Training Catalog
This page maintains a collection of nationally offered trainings for professionals serving LGBTQ+ young people and their families across systems of care. Trainings are focused on various audiences such as behavioral health care professionals, child welfare professionals, crisis responders, juvenile justice professionals, administrators, school professionals, and medical providers.
There are also training focused on adults and older adults who identify as LGBTQ+. Though these selections are largely developed to present information on research, information on historical trauma, and content for behavioral health providers. Please read the descriptions carefully to determine if the content is right for your needs.
If you or your agency are interested in collaborating with us to develop customized training tailored to your jurisdiction’s policies, laws, practices, or the needs of specific populations, please complete a Technical Assistance (TA) request to get started.
Self-Paced Interactive Modules
Introduction to Serving LGBTQ+ People in Behavioral Health Settings
This 6-module course will equip behavioral health providers with information and practice tips to improve services for LGBTQ+ people in their care. This self-paced course provides information on terminology, general identity development, disparities among LGBTQ+ populations across the lifespan, and best practices for behavioral health providers.
This 60-minute module, created in partnership with Vibrant Emotional Health, will give learners basic information on the LGBTQ+ community and some of the challenges they experience which would warrant special consideration and support from 988 crisis counselors. This module will address terminology, disparities, mental health considerations, the coming out process, and how 988 crisis counselors can support people over call, chat, and text.
This 2-module e-learning series is on why and how to manage Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data in behavioral health settings. Module 1 will focus on why it is important to manage this data. Module 2 will provide a deeper dive into practical aspects of private data management.
This module will discuss the unique aspects of initial engagement with LGBTQ+ clients. Because of the historical and current challenges, under-resourced clients have experienced in society and by therapists, it is incumbent upon behavioral health clinicians to actively display a positive and affirming attitude to working with this population. Specific engagement strategies informed by this history of biased treatment and the need to overcome that history will be presented.
This module will discuss the unique aspects of initial engagement with LGBTQ+ clients. Because of the historical and current challenges, under-resourced clients have experienced in society and by therapists, it is incumbent upon behavioral health clinicians to actively display a positive and affirming attitude to working with this population. Specific engagement strategies informed by this history of biased treatment and the need to overcome that history will be presented.
Providing Clinical Care to LGBTQ People Engaged in the Commercial Sex Trade and or Experiencing Human Trafficking
This module will provide content on the intersection between individuals, the commercial sex trade, and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). Additionally, this module will explore the unique challenges faced by individuals impacted by these situations, the contributing factors, and the effect on their mental and physical well-being, including reproductive health. The module will also discuss the role of clinicians in providing effective support for people impacted by these issues.
Safely Providing Services in Anti-LGBTQ+ Climates
This module will provide information for safely providing services in anti-LGBTQ+ climates. Many providers worry that providing LGBTQ+ specific services in organizations, towns, or states that have demonstrated anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments would put their LGBTQ+ clients at risk. Though this is always possible in any organization or jurisdiction, there are some very important strategies that can increase safety while still reaching LGBTQ+ populations.
Safety Planning Around Unique Experiences for LGBTQ+ People
This module will provide information on safety planning with LGBTQ+ people. In this module, we use the term “safety planning” to mean helping your client develop a plan of action for safe disclosure to others.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth and their Families through Crisis Lines
This eLearning module will provide content on the unique and stressful circumstances that young LGBTQ+ people face, with an emphasis on the coming out process. This module also builds knowledge on the importance of family support to a young person’s wellbeing, and teaches strategies on how to support young people and their families in crisis.
Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Diversity in Children and Youth
This module will focus on the disparities that impact young people with diverse SOGIE. This module will cover evidence-based psychotherapeutic practices, including interventions based on minority stress, family-focused, and developmental perspectives. Harmful approaches are also recognized, including conversion therapy.
Free e-Learning on Serving LGBTQ+ Youth & Families in Child Welfare Setting
The National SOGIE Center and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation have partnered to launch a new interactive e-learning module on serving LGBTQ+ youth and families in child welfare settings. This training is modeled after the All Children, All Families training (below), which was evaluated through the National Quality Improvement Center on LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care grant and has shown promising evidence of its impact. The training covers foundational knowledge on serving the population, how to create affirming environments, best practices, and terminology. The National SOGIE Center and HRC have partnered to offer this training for free.
