Psychology Workshop Series

Session 1: The Role of Culture in Anxiety and Depression

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

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.

📖 Session 1 Highlights

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.

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

Session 2: The Role of Culture in Anxiety and Depression

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

Our workshop, Migration Stress and Coping Strategies, explored how the process of moving to a new country impacts emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.

Led by Dr. Salumeh Safayi, this session examined the challenges migrants commonly face — from employment difficulties to language barriers and offered practical tools to support healthy adaptation and emotional resilience.

📖 Session 2 Highlights

Understanding Migration Challenges
Psychological and Physical Impacts
Effective Coping Strategies
When to Seek Professional Help
Personal Growth Through Migration

🌍 This workshop welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds, creating a supportive space to openly discuss the realities of migration. Closed caption translation was available to ensure accessibility for attendees of all language levels.

✨ The session emphasized that while migration brings real stress, it also offers opportunities for self-discovery and personal transformation. With understanding, support, and healthy strategies, migrants can navigate challenges while building a meaningful new chapter in their lives.

📅 Event Date: November 22, 2025
📍 Location: Online Session

Session 3: Combating Immigrant Isolation

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

In this session, Combating Immigrant Isolation, we focused on one of the most common yet often unspoken challenges of migration: the experience of social isolation and loss of belonging.

Led by Dr. Salumeh Safayi, the session explored why immigrants are particularly vulnerable to isolation, from the sudden collapse of familiar support systems to the emotional pressure of adapting to a new social and cultural environment. Special attention was given to immigrant self-criticism and how internal expectations can deepen feelings of loneliness.

📖 Session 3 Highlights

Understanding why isolation is common after immigration
The loss of previous social and emotional networks
External pressures from adapting to a new environment
Internal barriers such as self-criticism and comparison
Differences between real and superficial social networks
Characteristics of healthy, supportive relationships
The importance of recurring spaces and warm introductions

A central part of this session was the participant discussion, where attendees openly shared their own experiences of isolation after immigration. These exchanges created a supportive space for reflection, validation, and learning from one another’s journeys.

🌍 This session welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds. Closed caption translation was enabled to ensure accessibility and inclusive participation.

✨ The workshop emphasized that isolation is not a personal failure, but a shared experience — and that connection can be intentionally rebuilt through small, consistent, and meaningful steps.

📅 Event Date: December 06, 2025
📍 Location: Online Session

Session 4: Maintaining Emptional Balance During Difficult Times

House of Friendship is proud to present the fourth session of our Mental Health Workshop series, sponsored by Wake County. This session focused on mental health, coping with crises, and maintaining emotional balance during challenging times.

We begin by honoring those affected by the recent crisis in Iran, offering condolences to families and communities impacted, and expressing hope for peace, safety, and healing.

Session Highlights:

Led by Dr. Hassan Mohammad Tehrani, PhD in Counseling, licensed by the Iranian Psychology and Counseling Organization, and founder of Radin Counseling Center, this session covered:

📖 Session 4 Highlights

Defining mental health and emotional stability
Understanding the CBT cycle and the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Recognizing and addressing cognitive errors such as Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)
Exploring collective trauma and its effects on communities
Applying the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique for present-moment awareness
Practicing slow, intentional breathing for physiological regulation
Managing information consumption to reduce stress
Coping with moral injury and survivor’s guilt during crises
Choosing meaning and nurturing human connections in difficult times

🌍 This session welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds. Closed caption translation was enabled to ensure accessibility and inclusive participation.

📅 Event Date: January 31, 2026
📍 Location: Online Session

Session 5: Navigating the U.S. HealthCare System

House of Friendship proudly presented the fifth session of our Psychology Workshop Series, focusing on understanding how mental health services operate within the United States healthcare system.

Sponsored by Wake County, this session provided a practical guide to accessing mental health services, navigating health insurance, identifying culturally competent providers, and understanding individual rights as an immigrant in the United States.

The workshop was led by Grace He, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in culturally sensitive care for Asian, immigrant, and refugee communities. Drawing from her professional experience, she offered clear guidance to help participants better understand how to seek support and advocate for themselves and their families within the healthcare system.

📖 Session 5 Highlights

How to access mental health services in the United States
Understanding health insurance and coverage options
Finding culturally competent mental health providers
Knowing your rights within the healthcare system
Supporting emotional wellness in immigrant and multicultural communities

🌍 This session welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds. Closed caption translation was enabled to ensure accessibility and inclusive participation.

📅 Event Date: Feb 14, 2026
📍 Location: Online Session

Session 6: Youth Mental Health

House of Friendship proudly presented the sixth session of our Psychology Workshop Series, focusing on Youth Mental Health and practical access to care.

This session provided clear and structured guidance for families and young individuals seeking to better understand the mental health system in the United States. Participants learned how to navigate available services, interpret insurance coverage, and identify culturally competent providers who understand diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

The workshop was led by Dr. Hassan Mohammad (Farhad) Tehrani, a member of the American Psychological Association, who shared professional insights and answered participants’ questions.

📖 Session 6 Highlights

How to access mental health services in the United States
Understanding health insurance and coverage options
Finding culturally competent mental health providers
Knowing your legal rights as an individual
Supporting youth mental well-being

🌍 This session welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds. Closed caption translation was enabled to ensure accessibility and inclusive participation.

📅 Event Date: Feb 28, 2026
📍 Location: Online Session

Session 7: Youth Mental Health

The seventh session of our Psychology Workshop Series, focused on Women’s Mental Health and Cultural Expectations in the United States.

This session explored how cultural norms, societal pressures, and expectations can shape women’s mental health experiences. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the challenges women may face when balancing identity, family roles, and community expectations, especially within diverse cultural contexts.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of culturally aware mental health care and encouraged open conversations around stigma, emotional well-being, and access to supportive resources.

The session was led by Dr. Hassan Mohammad (Farhad) Tehrani, a member of the American Psychological Association, who shared professional insights and engaged with participants through discussion and Q&A.

📖 Session 7 Highlights

Understanding cultural influences on women’s mental health
Recognizing the impact of societal expectations and gender roles
Addressing stigma surrounding mental health in different communities

🌍 This session welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds. Closed caption translation was enabled to ensure accessibility and inclusive participation.

📅 Event Date: March 14, 2026
📍 Location: Online Session