M6: Culturally Competent End of Life Care and Advanced Directives Planning

Only available as part of a package

End-of-life care is never culturally neutral. This training explores how cultural values, family systems, spirituality, and historical agency mistrust shape end-of-life experiences and decision-making for older adults. Participants will examine common ethical tensions between Western models of individual autonomy and family-centered approaches, and learn how to engage in advance care planning conversations with greater cultural humility and sensitivity. Through case examples and practical clinical language, clinicians will gain tools to reduce harm, navigate complex family dynamics, and support clients’ values without pathologizing difference. Emphasis is placed on respectful communication, ethical reflection, honoring religious beliefs, and relational approaches that build trust with aging clients and their families across diverse cultural backgrounds.

Joanna Nunez, MSW, LCAS, LCSW

Joanna Núñez, MSW, LCAS, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma-informed therapist with a private practice established in 2010. She holds a Certification in Palliative Care from Stanford University and brings extensive experience supporting individuals and families navigating serious illness, caregiving, grief, and complex life transitions, including ALS. Joanna’s experience working with Service Members and Veterans has broadened her understanding of trauma, loss, and resilience across diverse populations. Joanna has presented nationally and internationally on Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Moral Injury. Her book Finding Peace with PTSD was published in 2015 and 2026.