Description
This continuing education session focuses on equipping mental health professionals with the tools and insights necessary to support LGBTQ+ individuals as they navigate the journey of coming out. From understanding the unique stressors and limitations faced by individuals during this process to exploring effective therapeutic approaches, this talk provides practical strategies for clinicians to foster a safe and affirming environment for their clients and clients families.
Objectives
Understanding the LGBTQ+ Coming Out Experience: Gain insight into the diverse experiences, challenges, and emotional complexities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals when coming out, including societal pressures, family dynamics, and internalized homophobia/transphobia.
Cultivating Therapeutic Allyship: Explore techniques for building trust, empathy, and rapport with LGBTQ+ clients within the therapeutic setting, fostering a space where individuals and families feel validated, supported, and empowered to explore their identities.
Tailoring Therapeutic Approaches: Learn about culturally competent therapeutic modalities and interventions specifically designed to address the unique needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ individuals during the coming out process, including identity affirmation, coping strategies for discrimination, and navigating interpersonal relationships.
More about Lindsey
Lindsey Reed is the Clinical Director of the Eating Recovery Center in North Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M Commerce with a Bachelors in Psychology and then obtained a Masters in Science of Social Work from University of Texas at Arlington. Lindsey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has experience in several different settings such as Disability Services within the college system, psychiatric inpatient hospital, nonprofit organization that provided both eating disorder treatment and education to the community. Lindsey is EMDR trained and is passionate at providing trauma informed care and assisting families in supporting their loved ones in healing from trauma and eating disorders. She has facilitated EMDR with some patients, trained staff, and given several presentations on this topic. She is also passionate about working with the LGBTQIA community and substance use disorders. Lindsey began at ERC Dallas in 2015 as a Milieu Coordinator, moved to Primary Therapist in 2017, and Clinical Manager in 2019. She is excited to move into this new role as she is invested in continuing to help newer clinicians grow, work with interdisciplinary teams, and consider patient care from a systemic lens. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her wife, three children, and dog.