Cultural Competence. A Panel Discussion to Move Us Forward Across Human Differences for Healing and Quality Care

Dr. Mark Standing Eagle Baez, the President-elect of the Society of Indian Psychologists and an associate professor at Bemidji State University, is a licensed psychologist with a small private practice. He holds a PhD in General Psychology and two Masters (Counseling and one in School Psychology). With over 16 years of experience in mental health and wellness and impactful research among Indigenous people across the lifespan, it has inspired significant change in the field of Indigenous mental health. He believes the Western approach is only one perspective on mental health services among Indigenous populations, and the importance of incorporating traditional Indigenous methods is crucial to address the mental health needs of marginalized Indigenous communities effectively. Thus, weaving in Traditional methodologies is vital in working with marginalized populations across Indian Country. He has developed a culturally responsive approach called the ‘Sweetgrass Method,’ which focuses on weaving the best evidence-based practices and the best Indigenous strength-based approaches for the clients served. Dr. Baez has advocated for cultural, strengths-based approaches to Indigenous people and hopes to change community-based approaches among AI/AN peoples by weaving culture, Traditional methods, and Western approaches to improve Indigenous well-being.

Dr. Mark Standing Eagle Baez, the President-elect of the Society of Indian Psychologists and an associate professor at Bemidji State University, is a licensed psychologist with a small private practice. He holds a PhD in General Psychology and two Masters (Counseling and one in School Psychology). With over 16 years of experience in mental health and wellness and impactful research among Indigenous people across the lifespan, it has inspired significant change in the field of Indigenous mental health. He believes the Western approach is only one perspective on mental health services among Indigenous populations, and the importance of incorporating traditional Indigenous methods is crucial to address the mental health needs of marginalized Indigenous communities effectively. Thus, weaving in Traditional methodologies is vital in working with marginalized populations across Indian Country. He has developed a culturally responsive approach called the ‘Sweetgrass Method,’ which focuses on weaving the best evidence-based practices and the best Indigenous strength-based approaches for the clients served. Dr. Baez has advocated for cultural, strengths-based approaches to Indigenous people and hopes to change community-based approaches among AI/AN peoples by weaving culture, Traditional methods, and Western approaches to improve Indigenous well-being.

Ovidio Bermudez, M.D. is the Senior Medical Advisor for Eating Recovery Center and affiliates.  He holds academic appointments as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and formerly at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.  He is Board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.  Dr. Bermudez is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the Academy for Eating Disorders, and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. He is Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Eating Disorders Association, Co-Founder of the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee and Co-founder of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association.   He is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and consultant by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals and serves on its Board of Directors.Dr Bermudez has lectured nationally and internationally on eating pathology across the lifespan, and other topics related to pediatric and adult healthcare. He has been repeatedly recognized for his dedication, advocacy, professional achievement and clinical excellence in the field of eating disorders, including Lifetime Achievements Awards from NEDA and IAEDP.

Sabrina Richardson, LMFT, CEDS

Sabrina Richardson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina Upstate and Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy from Converse College. Sabrina is the owner of Intrinsic Therapy, a private practice in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Helping individuals, couples, and families recover is the center of Sabrina’s work. Sabrina’s clinical concentration centers on veterans, active-duty service members, relational conflict, generational patterns, trauma, emotional disturbances, maladaptive coping, and binge eating disorder. As a therapist, Sabrina’s approach centers on thoughts and emotions that determine behaviors and impact choices made.

Sabrina is co-chair of the iaedp African American Eating Disorder Professionals and Black Indigenous People of Color (AAEDP-BIPOC) Committee and co-host of Culturally Competent Conversations, dialogues to increase quality care across human difference. Sabrina is pursuing certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor. Outside of therapy, Sabrina enjoys planting flowers, walks in nature, cooking, making specialty cocktails, estate sales, comedy clubs, festivals, and spending time with family and friends.