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Workshop Descriptions

(in order of appearance)

 

Collaborative Book Project:

Proud Outtakes: Heartwarming Stories of Love and Connection in the Queer Community
Jeff Lutes, LPC, QTAP (he/him) and Emily Stone, PhD, LMFT-S (she/her)

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​Forces in our culture are working tirelessly to minimize our experiences and erase queer history. It's now more important than ever to share our stories with the world. Authors Jeff Lutes and Emily Stone are seeking true inspirational short stories taken from the personal experiences of queer people - singles, those in relationships, and parents. Similar to "Chicken Soup for the Soul” books, this compilation of short stories will focus on positive and uplifting narratives as told by those in the LGBTQ+ community and the diverse families and relationships we create. If you have a funny or heartwarming short story that might help a queer reader feel more hopeful and connected, then attend this workshop and learn:

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  • What research tells us about the importance of storytelling for well-being, self-agency, and social justice

  • The guidelines for having your story considered for publication in Proud Outtakes (as well as some sample stories)

  • How you can share this collaborative project with others around the country who may have a story to share with our readers

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Always a Bit Magical: LGBTQ + Therapists Learning LGBTQ + Centered Emotionally Focused Therapy

Caitlin Edwards, PhD, LMFT, LPC, NCC (they/them), & Jose Tapia, PhD, CRC, LPC, RPT, NCC (he/him)

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This workshop will report on the results of a qualitative study which explored the personal and professional impacts of LGBTQ + psychotherapists attending the first LGBTQ + centered Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Externship (EFCT) training. Through thematic analysis, this study found that facilitating an identity-based training fostered a safe and accepting environment where LGBTQ + therapists felt comfortable exploring aspects of their own identities and attachment strategies. This safety created a deeper understanding of EFCT which increased therapists’ confidence and preparedness to work with relationships using EFCT. Findings emphasize the importance of identity-centered trainings for fostering learning for LGBTQ + psychotherapists and help to focus recommendations for future identity-centered trainings. In this workshop, attendees will:

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  • Describe the learning benefits of attending an identity-centered training, including levels of engagement, participation, and integration of material

  • Discern how LGBTQ + identity interacts with attachment experiences and strategies

  • Describe the training needs voiced by LGBTQ + psychotherapists in the context of Emotionally Focused Therapy

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What Does Prostate Cancer Mean for a Queer Man?

Rod Muriano (he/him) and Rahim Thawer, MSW, QTAP (he/him)

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This session offers an intimate exploration of prostate cancer from the perspective of a queer man, blending personal storytelling with insights from the LGBTQ+ community. Presenter Rod Muriano shares his journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, highlighting the physical, emotional, and relational challenges faced along the way. The session also invites attendees to consider how prostate cancer impacts diverse identities, including gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex individuals. Drawing from his experience and the creation of Support Compass, Rod addresses gaps in healthcare systems that often overlook queer-specific needs. Attendees will gain practical strategies to support clients in navigating changes in intimacy, sexual health, and relationships after treatment. Mental health professionals will leave equipped to provide more inclusive and affirming care to queer clients facing cancer and other chronic illnesses. In this workshop, participants will:
 

  • Explore unique challenges prostate cancer presents for queer men, particularly around identity, grief, and sexual health, through the lens of personal and communal insights

  • Identify practical strategies to help queer clients articulate their needs, navigate often-overlooked areas in healthcare, and foster supportive dynamics with loved ones

  • Develop tools to guide clients in redefining intimacy, processing sexual health changes, and building resilience in the face of illness

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But the Bible Says: Deconstructing Religious Trauma and Reframing Biblical Lessons in Therapy

Sarah R. Boesger, MSW, LSW (she/her)

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Religious trauma is an epidemic in the queer community and as therapists we need language to address how religion affects clients' views of sex, morality and relationships. Through this discussion participants will learn new skills to deconstruct religious trauma with clients and offer a perspective on how religion affects clients in conscious and subconscious ways. Following this workshop, participants will:

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  • Gain understanding of Biblical passages that affect queer and trans clients

  • Obtain language to support queer and trans clients in deconstructing their religious trauma

  • Learn ways to confront their own religious beliefs that interfere with providing client centric care for queer clients

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The Experiences of Counselors

Joshua Gebhardt, PhD, LMFT (he/him)

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This presentation highlights research on counselors' experiences working with mixed-orientation couples (MOCs), where one partner identifies as heterosexual and the other as a different sexual orientation. Despite growing attention to LGBTQ+ populations, MOCs are often underrepresented in therapeutic settings. The study used a qualitative approach to explore how counselors navigate the complex dynamics of these relationships, including sexuality, shame, fear, and religious conflict. Key findings reveal that counselors commonly faced challenges in addressing sexuality, held varied attitudes toward MOCs, and identified essential clinical practices for working with these couples. This presentation will not only dive into the nuanced findings from the study but also explore how counselors can navigate the cultural scripts that influence mixed-orientation couples. Attendees will:

