LGBTQAI+ Affirming Counseling

(12-week class)
Date: Tuesdays, September 6 through November 29, 2022 (no class September 20)
Time: 1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Instructor: Douglas Aupperle, Ph.D., H.S.P.P.
Cost:  $350 ($300 per person for groups of 3 or more from the same agency or practice that register together – enter discount code: GROUP)
($175 for clinical students – enter discount code: STUDENT)
Format: Hybrid
CEU: 18 (certificates of attendance provided)

Registration deadline: August 31: Register click here

Note: Zoom link and course materials will be shared via email once you’ve registered for the class.

Description: This course is for clinicians, clinical students, & pastoral counselors who seek to better understand and assess the mental health treatment needs of child, adolescent & adult clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, agender, intersex, and/or with other gender-expansive & sexual minority identities (LGBTQAI+) and engage in more inclusive and effective therapy and counseling with them. It will help care providers better understand the critical concepts, current research, and key clinical issues with regard to these populations.

Objectives: Understand key clinical issues and the most  inclusive and effective assessment and counseling approaches with clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, agender, intersex, and/or with other gender-expansive and sexual minority identities (LGBTQAI+). Participants in this in-depth, twelve-week, 18-hour course will:

 
  1. Gain a better understanding of the research and evolving conceptualizations of gender identity, sexual orientation, and assigned sex to better ground their work with LGBTQAI+ populations.
  2. Increase their awareness and understanding of the key factors for inclusive, effective assessment and treatment with LGBTQAI+ populations, including children, adolescents, seniors/elders, couples, and those who are conflicted about their identities.
  3. Focus on the issues and needs specific to gender identity, including for clients who identify as transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender-nonconforming, and/or with other gender-expansive identities.
  4. Increase ability to provide spiritually-integrated therapy for LGBTQAI+ clients and address the spiritual violence and trauma they often experience.
  5. Learn to identify and begin to confront the common biases and assumptions that often limit understanding and effectiveness in this clinical work.
  6. Learn how to create a more welcoming and safe therapeutic environment for these client populations.

Participants will also learn how to address the unique challenges confronting LGBTQAI+ clients, including:

  • heterosexist and cisgender bias, homophobia/transphobia, and internalized homophobia/transphobia
  • impact of minority stress and trauma
  • impact of spiritual violence and trauma
  • the coming out process
  • unique aspects of clients navigating and creating intimate relationships & supportive communities for themselves
  • risks and challenges faced at different life stages (e.g., children, adolescents, seniors/elders)
  • the integrative process of identity development for sexual minority and gender-expansive people, its challenges, and resolutions.

Instructor Bio:

Douglas Aupperle, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist. He received his B.A. in psychology from Creighton University in Omaha, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical child psychology from DePaul University in Chicago. Dr. Aupperle provides psychotherapy and psychological assessment/testing to children and adolescents. He has special interests in the areas of anxiety, attention disorders, Bowen Family Systems therapy, child sexual abuse, E.M.D.R. (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), working with LGBT youth and parents, stress and coping in children, and trauma. He is a member of the EMDR International Association. His interests include spending time in nature hiking and doing photography, and enjoying live music performances, theater, art, and movies when back in civilization.