CURRENTLY:

Carmella Leipzig and Roman Shain have had an article published in the American Journal of Family Therapy, Volume 34, Number 3, May-June 2006.  The article addresses the need for therapists to consider the cultural backgrounds of their immigrant clients and be aware how the differences may effect their therapy approach.  Even though it exceeded the usual length, the editor thought the article too important to shorten and printed it in its entirety.

NEW DIRECTION  Carmella has encountered victims of human trafficking in her private practice. Because of the huge upheaval in the economic and social conditions resulting from the disintegration of the former U.S.S.R., the women and children there are particularly vulnerable to victimization by human traffickers. This has long been a problem in the Far East and is now growing rapidly in Russia and other former Soviet republics.
The governments of these countries are becoming aware and are making attempts to control the problem. Various world agencies and organizations and the lawmakers of the United States are working to eradicate it through legislation and raising awareness.
Improved care for women and children in crisis will help prevent them from becoming victims. A result of this evil that has not been addressed is the need of the victims for psychological support after they have been rescued.   U. S. citizens need to be aware and encourage their lawmakers to prevent trafficking. U. S. therapists need to understand how to treat rescued victims.  The countries and citizens of the former U.S.S.R. need to prevent trafficking through laws and increasing awareness. And, therapists in the former Soviet Republics must be aware how their intervention can prevent victimization and also how to help rescued victims return to normal life.  The professionals of ICI are working together to raise awareness in the United States (many victims are brought here and forced to work – often in sex-trade) and in Russia and former Soviet Republics. And ICI is developing a plan of treatment for victims of trafficking.

Roman Shain and Judy Ingoldsby made a presentation in October 2006 to the Association of Marriage and Family Therapists about treatment of Russian speaking immigrants and human trafficking issues.  The session was well received and followed by a lively Q & A session.  Carmella and Roman are now members of this organization and plan more lectures in the future. 

Carmella Leipzig was in Toronto, Canada in March 2007 to participate in some group therapy sessions and do some supervision with Tatiana Kleine, a former student of Carmella's from Russia, who now lives and works in Canada.  Carmella observed and participated in 2-day group therapy sessions with Russian immigrant clients.  Clients took part in psycho-drama and then reflected on their reactions, feelings and assessed what was accomplished.

Roman Shain recently joined the faculty of University of Phoenix and will lecture on counseling.  Roman also taught a CEU course on clinical safety planning to staff counselors of San Fernando Valley Community Health Center.  He may also adapt lecture for an article in American Journal of Family Counseling.

in July 2007 Carmella and Tatiana will travel to Barnaul, Altai, Siberia where they will lecture - working title is "Small Steps to Big Goals".  The lecture has been advertised in newspapers there and has generated a very good response so far.  They will have as many sessions as needed to accommodate the numbers.  Carmella will also travel to Perm to make contact with anti-human trafficking groups based there to find out how we can help, both in the USA and in former USSR countries.

Picture above: Carmella and Natasha at Stone Fountain in Moscow

Picture to right: Moscow tour train