Bringing cultural diversity to the field of Psychology is an ongoing struggle and is a cherished goal of Psychology Professor Fred Millán. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), half of Asian Americans don’t get treatment for mental health issues due to a language barrier. Research by the APA also reveals that only 2% of psychologists in American are Black. Yet, when American Psychological Association researchers focused exclusively on Psychologists under the age of 36, they found that 26% are minorities. The researchers interpreted this finding as evidence that the field is becoming more diverse. Old Westbury’s MS program in Mental Health Counseling, launched in 2010 by the Psychology department and the first graduate degree offered by the School of Arts and Sciences, deliberately contributes to that trend.
Distinguished Service Professor and Interim Chair (Spring 2021) of Psychology, Dr. Millán has been Director of the Mental Health Counseling graduate program since its inception. As a member of the New York State Board of Psychology, Millán became aware in 2005 that a new license in Mental Health Counseling was going to be established. Starting a graduate program in Mental Health Counseling at Old Westbury became one of Millán’s strongest passions. In addition to offering Old Westbury students the opportunity for graduate study, Millán knew that the program would help to bring diversity to the field. There are more master’s level mental health professionals than practitioners with doctoral degrees. Millán believes that much of the growth in diversity among mental health professionals will occur among those at the master’s level. He also notes that Old Westbury’s graduate program uses a holistic admissions approach. This, in turn, allows the program to recruit students with varied academic and personal backgrounds and experiences.
Millán, who has always sought a balance between clinical and academic work, loves teaching students how to conduct psychotherapy. He is pleased that the graduate program remains small so that students experience a strong sense of community. “We use a cohort model so students get to know one another and come to understand themselves,” he notes. “They learn what it’s like to be in the shoes of both the therapist and client. Our graduates are well-versed in working with diverse populations both because of the composition of our cohorts and the focus of our curriculum.” Since the COVID 19 pandemic began, the Mental Health Counseling program has seen an increase in applicants. “Many of our students are changing careers,” says Millán. “Some people lost their jobs, and others decided to reevaluate their career path and choose a new direction. The pandemic has caused many people to reexamine their goals.”
Becoming director of Old Westbury’s graduate program in Mental Health Counseling was just one recent milestone in Millán’s long professional journey. Millán was a doctoral student at Teachers College Columbia University when he learned that Old Westbury was hiring professors. “I hadn’t entertained teaching as a career path,” he recalls, “but one of my professors told me about Old Westbury and their search for faculty.” Millán began working at Old Westbury as a lecturer in 1990 and became a tenure-track professor once he completed his doctorate. The college has undergone a great deal of change since Millan started his teaching career. “Early in my career, there was less of a focus on admissions requirements,” he explains. “When the college started there were no grades, and the curriculum wasn’t as structured.” Millán has always been pleased with Old Westbury’s diversity and notes that rising admissions standards have not lessened diversity on campus. “You can still walk through the halls and see many kinds of people, all in the same space. That’s one of our strengths.”
Millán speaks positively about the way Old Westbury prepares its Psychology students to become culturally competent professionals. There is a strong component of diversity in the curriculum, with undergraduate students required to take at least one class that focuses on social justice in Psychology. According to Millán, “Students in the graduate program take several classes that help them understand their clients and themselves. Students learn to view themselves as intersectional individuals made up of many complex parts. It’s nearly impossible to study at Old Westbury and not reflect on race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.”
In addition to his work at Old Westbury, Millán has been a leading voice within the National Latinx Psychological Association (NPLA). In 2018-19, he served as the organization’s president. Millan was one of the members who initiated the change in name from “Latino/Latina” to “LatinX”. “There was concern among LGBQT students that the name did not represent them,” he recalls. “We got a majority vote among the membership to change the name.” Millan thinks of the organization as his professional home. He notes, “Being elected president was one of the highlights of my career. The organization stands for much of what I work for.” Millán particularly enjoys the NLPA annual conferences. Compared to American Psychological Association conferences, there is a more intimate, family-like atmosphere. Part of Millán work in the NLPA involves collaborating with similar organizations for Asian-American, Indigenous and Black Psychologists. Millán explains, “We work together and discuss the impact of institutionalized racism on our communities. We ask what it’s like to be a therapist working with a marginalized population.”
Latinx mental health professionals face particular challenges in the field. For example, they may have to conduct therapy sessions in more than one language. As the LGBTQ population becomes more visible, therapists need to be more sensitive to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. “Like every ethnic group, the Latinx community has its share of internal issues,” Millán notes. “A lighter-skinned Latinx person may have very different experiences than someone with darker skin. Similarly, how do the experiences of a gay or transgender Latin person differ from those who are straight and cisgender?” Millán believes that prejudice and the nation’s political climate are always of concern when working with a minority population. “For four years we had a presidential administration that put the Latinx community under such a spotlight. Currently, members of the Asian American community are being attacked just because of how they look. We are living through tumultuous times.”
Millán has clear ideas on how the field of Psychology can encourage more Latinx students to earn graduate degrees and become mental health professionals. “I’ve talked to students who have attended graduate programs in parts of the country that are less diverse. While they may receive funding, they often feel isolated and lack a support network. Schools must provide the support system and infrastructure to sustain students from underrepresented groups. Their presence must be validated and nurtured.” Millán notes that in the case of Latinx students, signage in Spanish can feel welcoming.
When Millán looks back on his time at Old Westbury, what he prizes most are the connections he’s formed with students. “I challenge students and push them to move the ball forward, but I also offer support. I’ve often talked to students about issues and challenges in their personal lives.” Millán always takes a holistic approach to his work with students. As he views it, “My work at Old Westbury goes well beyond the classroom.”
Written by Jon Kleinman