Creative Approaches to Therapy with LGBTQ Clients

All day workshop focused on developing sexual orientation and gender identity sensitivity in practice and combining clinical skill with creative interventions. 

This workshop is designed to give participants an increased awareness of the issues and needs particular to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) clients, as well as provide tools for accessing more creative methods of meeting therapeutic goals through the incorporation of drama and other creative arts modalities. Through a series of didactic and experiential group exercises emphasizing empathy, compassion and increased clinical insight, we will:

- Define basic LGBTQ terminology and better illuminate the many nuances and diverse presentations of gender and sexuality within society.

-  Explore sexuality and gender identity in context of it’s history with the mental health field.

- Review current information on stressors and needs specific to LGBTQ individuals, taking into account various factors such as age, culture, religion, environment, etc.

- Review theoretical models of sexual and gender identity development and how these models connect to everyday clients in our work.

- Outline 5 principles intrinsic to working with LGBTQ clients in providing safe and affirmative therapy.

- Experience, through demonstration, various creative arts techniques and exercises that serve both therapist and client in more creatively exploring and defining self-identity.

- Explore the relationship between the roles of clinician, advocate and activist.

Participants are welcome to bring and share case material within their own work that perhaps inspires or challenges them. Practical resources such as journal articles, books, online pamphlets and resource listings will also be provided and available for participants to review.

Facilitated by Mark Beauregard, RDT, LCAT - Drama Therapist and Tami Gatta, MA