Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Clients: Clinical Issues and Treatment Strategies

CPD

Handouts

Faculty

Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW Related seminars and products

Center for Relationship and Sexual Health

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Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW, is a board-certified sexologist and the founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health, and runs a private practice in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Kort, a therapist, coach and author, has been practicing psychotherapy for more than 38 years and has spoken internationally on the subject of gay counseling. He specializes in sex therapy, LGBTQ affirmative psychotherapy, sexually compulsive behaviors, and IMAGO relationship therapy designed for couples to enhance their relationship through improved communication. Dr. Kort is a blogger for the Huffington Post and Psychology Today on issues of sexuality. He has been a guest on the various television programs on mixed orientation marriages and “sexual addiction”. Dr. Kort is the author of several books, including, LGBTQ Clients in Therapy, 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Find Real Love, and Is My Husband Gay, Straight or Bisexual.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Joe Kort maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. He receives royalties as a published author, and he receives a speaking honorarium and book and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Joe Kort is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy, and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Objectives

1. Assess gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning clients for psychological trauma to assist in informing treatments interventions.
2. Determine the six distinct stages of the coming out process to provide optimal amount of support to the client.
3. Distinguish between mental health disorders that mimic the effects of the trauma from growing up LGBTQ.
4. Utilize specific clinical interventions and assessment tools to more effectively treat LGBTQ clients.
5. Employ adaptable clinical interventions to work more effectively with LGBTQ clients from different generations.
6. Evaluate the dynamics of same gendered couple, including vulnerabilities and strengths, when working with LGB couples in session.

Outline

Do No Harm: Make Your LGBTQ Client Feel Safe & Respected in Therapy

• Red-flag words: Offensive words you might use (without you knowing!)
• Intake session: questions about developing identity
• Strategies to establish rapport and comfort
• Tips for discussing sex and sexuality

Talk About Sex!

• Don’t miss out on key info by ignoring the sex talk
• Top or bottom? And other important questions to ask: flexible, changing sexual preferences and attractions
• Varieties of sexuality
• Protect the client from your own biases and assumptions

Coming Out

• Stigma and its impact on mental health from childhood to adulthood
• 6 distinct stages with interventions
• Navigate the 3 phases of coming out to avoid isolation and alienation
• Fear, shame and rejection unique to this population
• Relationship concerns: family, friends, school or workplace
• Finding a sense of belonging in LGBTQ community
• Harmful and dangerous effects of conversion therapy

LGBTQ Adolescence

• Coming out issues
• It gets better but not before coming out
• Bullying and other safety issues contributing to PTSD
• Harm reduction adult dating apps such as Grindr, Scruff, etc.
• Risk assessment for substance abuse
• Assess for suicidality
• Finding support

Gay Male

• Develop a treatment plan and goals for unique challenges growing up gay male
• Accurate assessment of alcohol use with this high risk population
• HIV & STI prevention strategies and risk and harm reduction
• Generational differences informing different treatment plans
• Internalized homophobia
• Learn specific sexual terminology to avoid alienating your client

Lesbian

• Develop a treatment plan and goals for unique challenges growing up lesbian
• Specific terminology that is helpful and damaging in this population
• Sex and sexuality: what to know, what to ask
• Strategies to manage gender dynamics
• Internalized homophobia manifests in development

Bisexuality

• Learn strategies to help the anxiety of bisexuals in dating and relationships
• Internalized biphobia and bisexual development from childhood into adulthood
• Compare and contrast male and female bisexuality

Transgender

• Overcome the knowledge barrier
• Avoid using outdated treatment plans
• Learn and differentiate correct terms such as gender queer, gender fluid and cisgender
• Strategies to help your client tell their partner, families, friends and employers
• Tips to discuss hormone treatments and surgical procedures
• Crucial points for transgender teens medically and psychologically and how to create best treatment plan

Questioning

• Avoid mislabeling a client and leading them down the wrong sexual identity path
• Differentiate between sexual fluidity from bisexuality, gay and lesbian identities
• Differentiate between sexual identity, sexual behaviour and sexual fantasies

Working with LGB Couples

• Dynamics of a same gendered couple including vulnerabilities and strengths
• Coming out discrepancy causing turbulence for couples
• Recognize and identify how internalized homophobia creates conflicts
• Open relationships in gay male couples
• Sexual issues and strategies on compatibility, incompatibility, frequency and satisfaction

Working with Mixed Orientation Couples and Relationships

• Specific stages of coming out as a mixed orientation couple
• Specialized treatment programs for the straight spouses
• Helping LGBTQ spouse integrate their identity into their mixed orientation relationships
• Learn how to identify which couples will succeed and which won’t

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists
• Case Managers
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Nurses
• Addiction Counselors
• Other Mental Health Professionals