6 CEU Workshop
Most clinicians have a general knowledge of couples issues, LGBTQ+ issues, social justice considerations, and working with suicidal clients. When working within the LGBTQ+ community, however, these issues do not stand alone; they overlap and intersect. In order to offer truly affirmative therapy, we need more than just a general knowledge—we need to go deeper. We need to both examine the complex, intersectional, and diverse ways that our LGBTQ+ clients may be experiencing their world, and bring more critical consciousness to the ways that we offer help.
In this two-part presentation, we will do just that. First, we will dive into a critical examination of the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ folx may face in their relationship and explore our clinical role in attending to power, privilege, and accountability within them. Next, we will take a look at how these issues intersect with the increased rates of suicidality in this population and begin to examine how we can support these clients in a conscious, ethical, affirmative, and systemic way.
Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- More deeply understand the complexities of the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ folx may experience in their relationships
- Apply a critical, intersectional, social-justice lens to the struggles that LGBTQ+ people face
- Examine their clinical role in attending to power, privilege, and accountability in LGBTQ+ relationships
- Understand the risk factors that lead to higher rates of suicidality for LGBTQ+ populations
- Identify LGBTQ+ appropriate interventions for suicide prevention, individually and systemically
- Critically examine ethical considerations when working with suicidality in LGBTQ+ clients
Presenters:
Jeni Wahlig, Ph.D., LMFT
Dr. Jeni Wahlig is a transformational relationship coach, licensed couple & family therapist, AAMFT Approved supervisor, public speaker, and entrepreneur. She identifies as graysexual queer, genderqueer-femme, polyamorous, white, & a parent.
Jeni has dedicated her career to studying relationships & supporting the QT communities through service, education, writing, & advocacy. She is the clinical director, supervisor, and co-owner of a mental health group therapy practice that primarily serves queer, trans, CNM, & BIPOC clients. In her relationship coaching business, Jeni works alongside one of her partners to empower other queer/trans couples to own their shi(f)t so they can move beyond their repeating struggles and create extraordinary relationships.
Stephanie Mustopich, M.A., MHP, LMFT
Stephanie Mustopich is a licensed family therapist, a group practice owner and supervisor, She identifies as butch, queer, polyamorous, white, & a parent.
Stephanie has spent many years of her life in community mental health where she served families and kids. As a therapist she enjoys working most with queer and questioning teens and supporting them with the many transitions they experience as a queer and young person.
Stephanie also co-owns a group therapy practice where the focused population is serving folks who identify as part of a marginalized group including the LGBTQ+ Community.