Mary N. Iskarous, Psy.D.

Dr. Mary Iskarous began mental health service in her home country of Egypt where she served as Program Director of the Drug Proofing Your Kids program in Cairo, Egypt. During her service, she witnessed the impact of stigma, prejudice, and isolation of those suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and sexual identity concerns. She felt compelled to seek additional education that would enable her to help preserve the dignity of these vulnerable populations as an advocate and mental health professional. Dr. Iskarous sought graduate education in the United States and graduated with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Regent University in 2013. In line with her passion for Arab populations, her graduate research explored the experiences of Arab Americans with same sex attraction and highlighted the challenges this group faces as they develop an integrated sexual and ethnic identity. Her interest in working with ethnic and sexual minorities has led to ongoing efforts to provide education to clinicians interested in working with Arabic speaking persons. Additionally, Dr. Iskarous has pursued opportunities to provide care for individuals with severe mental illness and those with comorbid disorders. She currently works at as a licensed clinical psychologist at an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Virginia, where she provides services as part of a recovery-oriented and trauma-informed treatment program.

Contact Dr. Iskarous directly at [email protected] if you would like to consult with her.

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This course satisfies your cultural diversity requirement.

The Arab/ Middle Eastern community constitutes a culturally rich and diverse ethnic group; however, in contrast to other ethnic groups in the United States,this group has received little attention in the literature.   This seminar will provide a brief description of Arab populations with regard to ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.  It will also explore the impact of actual and perceived experiences of discrimination and prejudice on Arab client mental health.  Finally, this seminar will present recommendations for culturally sensitive treatment interventions for clinicians who wish to work with this population.

session: 7737
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This course satisfies your cultural diversity requirement.

Treating Arab/Middle Eastern populations in the United States has recently become of interest within the field of clinical psychology because of increased immigration of these groups over the last decade.  Many Arabs have immigrated to benefit from financial and occupational opportunities; however, others have left their countries of origin in the pursuit of greater freedom and to flee from persecution.  Arab sexual minorities are among these groups.  This seminar will provide a brief description of Arab populations with regard to ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. It will also explore the experiences of Arabs with same-sex attractions and the impact of familial, cultural, and religious values on the expression of sexuality and identity. Finally,recommendations will be presented to assist clinicians who seek to increase cultural competence working with this unique population.

session: 7574