Mujeres in Action starts culturally responsive therapy services for domestic violence survivors | News [Video]

SPOKANE, Wash. – A new mental health program in Spokane hopes to address the shortage of bilingual mental health professionals in the area.

Mujeres in Action (M.I.A.) recently started its first mental health program, offering culturally responsive therapy services to Latin/Hispanic survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault and sexual assault. 

“We didn’t see that it was happening anywhere around us, right now. So we knew that it was needed, for Latin, a Spanish speaking community,” said MIA Executive Director Anna Trusty.

Domestic violence rates in Spokane are reported to be significantly higher than the statewide average. According to M.I.A., around 1 in 3 people in the Latin community are affected by domestic violence.

“There’s a lot of fear. There’s a lot of misconceptions. There’s a lot of education that needs to happen,” said M.I.A. executive director Anna Trusty. “I think this program will speak directly to our community.”

The …