Keynote Presentations

 

Beyond the Binary 

with Acey Mercer, LMSW

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Our conceptualizations of gender are heavily influenced by societal constructs and expectations. Binary categorizations such as man/woman, masculine/feminine have ultimately rendered many identities invisible. As the number of transgender and gender nonbinary people accessing mental health services increases, so too does the need for culturally competent and empathetic care.

 

Nonexistent or narrow scopes of practice perpetuate the stigmatization and health disparities of transgender populations. Given this area presents such a large gap in the knowledge base of professionals, this keynote presentation strives to not only stimulate awareness but to improve cultural competency for trans-affirming clinical care. Participants will be encouraged to self-reflect and challenge inherent assumptions that shape and perpetuate expectations surrounding sex and gender. Exploration of the components of gender identity will equip participants with language and knowledge necessary to expand their clinical practice beyond the binary.

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Primer on Sexuality 

with Sidney M. Trantham, PhD

 

Sexual orientation is more than just straight or gay. Increasingly individuals are defining their sexual identities in ways that challenge binary ways of thinking. The multiplicity of sexual identities can often lead some to experience confusion and anxiety because of lack of knowledge of the various sexual identities and terms. This workshop is designed to provide an overview of a variety of current sexual identities and terms.

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Recorded Workshops

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Supporting Families with Gender Diverse Youth 

with Acey Mercer, LMSW

 

Cultural competency, sensitivity training, and best practices are essential to understanding the complex mental health and development needs of transgender and nonbinary youth exploring their gender identity. This workshop will highlight that transgender emergence is a normative process of identity development and will challenge the view that gender variance is pathological. An overview of the issues impacting families of gender diverse youth with special attention to caregiver education and support and school-related advocacy will be explored. Resources and best practices for professionals working with families facing gender transition will be provided.

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Participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the unique developmental issues impacting the lives of gender diverse youth

2. Identify specific parenting practices and their influence on the mental health and resiliency of trans and nonbinary youth

3. Compile tools to advocate for and support both youth and their families through this tumultuous time

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Orienting to the Strengths and Challenges of Relational Therapy with LGBTQQIA +, Gender Non-Conforming, Kinky, Polyamorous, Swingers, and Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships and Identities 

with Joseph Winn, LICSW, CST-S

 

With greater frequency, clinicians are engaging relational systems that identify as LGBTQQIA +, gender non-conforming, kinky, polyamorous, swingers, and consensually non-monogamous. These identities can challenge unacknowledged heteronormative biases and world views, resulting in therapists, un-intentional, introducing iatrogenic injury into the therapy process, reinforcing oppressions that LGBTQQIA +, gender non-conforming, kinky, polyamorous, swingers, and consensually non-monogamous people struggle with daily. This 90-minute workshop will provide therapists with tools to working effectively with varied relationship dynamics, and identities, while also considering the strengths and advantages these systems and identities may offer to monogamous couples. Specific topics will include exploring clinician bias, exploring ones sexological world view, and theoretical stances most helpful to working with relationship styles and identities that challenge heteronormative constructs of relational, sexual and erotic practices and identities. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role relational contracting as a tool of differentiation and optimal relational functioning.

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Participants will be able to:

1. Identify clinical biases and sexological world-views that undermine systemic work with LGBTQQIA +, gender non-conforming, kinky, polyamorous, and consensually non-monogamous relational systems

2. Apply differentiation, intersectionality, and queer theory to challenge heteronormative constructs of health and pathology when working with LGBTQQIA +, gender non-conforming, kinky, polyamorous, and consensually non-monogamous relational systems

3. Identify relational contracting skills, a strength of ethical non-monogamous relationships, as a tool that can benefit all styles of interpersonal relational systems

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Workshop Descriptions with Handouts Only (Not Recorded)

*These workshops were not recorded to protect client confidentiality.