Search and Engagement for LGBTQ+ Youth
This, free, 45 minute self-paced e-learning will provide information on supporting LGBTQ+ young people through the family finding and engagement process. Young LGBTQ+ people face many unique stressors that could impact their mental wellness, life outcomes, and permanent connections to others. For example, disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity to family or new connections. Likewise, the adults in the young person’s life may need additional support to help understand and support the young person’s SOGIE.
This training will provide information on those unique circumstances and how to support the young person and their network in building lifelong supportive connections.
This e-learning is brought to you by the National SOGIE Center and from the National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care. This training was developed based on the Chosen Affirming Family Finding Model, developed by Kinnect.
Webinar Recordings
All recorded sessions are housed in the National SOGIE Center Learning Management System. Eligible sessions offer free continuing education credits (CECs), accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. To view a recording, please choose below from the CEC version or non-credit version, which provides a certificate of attendance.
The UConn School of Social Work is approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health to provide continuing education credits (CECs) for social workers. The School is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The University of Connecticut is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
Sign up for an account or log in to the Learning Management System to view session recordings.
Use the tabs below to browse by population/topic or scroll down to view all recordings.
Foundational Topics
Our 101 webinars are intended to help practitioners build foundational knowledge on the behavioral health needs of LGBTQ+ people. We strongly recommended that these webinars are viewed prior to viewing our advanced topic webinars.
As professionals providing care amidst anti-LGBTQ+ bias, racism, and other forms of discrimination, it’s crucial to develop self-care and stress management plans to safeguard our mental health and wellbeing. This webinar will provide strategies to combat feelings of fatigue, depression, anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness that may arise from repeated exposures to LGBTQ+ biases and attacks. Participants are encouraged to bring their own self-care tools and strategies to share. Remember, just because Pride Month is over doesn’t mean we have to stop thinking about self-care for LGBTQ+ folks and allies. Join us as we explore these topics and more, and remember, self-care is not selfish—it’s essential!
Presenters: Angela Weeks(she/her)
Gender Identity, Expression & Behavioral Health 101
This webinar provides foundational knowledge about gender identity and gender expression, and how to best provide services for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals across the lifespan. Participants will learn concepts relating to gender identity and expression, as well as the process of transitioning, and respectful terms. Important terms that will be defined include but are not limited to: transgender, cisgender, nonbinary, intersex, and pronouns. Social, legal, and medical types of transition will be reviewed, as well as potential interpersonal/familial and systemic barriers to transition. Risk factors and behavioral health disparities for adults and children in this community will be reviewed, as well as best practices service providers can use to create a respectful and welcoming environment.
Presenters: Ezra Halstead (they/them, he/him)
Sexual Orientation & Behavioral Health 101
This webinar enables behavioral health service providers to be more equipped to support, treat and advocate for people with diverse sexual orientations. Considering a general lack of LGBTQ+-affirming knowledge among healthcare providers, along with data and research which suggests LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, this webinar offers institutions the skills they need to minimize gaps. Participants will define sexual orientation and explore related terms and concepts in human sexuality, become more intimately aware of the unique experiences of people who have diverse sexual orientations, learn specific behavioral health disparities, including risk and protective factors for people of various sexual orientations, and gain a toolkit of best practices for applying this knowledge in the field.
Presenters: Jabari Lyles (he/him)
Understanding Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias
This webinar explores concepts around implicit and explicit bias that people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities experience. The session also connects these biases with other systems of oppression, such as sexism and racism. During the session, examples of biases, as well as strategies to manage and intervene when biases are witnessed or experienced, are shared. The content is relevant to all age groups.
Presenters: Angela Weeks (she/her)
ADVANCED CONTENT
Our advanced topic recordings offer a deeper dive into specific topics as well as the behavioral health needs of different populations.
A Framework for Clinical Practice with LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers
Over the years, increasing numbers of LGBTQ+ people have fled to the United States seeking protection based on persecution of their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, upon arrival in the United States they contend with a number of stressors, including challenges meeting basic needs, navigating the asylum process, and dealing with structural barriers (e.g., stigma and discrimination, lack of access to healthcare). To assist LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in settlement, a clinical practice framework for working with this population is presented. Integrating concepts from complex trauma, minority stress and intersectionality, acculturation and integration, and resilience, the framework is intended to help LGBTQ+ asylum seekers manage traumatic stress, handle the demands of the asylum process, and contend with stress related to their multiple marginalized identities.
