Beyond Borders: Best Practices in Psychological Assessment and Clinical Practice

Join Deondra Smith, Psy.D. for this 3-hour interactive workshop invites clinicians, evaluators, and trainees to rethink and expand their conceptualization of what it means to conduct truly cross-cultural psychological assessments. While “cross-cultural” is often narrowly associated with race, nationality, or ethnicity, this training broadens the frame to encompass a wide range of sociocultural variables including language, socioeconomic factors, neurodiversity, acculturation, immigration history, and more. Participants will review foundational theories of cross-cultural assessment, explore ethical obligations in test selection and adaptation, and examine how bias can emerge in commonly used intelligence, personality, and achievement measures.

Drawing from real-world international assessment experience—including work throughout the Caribbean and with educational and governmental entities—Dr. Smith will illuminate both the promise and the limitations of applying Western-developed assessment tools in diverse contexts. Through guided discussion, case vignettes, and hands-on activities aligned with APA’s multicultural assessment guidelines, attendees will learn practical strategies to evaluate test validity across…