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Implicit Bias in Clinical Practice: Building Culturally Responsive Care

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Implicit Bias in Clinical Practice: Building Culturally Responsive Care

Implicit Bias

Mar. 13, 2027

10:00 AM - 1:15 PM (EST)

Virtual Event
3 CE Implicit Bias or 3 CE Cultural Competence Credits
Implicit bias influences every stage of clinical care—from assessment and diagnosis to treatment planning and therapeutic rapport. This interactive training helps clinicians recognize unconscious biases, understand their impact on mental health outcomes, and develop practical strategies for delivering culturally responsive, equitable care. Participants will leave with actionable tools to strengthen self-awareness, improve therapeutic relationships, and reduce bias in everyday clinical practice.

This continuing education training explores the role of implicit bias in psychotherapy and its influence on clinical decision-making, therapeutic relationships, and treatment outcomes. Participants will examine how unconscious biases develop, how they may appear throughout the therapeutic process, and how systemic inequities contribute to disparities in mental health care. Through research, self-reflection, and clinical case discussion, clinicians will develop practical strategies for recognizing implicit bias, increasing cultural humility, strengthening therapeutic relationships, and promoting equitable, anti-oppressive clinical practice across diverse client populations.

Session Highlights
  • Define implicit bias and explain its impact on clinical judgment and therapeutic relationships.
  • Examine how systemic inequities and cultural assumptions influence assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
  • Identify personal and professional biases through structured self-reflection and clinical examples.
  • Apply culturally responsive and anti-oppressive interventions that reduce bias in clinical practice.
  • Develop practical strategies for ongoing self-awareness, accountability, and equitable client care.
Key Takeaways for Clinicians

“Implicit Bias can influence how clinicians interpret symptoms, assess risk, communicate with clients, and make treatment decisions. Because Implicit Bias often operates outside conscious awareness, culturally responsive care requires ongoing self-reflection, consultation, behavior-based documentation, and curiosity about each client’s individual experience. Research from an NIH-hosted review and the CDC Health Equity Guiding Principles highlights the importance of recognizing how assumptions and systemic inequities may affect healthcare. Clinicians can strengthen culturally responsive practice by checking alternative explanations, avoiding stereotype-based conclusions, inviting client feedback, and examining whether Implicit Bias is influencing diagnosis, rapport, referrals, or treatment planning. Explore additional training through the Clinical Events calendar and therapist-focused resources in the Clinical Edge Blog“.

This live interactive webinar is designed for behavioral health professionals, including:

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychotherapists
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Substance Use Disorders Counselors
  • Case Managers
  • Physicians
  • Other Mental Health Professionals
Sara Vivens, MA, LCPC

Sara Vivens (she/her) is the cofounder and Executive Director of Ida Lillie Psychotherapy and Wellness and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development Psychology from DePaul University. Sara has extensive experience in treating mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and relational concerns, including couples therapy. In addition to her clinical work, she provides supervision, consultation, and organizational training, emphasizing culturally responsive and decolonized approaches to care. Sara regularly facilitates workshops for clinicians and organizations, equipping them with tools to recognize and address implicit bias and systemic inequities in clinical practice.

Richla Davis, M.Ed, LCPC

Richla Davis (she/her) is the cofounder of Ida Lillie Psychotherapy and Wellness and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from DePaul University. Richla specializes in supporting BIPOC professionals, racial trauma, and LGBTQIA+ communities through an anti-oppressive, decolonized framework. In addition to her clinical work, she trains individual clinicians and group practice leaders to integrate anti-racist and inclusive practices into their work. Richla has facilitated numerous workshops and trainings for mental health providers, with a focus on cultural humility, reproductive justice, and equitable care.

Other Events

Rapport Building: Laying the Foundation for Effective Treatment Through Relational Care

Feb. 27 | 3 CE Credits

After this training, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the role of implicit bias in clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic relationships.
  • Recognize personal, systemic, and organizational sources of implicit bias and their influence on mental health care.
  • Apply culturally responsive and anti-oppressive strategies that promote equitable, client-centered clinical practice.

10:00 -10:05 am – Introduction
10:05-10:30 am – Understanding implicit bias and its development
10:30-11:00 am – Bias within mental health systems and clinical decision-making
11:00-11:30 am – Clinical case examples and self-reflection activities
11:30-11:45 am – Break
11:45-12:15 pm – Cultural humility and anti-oppressive clinical practice
12:15-12:45 pm – Practical interventions for reducing bias in therapy
12:45-1:05 pm – Action planning and implementation strategies
1:05-1:15 pm – Q&A

All levels.

Registration Cost

Registration $67 | Mar. 13 | Virtual Event | 3 CE Implicit Bias or Cultural Competancy Credits | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm ET

Registration Deadline:  Mar. 13, 2027

Cancellation Policy

All registrations are non-refundable. However, you may request a full credit toward a future training if:

  • You notify us at least 72 hours before the event start time.
  • Credit is valid for up to 6 months from the original event date.
  • No credit will be issued for no-shows or cancellations made on the same day.
  • When you register for an event, you agree to these terms

Please email [email protected] to request a credit or reschedule.

A total of 3 CE credits are available.

Meets Implicit Bias and Cultural Competence CE requirements for licensed professionals in, but not limited to, MI, IL, MD, WA, OR, DC, NJ, NV, CT, and CA.

Additional Approvals Pending.


ASWB ACE

Clinical Events, LLC, (provider # 2201) is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2025 – 11/01/2028.

NBCC

Clinical Events, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved   Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7643 Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clinical Events, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NAADAC

This course has been approved by Clinical Events, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #320899, Clinical Events is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

NY State Board of Psychologists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0292.

NY State Board of Psychoanalysts

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0073.

NY State Board of Social Workers

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0828.

NY State Board of Mental Health Counselors

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0329.

NY State Board of Marriage & Family Therapists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0140.

NJ State Board of Social Workers & Professional Counselors

The New Jersey Social Work Examiners Board accepts ASWB ACE Provider credits. The New Jersey Professional Counselors Board accepts NBCC-approved CE provider credits.

All Other States Social Workers & Professional Counselors

All other states accept ASWB ACE Provider credits and NBCC-approved CE provider credits. Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Florida Certification Board

Clinical Events is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5527-A).

Canada Social Workers

BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC accept ASWB ACE-approved provider programs to meet licensure renewal requirements.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Canada Counsellors

Clinical Events is an NBCC-approved provider.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Please contact us if you would like to inquire about applicable approvals for your continuing education (CE) needs.

Each professional is responsible for understanding and meeting the specific CE requirements set by their individual licensing board or regulatory agency. We encourage you to reach out to your licensing body directly to confirm how our programs apply toward your licensure renewal.

Questions:  [email protected]

In accordance with continuing education standards and requirements, the presenters disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships, affiliations, or conflicts of interest to report.

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