Presenters: Edward Alessi (he/him) & Sarilee Kahn (she/her)
Advancing Black LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health: Contemporary Approaches to Understanding & Uprooting Intersectional Stigma to Promote Wellness
Accumulating research suggests that multiple, interlocking forms of stigma-related stress (e.g., racism, homophobia, transphobia) drive and maintain behavioral health disparities among Black LGBTQ individuals. Despite this knowledge, most research and clinical interventions related to stigma-related stress focus on one type of stigma (e.g., racism) in isolation from others (e.g., homophobia, transphobia). Intersectionality provides a framework to help researchers and clinicians better understand the multi-dimensional experiences of Black LGBTQ people, but the application of intersectionality to such empirical and clinical efforts remains in its infancy. To address this gap, this webinar includes emerging efforts to better understand and intervene upon links between intersectional stigma and aspects of behavioral health (e.g., mental health, HIV risk) among Black LGBTQ individuals.
Click here to download the accompanying infographic.
Presenters: Skyler Jackson (he/him)
Advancing Trans Health Equity through Supportive and Protective Environments: Recent Research on Family Support, K12 Experiences, Clinician Interactions, and State Policy
This session will addressed the importance of supportive and protective environments for building trans health equity. This session covered (1) recent research on support (or the lack thereof) and trans health in the domains of the family, education, healthcare, and state-level policy, (2) provided application of the reviewed research for policy and practice, and (3) discussed the need for multifaceted and multilevel interventions aimed at creating supportive and protective environments for advancing trans health equity.
Presenters: Dr. Gabe Miller (He/Him)
Caring for LGBTQ+ Older Adults Using a Behavioral Health Lens
Older LGBTQ+ adults’ lives can be rich and fulfilling as they age. This webinar explains the necessity of cultural humility as well as how to demonstrate gender affirming and culturally safe skills appropriate for working with LGBTQ+ older adults. This presentation concludes by exploring the many ways health care professionals can support their patients by learning evidence-based best practices, applying cultural humility frameworks, and using a trauma-informed lens.
Presenters: Cec Hardacker (she/her)
All About the I: Intersex Inclusion
This webinar provides an overview of issues impacting individuals with intersex variations across the lifespan and provides guidance for service providers on how to work with individuals and families as they navigate systems of care. Participants will learn key facts about intersex variations as well as the history of intersex health care in the United States. Important terms that will be defined include, but are not limited to: intersex, differences of sex development, endosex, and shared decision making. Physical health, behavioral health, and quality of life outcomes will be reviewed, and will include a discussion of best practices to support and center individuals with intersex variations in their care throughout the lifespan. Additionally, an exploration of advocacy, family and community needs and resources, and representation in pop culture will enrich participants’ understanding of these individuals’ experiences.
Presenters: Matthew Malouf (he/him) & Katharine Dalke (she/they)
Available Clinical Programs for LGBTQ+ Youth & their Families
Recent best practice guidance urges behavioral health agencies serving young people to offer LGBTQ+ relevant programing to address the dire disparities the population experiences. During this webinar, 5 newly developed programs and resources are presented for LGBTQ+ youth and their families which could help behavioral health providers meet the call for increased programing. This presentation includes program information for two direct clinical interventions for families, one group intervention for families, one group intervention for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, and one adapted family finding intervention focused on expanding networks of support for LGBTQ+ young people in foster care. The webinar also features several available resources for behavioral health providers to share with LGBTQ+ people and their families.
Presenters: Angela Weeks (she/her)
Creating Affirming Environments & Supporting Disclosure of SOGIE
This session provides guidance on what types of school policies and strategies can be implemented to help promote and build an affirming environment for LGBTQ+ young people. Attendees will also learn strategies for responding when a student discloses their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
Presenters: Angela Weeks (she/her)
Defining & Screening for Transphobia-driven Intimate Partner Violence
This webinar was aimed at practitioners and researchers interested in supporting transgender and gender expansive survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Newly published research examines subdomains of transphobia-driven IPV, a unique form of IPV that leverages systemic transphobia in the context of intimate and romantic relationships. In this webinar, the sub-domains were defined alongside quotes from survivors to ground these concepts in lived experiences. Further, participants learned about existing transphobia-driven IPV screening tools and which are best suited to capture all aspects of this phenomenon.
