ABOUT ME
Dr. Sonjia Williams is a graduate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology earning a Psy.D. degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She earned her B.A. degree in Psychology and French from the University of Minnesota and a M.A. degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. Dr. Williams has worked at several agencies as a Registered Psychological Assistant, providing psychotherapy to victims of crime of all ages, victims of domestic violence, Personal Injury, and Worker’s Compensation clients. Dr. Williams has experience facilitating DV Support Groups and has regularly presented on “Best Practices for Working with African American Victims of Domestic Violence” at 40-Hour Domestic Violence Certificate Training Courses since 2016.
Dr. Williams has comprehensive training with the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health in working with The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) population. She has extensive volunteer experience as a Mediator and Facilitator with both the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office; and with the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles, facilitating dialogue between law enforcement officers and the civilian community, and facilitating dialogue between law enforcement officers and youth participants in LA County Probation juvenile detention centers within the California Juvenile Justice System.
Dr. Williams is passionate about educating and training mental health providers on best practices for working with African American clients concerning trauma and abuse, their unique and complex attitude towards mental health, noteworthy considerations why they may hesitate to seek help, and effective approaches and interventions that contribute to success of treatment.
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER
WORKSHOP/TRAINING PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Williams has presented on “Best Practices Working with African American Clients of DV and Trauma” at various workshops, among which include:
16th Hawai'i International Summit: Preventing, Assessing & Treating Trauma Across the Lifespan, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu, HI (2019)
Casa de la Familia’s 40 Hour Domestic Violence Certificate Training (2016-2020):
LAPD Olympic Station, Los Angeles, CA 90006;
Crime Survivors Resource Center, Santa Ana, CA 92705;
LAPD Wilshire Division, Los Angeles, CA 90019;
Orange County Family Justice Center Training Room, Anaheim, CA 92805
Facilitator
Under the auspices of The Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles: Days of Dialogue -
Dr. Williams facilitated dialogue and Workshops on “Creating a Better Future: Youth and Law Enforcement” at various minimum-security juvenile detention centers within the California Juvenile Justice System, for youth who are detained under specific circumstances. Juvenile Detention Centers include:
Dorothy Kirby Center, LA County Probation Center
Camp Scott, LA County Probation Center
Camp Rocky, LA County Probation Center
Camp Paige/Camp Afflerbaugh, LA County Probation Center
Volunteer Mediator
Under the auspices of the LA City Attorney’s Office Dispute Resolution Program -
Dr. Williams mediated conflicts and non-criminal disputes of racial profiling and biased policing between civilians and police officers. Areas of conflict included:
Police searches of persons, vehicles & property;
Constitutional policing;
Traffic and pedestrian stop tactics; and
Communication & interpersonal skills
Dr. Williams mediated conflicts and non-criminal disputes between landlord/tenant, neighbor/neighbor; harassment disputes, employee/employer disputes, citizen/government agency disputes and intra-familial disputes.
Dr. Williams facilitated dialogue between LA’s Black and Latino communities at the African American and Latino Conference hosted by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Multi-Faith Clergy Council.
Military Experience
United States Air Force, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
United States Air Force Reserve, Van Nuys, CA