Faculty: Mari Carmen Bennasar, PsyD

Mari Carmen Bennasar picture

Mari Carmen Bennasar, PsyD

Associate Professor, Counseling and Behavioral Health Department

Director, Lucero Latino Mental Health Program

Email
mari_​bennasar@williamjames.edu
Phone
617-327-6777 x1421
Location
Work Space 314M
 
Degree Major/Emphasis Institution
Post-doctoral training in Behavioral Medicine Harvard Medical School
PsyD Clinical Psychology Nova Southeastern University
MS Psychology Universidad Pedro Henriquez Ureña
BA Psychology Universidad Pedro Henriquez Ureña

Courses

  • The Hispanic/Latino Experience (Introduction Latino Culture)
  • LMH Summer Seminar (Preparation for Ecuador Immersion)
  • LMH Summer Immersion
  • Theories of Counseling and psychotherapy
  • Diversity, Difference, and Inclusion
  • Clinical Skills and Practicum I
  • Practicum II
  • Consultation, Collaboration and Community Partnerships
  • Psychological Assessment for Counselors

Research and Practice Interests

  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Latino mental health
  • Disparities
  • Disaster mental health
  • Children and adults with issues of complex trauma, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse
  • Psychological assessment
  • Teaching, mentoring and supervising

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • Licensed Psychologist and Certified Health Services Provider (Massachusetts)
  • Registrant, National Register of Health Service Psychologists

Publications and Presentations

  • September 30, 2021. Diversity and Inclusion Training for mental health providers. Atrius Health, Massachusetts.
  • March 2021. Disaster Behavioral Health Response: Psychological First Aid during COVID-19 outbreak. Campus Engagement Series. William James College.
  • November 2020. So, you want to be an ally? Let's take oppression as our own. Campus Engagement Series. William James College.
  • September 2020. Understanding our biases; celebrating our differences: An introduction to diversity and inclusion in education. Reset, Rejuvenate, Retool, and Reenter, a Virtual two-day training for Burlington Public School system.
  • July 2020. Instagram conversation: Manejando el estrés durante COVID 19 (managing stress during COVID 19). Hosted by Universidad ECOTEC, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • June 2020. Máster Class "Individualidad frente a la diversidad cultural, y su impacto en la psicoterapia. Criterios y des patologización según las características únicas de la personalidad"(The impact of cultural Diversity in psychotherapy). ECOTEC University. Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • July 2019. Salud Mental post desastres: Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos (PAP). Workshop for psychologists volunteers at Firefighters Department. Cuerpo de Bomberos, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • August 2018. Psicologia en Emergencias y Desastres. Primeras Jornadas de Psicología ‘Avances, Retos, e Innovaciones para las Demandas de Atención en la Sociedad Actual’ First Psychology Conference at the Instituto de Neurociencias. Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • February 2018. Roundtable: May I touch my clients? The question of touch as a clinical benefit vs. a boundary violation. Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey, Inaugural Conference. Rutherford, New Jersey.
  • October 2017. Santana, L., St.Louis, G. and Bennasar, M.C. The Effects of Acculturative Family Distancing on the Psychological Well- Being and Academic Achievement of Latinos in Higher Education. Poster. Annual Conference of the New England Psychological Association (NEPA), Newton, MA.
  • October 2017. Contreras, P. M., Bennasar, M. C., Napoli, M., and Fass, T. L Immersion curricula and cultural intelligence: A study on instruction beyond the classroom. Annual Conference of the New England Psychological Association (NEPA), Newton, MA.
  • July 2017. Bennasar, M.C. and Ecker, B. Integrando la Atención Psicológica en Servicios de Salud (Integrating Psychological and Primay Care Services). Jornada Académica del Instituto de Neurociencias. Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • March 2017. Cultural Competence on Campus: A Conversation. Impact of race, ethnicity on mental health. NECCUM PEP (Northeast Consortium of Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts Prevention Educator Professionals), Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill Campus, MA.
  • September 2016. Counselor Education Beyond the Classroom: Do Immersion Experiences Enhance Cultural Intelligence?. NARACES Regional Conference. Syracuse, New York.
  • January 2016. The role of mentoring in attracting doctoral students to work with underserved populations: Promoting the personal and professional development of Latino/a bilingual psychotherapies. “Creating Mentorship Pipelines”, The National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology. Atlanta, Georgia, 2016 Midwinter conference.
  • April 2015. WJC respondiendo a las necesidades de la comunidad: Educación, practica, investigación, y colaboración. Keynote speaker. Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca Mexico.
  • October 2014. Biennial conference of the National Latino/a Psychological Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico:
  • Promoting the Personal and Professional Development of Latina/o Bilingual Psychotherapists: Trainee and Faculty Perspectives, Bennasar, Mari Carmen and Teran, Vincenzo.
  • Meeting Latinas/os’ Individual and Communal Mental Health Needs through Clinical Training Programs. Bennasar, M., Gallardo, M. and Zuniga, R.
  • August 2014. Specialties Proficiencies and Affordable Care Act: Ethical and Professional Policy Issues and Developments. American Psychological Association, annual conference. Washington, DC.
  • April 2014. Challenges and Opportunities: identifying and intervening with student behavioral issues. Main presenter: Ecker, B. Panel: Bennasar, M., Silva A and St Louis G. Roxbury Community College, Roxbury, MA.
  • November 2013. Understanding unique needs of Latino Families. Adolescent Consultation Services, Middlesex Juvenile Court System. Cambridge, MA.
  • August 2013. Affordable Care Act and implications in Training, Practice and Accreditation. American Psychological Association, annual conference. Oahu, Hawaii.
  • May 2013. Exploring ways to integrate culture in the psychological treatment of Latinos. Lindeman Lecture Series. Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP), Newton, MA.
  • Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities
  • Private practice–clinical work with children, adult, and families
  • Director, Latino mental health program

Prior Experience

  • Associate Director of Field Education for Clinical PsyD program at WJC (4 years)
  • Associate Director of the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology, Boston University Medical School (15 years)
  • Edward Kennedy Community Health Center, Clinician/ Psychologist and Director of the Social Services department (5 years)

Professional Affiliations

  • National Latinx Psychological Association
  • American Counseling Association
  • North Atlantic Regional Association for Counselor Education and Supervision