Presenters: Dr. Beth Maclin & Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier
Developmental & Clinical Implications of the Sexual Minority "Closet"
During this webinar, presenters discuss the distinction between the “closet” and the stigma of concealment. They introduce “The Development Model of the Closet,” discuss the eventual experiences of the closet, the stressors that take place after one has become aware of their sexual orientation, and the time-based context of disclosure. The session also presents implications for clinical practice among behavioral health providers.
Presenters: John Pachankis (he/him), Skyler Jackson (he/him), & Audrey Harkness (she/her)
Emerging from the Margins: Identifying the Behavioral Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Midlife & Older Adults
Increasing diversity is a defining feature of the dramatic aging of the world-wide population. Research demonstrates that midlife and older adults from marginalized populations are at elevated risk of health disparities, include behavioral health risks. The National Institutes of Health and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify the lack of research on sexual orientation as one of the most pronounced gaps in health disparities research. In this webinar, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will discuss findings from the first federally-funded and largest longitudinal study, Aging with Pride: The National Health, Aging and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS), addressing the health and well-being of midlife and older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) adults. Based on the Health Equity Promotion Model, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will examine behavioral health disparities in these populations as well as explore the interplay between risk and protective factors associated with mental health and substance use among LGBTQ+ midlife and older adults.
Presenters: Karen Fredriksen Goldsen (she/her)
Empowering Change: Action Planning for LGBTQ+ Student Mental Health
New studies have shown a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in schools over the past few years, more than quadrupling for those in areas where legislation has been enacted that targets the community. These developments have caused an alarming decline in mental health for many LGBTQ+ students and has left many school professionals unsure of how to best support them. In this webinar, we will discuss the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ efforts on student mental health, as well as new research and tools you can use for transforming your school environment. Using both a macro and micro lens, we’ll guide you through the process of creating an LGBTQ+ Support Action Plan for your school with strategies you can start implementing now to make a difference in improving the mental wellbeing of their LGBTQ+ students.
Evidence & Interventions to Support & Affirm LGBTQ+ Children & Adolescents
This session provides an overview of the new guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) entitled, Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQ+ Youth. This webinar will explore general influences, both positive and negative, on LGBTQ+ behavioral health, clarify SOGI change efforts and how they differ from SOGI exploration and affirmation, and discuss helpful interventions for LGBTQ+ children and youth in clinical settings.
Presenters: Judith Glassgold (she/her), Laura Kuper (they/them), & Scott Leibowitz (he/him)
Experiences of Transgender and Nonbinary Youth and their Families: Selected Findings from the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project
This webinar will present findings from the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project, an NIH-funded community-engaged longitudinal mixed methods study to understand how the family environment affects transgender and nonbinary youth’s mental health and wellbeing. Findings will be presented from the longitudinal component of the study as well as the development of a family-level intervention to support families with transgender and nonbinary youth. Clinical implications for supporting transgender and nonbinary youth and their families will be shared.
Presenters: Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD (she/her) & Eli Godwin, EdM, MPH (he/him)
Fostering Mental Well-Being and Empowerment in Sexual and Gender Diverse Young People: A Pilot Study of the Tuned In! Affirmative Mindfulness-Based Intervention
In an attempt to build the repertoire of empirically supported interventions for sexual and gender diverse young people (SGDY), an LGBTQ+ affirmative mindfulness-based group intervention (called Tuned In!) was collaboratively developed with and pilot-tested with SGDY. The study found high engagement, satisfaction, and significant improvements in mental health markers. Participants will learn about providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive support to SGDY and practical strategies from the Tuned In! study to enhance social support and self-advocacy in group work with SGDY.
Presenters: Gio Iacono(he/him) & Cindy Pan(she/her)
Friend or Foe: The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth & Implications for Practice
Social media and online engagement have complex but significant impacts on the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. Centering a trauma- informed and affirmative approach, this presentation will describe the benefits and challenges of these technologies on the mental health of these adolescents and early adults and highlights emerging research that centers the role of social media on the development of resilience. Specific strategies for the assessment and integration of social media use into practice will be offered.
Presenters: Dr. Shelley Craig (She/Her)
Gender Dysphoria in Adults: Moving Beyond Diagnosis & Toward Affirmative Practice
This webinar is aimed at practitioners interested in building knowledge to serve transgender and gender diverse clients. The first part of the webinar introduced Gender Dysphoria as the experience and as the DSM diagnosis with a focus on exploring both the benefits and limitations of the diagnostic criteria. There was discussion on emerging literature on the experiences of gender dysphoria among trans and gender diverse adults, as well as the different manifestations of dysphoric feelings over time and across clients. Furthermore, attendees learned about how gender dysphoria can negatively impact clients’ psychological, interpersonal, and occupational functioning. Clinical strategies for supporting clients with gender dysphoria were explored. Finally, the importance of gender affirming experiences was discussed. One of the co-presenters shared his lived experiences of gender dysphoria and gender affirming interventions with particular attention to the implications for clinical practice.
