Psychology Workshop Series

Welcome to the first session of our Psychology Workshop Series, organized by House of Friendship and sponsored by Wake County.

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Our psychology workshop, The Role of Culture in Anxiety and Depression, explored how our emotions and mental well-being are deeply influenced by the cultures we live in.

Led by Dr. Salumeh Safayi, the session shed light on how cultural values shape the way we experience, express, and manage anxiety and depression.

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📖 Session 1 Highlights 

Why the Shahnameh still matters today and what its timeless lessons can teach us

• The Role of Culture in Anxiety and Depression: how societal values influence our understanding of emotions.

• The Culture of Shame and Anxiety: how emotional suppression and fear of judgment can manifest as physical distress.

• Cultural Tools in Managing Anxiety: exploring the therapeutic effects of music, poetry, rituals, and storytelling.

🌍 This session welcomed both Iranian and non-Iranian participants. To make the workshop more inclusive, we enabled closed captioning translation, ensuring that everyone could fully engage with the material regardless of language.

​✨ The workshop emphasized how collective rituals, storytelling, and cultural practices can restore meaning, connection, and emotional balance - reminding us that healing is not only individual but also social and cultural.

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📅 Event Date: November 8, 2025
📍 Location: Online Session 

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