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Changing the Narrative: Paving the Way Towards Resilience for LBGTQ Identified Clients and Their Families 

with Sidney Trantham, PhD

 

LGBTQ+ individuals face a number of life challenges in a society that still privileges heterosexuality and a binary perspective on gender. While the challenges and hardships that LGBTQ+ individuals face can have negative impact on mental health and wellbeing, career development, and overall life satisfaction, too often the narrative presented to LGBTQ+ individuals is one in which their future is foreclosed as one in which they will be unhappy, disenfranchised, targeted for discrimination, and victims of violence. Specific information on positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth and examples of how to support LGBTQ+ youth and their families in moving towards a balanced approach to addressing challenges while supporting growth and development will be provided. A brief contextual presentation will be followed by a case presentation and discussion.

 

Participants will be able to:

1. Discuss a variety of sexual & gender identities

2. Identify unique life challenges for LGBTQ+ youth

3. Describe ways to promote growth, development & resilience of LGBTQ+ youth

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Therapist Discomfort and the Use of Self with Trans and Gender-Diverse Clients: A Workshop for Non-Trans Clinicians 

with Julie Mencher, LICSW

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While differences between therapist and client are inevitable, manageable, and often productive, the relationship between the cisgender therapist and trans client brings its own particular complexities. Within the politically-, socially-, and clinically-charged territory of the exciting new gender frontier, the cisgender therapist can experience inadequacy, confusion, frustration, disgust, and other uncomfortable feelings in working with gender-diverse clients. If left unexamined, the therapist’s discomfort could ultimately cheat the client of the therapist’s full use of self and skills. This workshop will seek to establish a safe, open climate for dialogue about the many challenges faced by non-trans clinicians in working with this population.  A didactic presentation will be followed by case conferencing, in which participants will be encouraged to bring their most difficult moments to the light of day, as we brainstorm together how to recognize, work through, and utilize our feelings of discomfort in the service of our clients.

 

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify negative feelings related to the gender identity and presentation of trans and gender-diverse clients

2. Determine how the gender identity development of the therapist enters into the use of self with trans and gender-diverse clients

3. Manage negative feelings in the therapeutic relationship in order to serve the needs of the trans or gender-diverse client

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Working with LBGTQ Relationships 50 Years Post Stonewall: Clinical and Cultural Considerations that Advance Positive Treatment Outcomes 

with Steffani Brandenburg, LCSW, LICSW, CST

 

Research has demonstrated that all couples, regardless of orientation, go through many similar developmental stages and challenges. However, to truly be effective in helping lesbian, gay, and sexual minority couples, it is imperative to utilize a historical, socio-cultural lens that challenges the dominant heteronormative societal assumptions (which the mental health profession is a part of) about relationships and sexuality. It is equally important to understand the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that result from homophobia and being a sexual minority, and how untreated Minority Stress might present itself within a relational context. This workshop will provide the practitioner assessment and intervention tools to improve clinical outcomes using a strength-based, attachment-oriented, and trauma-informed framework. Case examples and resources will be provided.

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Participants will be able to:

1. Define minority stress and identify at least two ways untreated minority stress can present itself clinically when working with lesbian, gay, and other sexual minority couples

2. Critique their own assumptions about what constitutes healthy relationships based on current research inclusive of LGBTQ+ relationships

3. Identify three strengths and three challenges experienced by many lesbian/gay couples

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Stonewall @ 50: Queering the Lens on Aging and Sex 

with Jane Fleishman, PhD, MS, MEd, CSE

 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, often described as the catalyst for the modern “gay rights” movement in the U.S. Delving into the history of Stonewall can remind us of the courageous, inventive, and inspiring paths that LGBTQIA+ people have taken toward their own and others’ liberation against a backdrop of fear. Queering the lens on sex and aging allows us to view aging sexuality from a transformed perspective and propel clinicians to create environments that are welcoming, affirming, inclusive, and liberating for all sexual and gender minorities. Most research on sexuality of older LGBTQIA+ adults focus on sexual dysfunction or high-risk sexual behaviors. New research on queer bodies as a political battleground on the front lines will be covered. Highly interactive with a focus on practical applications.

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Participants will be able to:

1. Define three recent research findings about older LGBTQIA+ adults in sexual relationships

2. Describe three challenges for treating, educating, or advocating for LGBTQIA+ adults

3. Discuss one application of the recent research to your own professional work