Presenters:Ashley Austin (she/her) & Ryan Papciak (he/him)
Health Disparities Among Black LGBTQ+ Populations: A Closer Look at Issues & Trends
Research shows that LGBTQ+ populations of all ages disproportionately experience disparities and poorer health outcomes compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These disparities are particularly salient among Black gay men. For example, according to CDC data, while HIV has declined among White gay men, it has increased significantly among Black gay men. In fact, 1 in 2 Black gay men will contract HIV within their lifetime. This statistic is startling and is an immediate call to action to help mitigate this trend. The goal of this webinar is to provide a closer look at the issues and trends that impact this population; including substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, stigma, race, and homophobia. This webinar will further explore evidence-based strategies that are effective in working with this population.
Presenters: Lawrence Bryant (he/him)
Hidden from Happiness: The Epidemic of Sexual Minority Depression & the Science of the Closet
All sexual minorities experience the closet – a period in which they recognize their sexual identity but have not disclosed it to significant others – and the majority of the world’s sexual minority population is likely closeted. This talk positions the closet as a central experience of sexual minority development that can exert a powerful and potentially lasting impact on mental health. The talk will present a developmental model of the closet’s influence on mental health, delineating the structural influences that shape one’s experience of the closet; the stressors that take place after one has become aware of their sexual orientation but has not yet disclosed it, which often takes place during the developmentally sensitive period of adolescence; and potential lifespan-persistent mental health effects of the closet, even among those who do ultimately come out. The talk will conclude with a discussion on implications for structural and clinical interventions.
Presenters: John Pachankis (he/him) & Chirstopher Bellonci (he/him)
Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual & Gender Minority Populations
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent in gender and sexual minority populations, including among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people. IPV is also associated with numerous mental and physical health problems in these populations. Despite this, few resources and treatments exist that are culturally appropriate for and specifically tailored to the needs of these groups. In this session, three expert panelists (Dr. Danielle Berke, Dr. Jillian Scheer, and Dr. Christopher Stults) will present on their respective programs of research related to IPV in LGBTQ+ populations, followed by a lively discussion and question/answer session with audience participants.
Presenters: Christopher Stults (he/him), Jillian R. Scheer (they/them), & Danielle S. Berke (she/her)
LGBTQ+ Youth & the Child Welfare System
This webinar maps current research on the needs, issues and structures facing LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system, as well as the possibilities and challenges for future research, improved care and evidence-based advocacy to ensure LGBTQ+ youth have the material and emotional care to survive and thrive in natal or new family settings. This work necessarily engages anti-racist and intersectional perspectives, as well as historical contextualization, across race, gender, sexuality, and poverty in understanding the child welfare system, its role and functioning, and its impacts, including the historical and present undue surveillance, control and separation of children and families – particularly Black families. Panelists will discuss inequities affecting LGBTQ+ youth within child welfare systems, key advocacy issues, barriers, and interventions for improving outcomes
Presenters: Jama Shelton (they/them), Jordan Blair Woods (she/her), Lisa Fortuna (she/her), Bianca Wilson (she/her)
Minority Stress & its Impacts on Mental Health
Empirical research has consistently demonstrated the negative mental health consequences of minority stress among LGBTQ+ populations; however, there is little understanding of how minority stress should be addressed in the actual clinical situation. This webinar discusses the impacts of minority stress on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people as well as treatment issues relating to LGBTQ+ mental health. LGBTQ+ affirmative and trauma-informed clinical practices are also shared.
Presenters: Edward Alessi (he/him)
Proud & Empowered: A School-Based Intervention for LGBTQ+ Youth Coping
After 10 years of research, Proud & Empowered has shown efficacy to support its use in school and community settings. The 10-week small group intervention uses a mix of didactic learning strategies to support LGBTQ+ youth as they navigate their family, peer, school and other community environments. This presentation will offer an overview of the intervention, and allow for Q&A.
