Maher Sonbol, PhD

I am currently the CEO/Founder of a mental health and corporate wellbeing services organization. I have proven experience working in clinical psychotherapy, couples counseling, individual therapy, dual diagnosis therapy, EAM programs within clinical group practice, and working for non-profit organizations. I also worked for corporate businesses in the Sales, Marketing, and Events management sectors. I hold a Doctoral degree in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy. I am a Certified EMDR Therapist, Anger Management Counselor, Prepare & Enrich Instructor for Marriage counseling, Certified Life Coach, and Certified Meeting Professional. Moreover, I am a professor of psychology and an international public speaker and author. I have been married for 25 years and a father of 2 adult amazing daughters and sons, living in a house adoring pets with 3 dogs and 2 cats.

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Acculturation Challenges in Relationships and Parenting
Saturday | May 3, 2025
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
(1.5 CEs)

Session Description

Acculturation issues in relationships and parenting happen when partners have diverse cultural origins or are adjusting to a new cultural setting. These problems can strain both the partnership and the parenting strategy since cultural differences impact everything from communication techniques to beliefs and expectations.

To overcome these problems, partners must participate in open conversation, actively listen to each other's opinions, and discover methods to integrate their cultural customs. Establishing a united parenting strategy that considers cultural origins might result in a more stable and harmonious family environment. Seeking help from multicultural counseling services or community groups may also be beneficial in negotiating the intricacies of acculturation in relationships and parenthood.

Learning Objectives:

• Conflict Scenarios Analysis: Learners will analyze and suggest solutions for at least two case studies in which cultural differences have resulted in conflict in relationships or parenthood. Assertive explanation of how acculturation challenges contributed to these conflicts. 
• Conflict Scenarios Analysis: Learners will analyze and suggest solutions for at least two case studies in which cultural differences have resulted in conflict in relationships or parenthood. Assertive explanation of how acculturation challenges contributed to these conflicts. 
• Communication Strategies: Learners will receive Two communication strategies (verbal communication strategies & nonverbal communication strategies that address acculturation-related misunderstandings in relationships or parenting, demonstrating an improvement. 
• Inclusive Parenting Plan: Participants will receive a culturally inclusive parenting plan that integrates elements from both parents' cultural origins, thereby the learners will learn how parents will be able to apply an inclusive parenting plan on the way they are discipling their kids based on: 1- Identify their parenting styles 2- Identifying their cultural values 3- Understand the current culture they are living in it.