM therapeutic approach to a composite clinical case of a queer second-generation Arab/SWANA American client.