What You will Learn

This presentation aims to shed light on a complex and often controversial topic that is frequently overlooked in clinical practice and the world. By creating space for critical dialogue and increased awareness, this presentation aims to examine the systemic barriers that impact clients' daily lived experiences. It will explore a range of structural and social barriers while highlighting key clinical implications for both current practice and future counseling work.

  • Participants will be identify the systemic and structural factors (e.g., racism, classism, housing insecurity, access to education, and healthcare disparities) that contribute to and perpetuate poverty.

  • Participants will understand the psychological and emotional impact of poverty on individuals, families, and communities — including chronic stress, trauma, and learned helplessness.

  • Participants will be able to examine the intersectionality of poverty with race, gender, disability, and other identities to better understand diverse client experiences.

  • Participants will be able to recognize barriers to accessing mental health care for low-income populations and identify strategies for advocacy and resource connection.

  • Participants will be able to review evidence-based interventions and counseling theories that are most effective and culturally responsive for clients experiencing poverty (e.g., empowerment theory, strengths-based approaches, community counseling models).

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Poverty Is Not a Diagnosis: Counseling Individuals Navigating Poverty and Systemic Inequity

    • Welcome to your CEU Webinar

    • Course Objectives

    • Course Review Survey

Instructor(s)

LPC, Doctoral Student

Lauryn Payne

Lauryn is a Chicago native and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Master's in Counseling program. She is a National Certified Counselor, holds her LPC, and specializes in working with adult clients with mild to moderate clinically complex emotional and mental health diagnoses. Lauryn offers a safe, non-judgmental space to explore thoughts and feelings. She is passionate about helping clients gain clarity and progress toward wholeness. Her inviting approach allows clients to feel accepted, supported, and heard. Specifically, Lauryn is especially skilled at helping with: Racial Identity and Justice as she removes barriers for minority clients to address cultural identity and trauma. Anxiety and Depression: Lauryn helps clients recognize when they’re having negative or anxious thoughts and provides tools to calm the mind. Her goal is to improve how clients think, feel, interact with people, and handle daily life. Trauma: Coping with the distress trauma brings is difficult, but healing is possible. Lauryn helps clients confront their traumatic experience head-on, cope with the effects, and begin moving forward in life. Individuals who work with Lauryn develop greater personal direction, engage in healthy personal practices, and go after what they want in life. In therapy, Lauryn takes an eclectic approach using a psychodynamic foundation. She treats each client as a whole and pulls from different modalities to create a custom treatment plan. Lauryn is committed to providing resources and bridging any gaps in minority mental health care. Lauryn works with adults and serves clients in Illinois.