Presenters: Jeremy T. Goldbach (he/him)
Providing Inclusive, Accessible Supports for LGBTQ+ Youth & Young Adults with Disabilities
Conversations around LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces are becoming increasingly critical when supporting neurodiverse populations and individuals with intellectual and emotional disabilities. Historically, the communities have been addressed separately with the assumption of little overlap or impact, yet a growing body of research demonstrates the need for LGBTQ+ inclusive practices that are accessible and affirming for individuals with disabilities. This webinar examines the intersections of gender, sexuality, and disability in school, clinical, and community based settings, and identify ways to make spaces and programs accessible and affirming for neurodiverse youth and young adults.
Presenters: Alyssa Fenix (she/her) & Finn Gratton (they/them)
Providing Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth in Schools
Youth spend most of their times in schools, and most youth who receive mental health services receive these services at school. LGBTQIA+ youth are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide than their cisgender and/or heterosexual peers. Thus, it is critical for school-based mental health providers to understand the impact of sexuality and gender identity on mental health and be equipped with the necessary tools to support these students. Participants in this webinar will learn more about the increased risk of mental health difficulties in LGBTQIA+ populations as well as their experiences of safety and discrimination in school. Participants will also learn how to use affirming evidence-based practices to treat LGTQIA+ youth with mental health difficulties, including how to create cope ahead plans for big moments like coming out to family members or friends.
Presenters: Mills Smith-Millman (they/them)
Providing Trauma-Informed Care for LGBTQ+ Children & Youth: Integrating FAP & TF-CBT
LGBTQ+ children and youth are at high risk for trauma that is both related to and unrelated to their identities. This webinar will discuss the integration of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the most widely used trauma treatment model for children and youth worldwide, and the Family Acceptance Project (FAP), the first research and family support model to reduce risk and promote well-being for LGBTQ+ children and youth.
Presenters: Caitlin Ryan (she/her) & Antonia Barba (she/her)
Safety Planning for LGBTQ+ Students
This session provides information on safety planning with LGBTQ+ youth. Safety planning is a protective measure that can be implemented with youth in situations that may lead to distress and crisis — from disclosing their identities to engaging in gender-segregated activities. This session covers: (1) assessment of available supports for LGBTQ+ youth; (2) anticipation of challenges LBGTQ+ youth may face in distressing situations; and (3) tools that can help youth cope through difficult times.
Presenters: Angela Weeks (she/her)
Substance Use Disorders, Sexual Health & the LGBTQ+ Community, Part 1: LGBTQ+ Affirmative Care
The interaction of substance use and sexual health within the LGBTQ+ community is complex. Segments of the LGBTQ+ community experience higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders (SUD) or engage in ChemSex behaviors, all of which can contribute to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections. Part one in a two-part series, this workshop discusses the reasons people use drugs and how that relates to the LGBQ+ experience. The presenter will also review LGBTQ+ health disparities and affirmative practices in SUD treatment, which lays the foundation for Part Two of this workshop on sexual health conversations.
Presenters: Michael Vigorito (he/him)
Substance Use Disorders, Sexual Health & the LGBTQ+ Community, Part 2: Facilitating Sexual Health Conversations
Providing affirmative care has been shown to improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ clients in mental health and substance use disorder treatment. An underappreciated component of affirmative care is facilitating conversations about sexual health that positively engages LGBTQ+ clients in the treatment process. Segments of the LGBTQ+ community experience higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders or engage in ChemSex behaviors, all of which can contribute to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections. Behavioral health providers have an ethic responsibility to facilitate sexual health conversations and address the connection between mental health, sexual health and substance use disorders. This interactive workshop is designed to improve treatment outcomes and client engagement by integrating sexual health into mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
Presenters: Michael Vigorito (he/him)
Suicide in Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Adults: Epidemiologic Trends & Strategies for Prevention
Suicide is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, with over 40,000 Americans ending their lives each year. After a brief discussion of data limitations on sexual and gender identity, this presentation provides an overview of the recent data on suicide rates and risk among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. It also discusses how risk of suicide among LGB adults differs by gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Following the discussion of epidemiologic trends, the presentation reviews evidence-based approaches for reducing suicide risk, ranging from public policies to clinical practices. It ends with a discussion on clinical and research priorities to strengthen suicide prevention for LGB adults.
Presenters: Rajeev Ramchand (he/him) & Lynsay Ayer (she/her)
Supporting Families of LGBTQ+ Students
This presentation provides helpful tips on working with families and other caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. Some families may struggle to understand their child or youth’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Some may fear rejection from their own communities or fear what the future may hold for their family. During this session, attendees will hear about the importance of family support, strategies for helping families process their feelings, and promising programs that are making strides towards creating evidence-based programs for families of LGBTQ+ youth.