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  • Understand relational dynamics in MOCs and
    explore how sexuality, relationship structures, and cultural scripts influence the dynamics of mixed-orientation couples

  • Identify counseling challenges and biases and recognize common emotional barriers and learn how to manage biases when working with mixed-orientation couples

  • Develop practical counseling strategies and learn tailored interventions, including psychoeducation and fostering flexibility, to better support MOCs in therapy

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A Deep Dive into Ethical Non-Monogamy in the Black Community​

Uchenna L. Umeh MD, aka, Dr. Lulu (she/her) and Rev. Dr. Zaria Davis, MDiv, DSW

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This fire-side chat explores the complex dynamics of ethical non-monogamy (ENM) within the Black community, where cultural norms, systemic racism, and religious beliefs often create barriers to acceptance. Co-presented by a polyamorous Black woman, this conversation will highlight her personal journey and tackle common myths and misconceptions about polyamory. Using the interactive tool menti.com, we will engage the audience to share their perspectives and broaden the discussion. The session will explore definitions of polyamory, power dynamics, and the stigmas surrounding ENM. We will also examine the role of systemic racism, colonization, religion, and politics in shaping Black relationships today. By the end, our goal is to challenge existing narratives and normalize ethical non-monogamy as a valid form of love within the Black community. Attendees will:

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  • Understand the key concepts of ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and polyamory, particularly within the context of the Black community

  • Identify and dispel common myths and misconceptions about polyamory, and recognize the barriers created by cultural, religious, and systemic influences

  • Explore the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, systemic racism, and politics on Black relationships, and discuss ways to normalize ethical non-monogamy within Black communities and religious spaces

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They Don’t Care What You Know Until They Know You Care
Monet Hinton, LCSW-S (they/them)

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Monet is a queer, AFAB, masculine-presenting social worker, has extensive experience working with children and adolescents labeled as disruptive. They discovered that many young people with trauma histories exhibit disruptive behaviors as a result of seeking psychological safety to explore their identities. In this workshop, Monet will reflect on the importance of creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ youth and offer specific engagement strategies for therapists working with these populations. Drawing from their own experiences—such as supporting nonbinary students who improved academically after coming out—Monet will guide participants in reframing disruptive behaviors as expressions of unmet needs and provide practical tools for building trust and fostering identity exploration.

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  • Understand the role of psychological safety in transforming disruptive behaviors among youth with trauma histories

  • Explore strategies for engaging LGBTQ youth and supporting identity exploration in therapy

  • Learn practical techniques to build trust and reframe disruptive behaviors as signals of unmet emotional needs

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Grieving Queer: Queer and Trans Death, Dying and Grief in Clinical and Community Practice

Melissa Delizia, MSW, DSW (she/they)

This workshop highlights the need for inclusive, affirming care for transgender and queer individuals and families in the context of death, dying, and grief. LGBTQ+ populations face unique challenges, including systemic oppression, disenfranchised grief, and barriers to accessing culturally competent support. Traditional grief theories often fail to address the compounded losses experienced by marginalized groups, such as family rejection, societal stigma, and systemic erasure. Transgender individuals experience additional grief tied to identity erasure, exclusion of chosen families, and fears of detransitioning after death. This workshop equips helping professionals with tools to understand and support queer grief, emphasizing the community contexts of mourning within LGBTQ+ communities. Participants will explore emerging frameworks, such as Queer Terror Management Theory, to address anticipatory grief and promote inclusive practices. By fostering understanding and empowering clinicians to advocate for LGBTQ+ clients, this workshop aims to create affirming spaces that honor the complexities of grief and loss. After attending the workshop, participants will:

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  • Understand the unique grief experiences of transgender and queer individuals

  • Identify strategies for providing inclusive, affirming care for LGBTQ+ clients in end-of-life and grief contexts, including supporting chosen families and addressing anticipatory and other types of grief

  • Apply and understand frameworks, such as Queer Terror Management Theory, to enhance understanding of how existential fears related to identity influence grief and mourning in queer communities

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Getting Back In My Body & My Community: Healing with Trauma & The Dissociative Experiences
Rev. Karla Fleshman, LCSW, MDiv, TCYMII (she/her)

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The focus of this workshop is for persons well-versed in the living experiences of adult transgender persons (18+) who may have zero to little training on the prevalent coping methods of both adaptive and maladaptive dissociative experiences continuum used to survive repetitive trauma often originating in childhood and carried into adulthood. The workshop will open with a brief review of brain structure/polyvagal system, as well as attachment wounding and the experiences of “parts” as a framework for exploring that the dissociative experiences for transgender/gender expansive persons, which occurs on a spectrum with the more pronounced and defined “Parts” often missed or misdiagnosed. [Dissociative experiences are so much more than derealization and depersonalization] This workshop will also focus on assisting providers in supporting clients with moving away from shame-based narratives to help foster greater authenticity within the therapeutic relationship so that deeper healing with historical trauma may occur. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of:

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