Event recorded via Zoom on May 20, 2021.
Program offers 1.0 CEs for Psychologists and 1.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSW, and LMFTs.
Workshop Description:
Modern Rap music and its related Hip- Hop culture is one of the most popular and dynamic influences among youth in the United States as well as around the world. For example, Billboard magazine and other news outlets report that Rap music has become the most popular musical genre across all consumers in the United States since 2017, and similar reports suggest Rap music has become an extremely popular international phenomenon.
Although certain elements of Rap/Hip-Hop contain negative messages, the Hip-Hop H.E.A.L.S. (Helping Everyone Achieve Liberation and Success) program is an innovative model of trauma-informed violence prevention and intervention that employs strategically-selected songs, videos, and other popular media components from Rap/Hip-Hop culture to promote prosocial strategies. This webinar will highlight practical techniques and exemplars for employing Rap/Hip-Hop-related songs and videos to address COVID-19 and community violence among urban youth as a means of providing trauma-informed violence prevention programming that is relevant to current crises impacting mental health and wellness of these youth and their families, schools, and communities.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this introductory-level workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the basic components and themes in contemporary Rap music and Hip-Hop culture
2. Apply key themes from major genres of Rap music and Hip-Hop culture to prevention and intervention programs for urban youth
3. Demonstrate the linkages between COVID-19, community violence, and behavioral health disparities illustrated in Rap/Hip-Hop-related songs, videos, news, and media items.
Professional Bio of Presenter Jaleel Abdul-Adil, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago & Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Jaleel Abdul-Adil, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and part-time Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Abdul-Adil served in provider, supervisor, researcher, and consultant roles for over 30 years addressing urban youth violence prevention and intervention as well as other behavioral health conditions in Chicago and additional major metropolitan areas in the U.S. Dr. Abdul-Adil is also one of the originators for formally incorporating modern Rap music and Hip-Hop culture into traditional psychosocial services since the late 1980s. Dr. Abdul-Adil is currently the Co-Director of the Urban Youth Trauma Center and Chair Emeritus of the Community Violence Committee in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) that is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Program Standards and Goals
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.3: Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
Registration and Fees:
General Admission: $20.00
TCSPP Alumni Admission: $10.00
TCSPP Faculty and Staff: $10.00
Student Admission: $10.00
References:
Abdul-Adil, J. (2014). From voiceless to victorious: Street sounds and social skills for gang-involved urban youth. In B. Porfilio, D. Roy & L. Gardner (Eds.), See you at the Crossroads: Hip-Hop scholarship at the intersections – dialectical harmony, ethics, aesthetics, and panoply of voices (pp. 149-168). Boston, MA: Sense Publishers.
Abdul-Adil, J. (2014). Modern Rap Music: Mining the melodies for mental health resources. Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research & Practice, 9(2), 149-152.
Dang, S., Vigon, D. & Abdul-Adil, J. (2014). Exploring the healing powers of Hip-Hop: Increasing therapeutic efficacy, utilizing the Hip-Hop culture as an alternative platform for expression, connection. In B. Porfilio, D. Roy & L. Gardner (Eds.), See you at the Crossroads: Hip-Hop scholarship at the intersections – dialectical harmony, ethics, aesthetics, and panoply of voices (pp. 169-180). Boston, MA: Sense Publishers.
Travis Jr., R. (2016). The healing power of hip-hop. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
Walker, J.T. (2016). Rhymecology: Using Hip-Hop to heal: The therapists guide. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Continuing Education:
Target Audience: All mental health disciplines.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected] There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 1.0 hour of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Participation Certificate. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is able to provide students and other participants who simply wish to have documentation of their attendance at the program a participation certificate.
Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.