Click here to download a tip sheet on supporting families.
Presenters: Angela Weeks (she/her)
Supporting LGBTQ+ Immigrants
This webinar will provide an overview of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ immigrant communities in the United States. Historically, the United States has been a beacon for immigrants. The untold narratives of LGBTQ+ immigrants are least known about. There are an estimated 904,000 LGBTQ+ immigrants in the United States, which means that more than one in ten LGBTQ adults are immigrants. Using an Indigenized framework this webinar will share knowledge to assist providers think through culturally responsive best practices when providing services to LGBTQ+ immigrants. This webinar will also share information on how to support LGBTQ+ immigrants in their own communities, as well as ways to address the barriers they face in accessing and receiving care.
Presenters: Dr. Carlos Pavão
The SBIRT Model: Assessing Alcohol & Substance Use among LGBTQ+ Populations
LGBTQ+ individuals are at heightened risk for alcohol and substance use across the lifespan as a result of myriad stressors which can result in a variety of health and mental health concerns. While the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model has been widely used among adults as a universal screening assessment for alcohol and/or substance use, there is a growing body of literature which examines its use among youth, older adults, and special populations (e.g., LGBTQ+). The SBIRT model includes a screening process to assess for risk of alcohol and/or substance use disorders via validated tools, followed by a brief intervention based on the tenets of motivational interviewing, which may or may not result in the need for a referral to care. This presentation will begin with some background on current statistics and trends related to alcohol and substance use among various segments of the LGBTQ+ community, followed by an introduction to SBIRT and each stage of the model, and conclude with a discussion about the impact of using universal screening tools and methods across a variety of practice settings.
Click here for the accompanying tool.
Presenters: Michael Dentato (he/him)
Translating Trauma-Informed Care Principles into Practice with LGBTQ+ Clients
Using SAMHSA’s guidelines for trauma-informed care (TIC), this 90-minute training describes how to apply TIC when working with LGBTQ+ populations. Research describing the prevalence and impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) will be summarized. Participants will learn about the effects of childhood trauma on psychosocial development and family functioning. Participants will be introduced to SAMHSA’s guiding principles of TIC. Mental health practitioners and social service professionals will learn to view client presenting problems through the lens of trauma, as well as practical skills to implement trauma-informed service delivery across a variety of roles when working with LGBTQ+ clients.
Click here to download the accompanying infographic.
Presenters: Jill Levenson (she/her) & Shelley Craig (she/her)
Trauma-Informed & LGBTQ+ Affirming Checklist: A Tool for Practice with LGBTQ+ Children, Youth, & Families
Mental health organizations and providers serving young people and their families must be proactive about creating LGBTQ+ affirming and trauma-informed spaces that acknowledge and validate all aspects of a youth’s identity including their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity and other aspects of their cultural identity to promote healing and healthy identity development. Providers must also find opportunities to engage parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth, and promote affirming caregiving practices that will support their child’s wellness and recovery.
This workshop will introduce a new tool, the Trauma-Informed & Affirming Checklist for Practice with LGBTQ+ Children, Youth, & Families, developed with diverse youth, family and provider input and designed to support practitioners and organizations who wish to enhance their practices and environments to increase safety, support and well-being for the LGBTQ+ youth and families they serve. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of resources and best practices and discuss ways they can make meaningful use of this tool and its recommendations in their organizations.
Presenters: Antonia Barba, LCSW (she/her) & Kalie Giovanni, LCSW, LCSW-C (she/her)
Trauma Responsive Interventions for Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals: Clinical Considerations for Affirmative Implementation of EMDR
Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience disparate rates of rejection, discrimination, marginalization, and interpersonal violence. Gender dysphoria coupled with barriers to gender affirmation serve as additional sources of suffering for many TNB individuals. As a result of these experiences, many TNB youth and adults can benefit from trauma responsive interventions. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly recommended trauma treatment with a host of empirical evidence supporting its efficacy for PTSD and related mental health needs. Effective application of EMDR with TNB clients requires that clinicians understand the unique sources of stress and trauma as well as pathways toward healing for TNB clients. This webinar will explore specific clinical considerations for effective and affirmative application of EMDR with TNB clients.
Presenters: Dr. Ashley Austin
Walking Between Worlds: Border Identity Stress & Resilience Among LGBTQ+ Populations Who Defy Dichotomies
Many global cultures rely on strict binary definitions of identity to categorize their population into distinct, dichotomized groups (e.g., gay vs. straight, man vs. woman, Black vs. White). However, these blunt binary categories do not reflect human diversity. Many social groups—including many sexual and gender minorities—identify in ways that do not fit into such rigid categories. For example, people identifying with a bi+ identity (e.g., bisexual, pansexual, sexually fluid) or a gender nonbinary identity (e.g., enby, genderqueer, Two Spirit) defy, blur, or transgress conventional binary classification.
Although mental health providers are increasingly trained to intervene upon anti-LGBTQ+ related stress, few clinicians are equipped to intervene upon the unique—and often hidden—identity-related challenges faced by individuals who defy binaries. Towards that goal, this webinar introduces a new and powerful cross-population framework—border identity stress and resilience theory—which highlights the theorized psychosocial challenges (and potential strengths) associated with holding an identity that defies binary categorization. Drawing upon existing (but previously isolated) scholarship on bi+, nonbinary, bicultural, and Multiracial individuals, the presentation explores how border identity stress and resilience theory can advance our understanding of the mental health of LGBTQ+ people—and all who break binaries. Clinical implications and applications are also discussed.
Presenters: Skyler Jackson (he/him)
Working with Rural LGBTQIA+ Clients: Considerations for Engagement, Assessment & Practice
During this webinar, clinicians received an overview of current research about rural queer experiences with specific attention given to how this information informs engagement, assessment, and practice.
Presenters: Dr. Veronica Timbers (She/Her)
All About the I: Panel Discussion on Intersex Intersectionality
This panel explores the concept of intersectionality within intersex populations. Through moderated and audience questions, our panelists speak to the experiences and needs of intersex individuals with diverse racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, and gender backgrounds and diverse roles within the intersex community (e.g. as a healthcare consumer, an advocate, an ally, and a healthcare provider). Intersections of privilege are also explored including ways to validate individuals’ unique experiences and to empower them to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others.
Presenters: Matthew Malouf (he/him), Katharine Dalke (she/they), Sean Saifa Wall (he/him), & Marissa Adams (she/her)
Disordered Eating Within Transgender Populations
Beginning with a discussion of gender dysphoria, this panel addresses impacts of unrealistic expectations in the media, relevance to transgender people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and difficulty finding a provider that understands the complex intersections of gender dysphoria and disordered eating. The panel concludes with implications for the field, including recommendations on how to identify and address disordered eating and gender dysphoria with clients, as well as practical resources.
Click here to download the accompanying infographic.
Presenters: Ashley Austin (she/her), Ryan Papciak (he/him), & Martha Fairbanks Perry (she/her)
Helping LGBTQ+ Clients Navigate Holidays & Family Gatherings
Holidays, weddings, funerals and other family gatherings can be challenging times for LGBTQ+ people. It is a time when they may traditionally get together and engage in family and religious rituals. For LGBTQ+ folk whose families are not affirming, it may mean making a choice between being with their family of origin, being with a family of choice (friends and loved ones), or being alone. This Ask Our Experts session features an interactive panel discussion about some of these challenges and will debut the launch of a newly developed tool to help clients plan for a safe, happy and successful visit with their family.
The Holiday Checklist for LGBTQ+ People
Things to Consider When Your LGBTQ+ Clients Plan to Attend Family Gatherings
Presenters: Christopher Bellonci (he/him), Ashley Austin (she/her), & Angela Weeks (she/her)
Invisible Majority: Panel Discussion on Supporting Mental Health of Bi+ Individuals
This panel provides an opportunity for participants to learn about unique experiences of bi+ individuals. Through moderated and audience questions, panelists will discuss health disparities exacerbated by monosexism and bi+ erasure, as well as how age, race, and gender intersect with bi+ identities. Panelists will share first-person perspectives of navigating mental health care as bi+ individuals, what helps, what harms, and what providers need to know. Panelists will share resources and best practices for supporting bi+ individuals, as well as examples of bi visibility across multiple settings.
CEC VERSION
NON-CREDIT VERSION
Click here to download the accompanying resource list.
Presenters: Angélique “Angel” Gravely (she/her), Megan Crofford-Hotz (she/they), Malik Muhammed (he/him), & Terri Clark (she/her)
