Workshop & Poster Descriptions

(subject to change)

 

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ETHICS PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE

Ethically Committing to Ourselves and Our Clients: Considerations for Navigating Contemporary Legislation

Zander Keig, LCSW and Erin MacDonald, LCSW-S

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As mental health clinicians who serve the LGBTQ+ community, we must navigate an evolving legal and ethical landscape that impacts both our professional responsibilities and at times, our own personal well-being. This training will explore 2025 policy changes, anticipated shifts under the Trump administration, and their implications for LGBTQ+ health care, including mental health services. We will examine ethical obligations related to client care, professional competency, and self-care, grounding our discussion in professional ethics. The session will include small group discussions, allowing participants to strategize responses to current challenges while fostering peer support. By the end of this training, attendees will be equipped with practical tools to ethically navigate policy changes, maintain affirming care, and uphold ethical commitments to themselves, their clients, and the profession. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

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• Assess the ethical responsibilities of LGBTQ+ mental health professionals in providing affirming, competent care

• Examine the intersection of duty to clients, professional ethics, and self-care in navigating systemic challenges.

• Develop strategies for advocacy, resilience, and maintaining ethical practice in restrictive policy environments.

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SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS

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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, BDes, BSIS, MSc, (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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The Experiences of Counselors Working with Mixed-Orientation Couples: Gay/Bi Men Married to Straight Women

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-C (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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• The long term impact of early developmental trauma upon unsupported transgender/gender expansive youth in adulthood

• How the Dissociative Experiences (adaptive and maladaptive) are so prevalent within the Transgender/Gender Expansive Community; and why this matters

• Attachment wounds/reducing shame narratives, and the role of the therapist in healing trauma

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POSTER SESSIONS (During catered lunch)

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Consensual Non-Monogamy in the Workplace
Travis Bennett (he/him)

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This study investigates barriers faced by individuals in consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships within the workplace, focusing on how these challenges affect their professional experiences, advancement opportunities, and identity management. By examining workplace culture, policies, and colleague support, the research aims to identify the impact of stigmatization on performance, engagement, and job satisfaction among CNM individuals. This study draws on social comparison and categorization theories to highlight the unique workplace experiences of CNM individuals, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities, where CNM is more prevalent. Semi-structured interviews with participants will explore disclosure decisions, perceptions of inclusivity, and the effects of being outed. Findings are intended to inform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, aiming to foster more inclusive work environments and provide insights for HR practices to reduce stigma and support diverse relationship structures in the workplace.

This poster revews:

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• Workplace stigmatization of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) can harm CNM employees’ job performance, satisfaction, and engagement, especially when facing discrimination

• CNM individuals often manage complex identity disclosures, balancing potential risks of being outed against workplace inclusivity concerns

• Findings highlight the need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that recognize and support diverse relationship structures, promoting a more inclusive workplace culture and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of relationship orientation

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Media Interventions for Homonegativity and Queer Allyship in Professional Advocacy
Joshua Martin, Student, Monmouth University (he/him)

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This poster explores how short form media interventions, specifically queer performance and queer education, can inform advocacy efforts to reduce homonegativity and foster LGBTQ+ allyship. Findings from an experimental study with undergraduate participants revealed no significant differences between conditions but highlighted gender-specific patterns, with women showing greater allyship and lower homonegativity than men. These results suggest that exposure alone is insufficient—active engagement with queer communities and ideas is critical for driving meaningful change. This research offers strategies for leveraging media as a starting point for advocacy, including fostering dialogue, participating in LGBTQ+ events, and promoting reflective practices. By moving beyond visibility to sustained engagement, professionals can champion inclusivity and allyship in their communities. This poster reviews:

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• Exposure to queer culture and history through brief media exposure is insufficient; active engagement with communities is essential for fostering allyship and reducing homonegativity

• Gender-specific patterns in homonegativity and allyship highlight the need for tailored advocacy strategies

• The Modern Homonegativity Scale and LGBTQ+ allyship scales may benefit from removing neutral response options; patterns emerged in the data that suggest participant response bias was at play

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Co-constructing Meaning: Pathways to Parenthood and The Stories Lesbian Partners Create
Emily Stone, PhD, LMFT-S (she/her)

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There are different paths to parenthood for lesbian couples including adoption, blended families, and IVF. This workshop will review some of these pathways as well as address the challenges each journey brings to the stability and well-being of the couple relationship. Additionally, the workshop will address the importance to the vitality of the couple relationship how the couple constructs meaning together and what stories each partner creates about their journey. The role of the therapist in this process will be emphasized. This seminar will include a didactic PowerPoint presentation, a case study, and time for dialogue. This poster reviews:

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• Various pathways to parenthood within lesbian families

• The challenges inherent to each pathway to parenthood for lesbian partners

• The therapist’s role in assisting partners in co-creating a story that supports the vitality of the relationship​

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS​

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Keynote Address

Recognizing Wholeness: Creating Sustainable Interdependent Relationships for a New World

Bianca Laureano, PhD, MA, CSE, CSES

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Now is the time for us to focus on how to strategically use our power, find one another, and build intentional relationships as reminders none of us are broken, we all have needs, and we need each other! The careworkers in our societies play an important role in supporting emergent and established networks of interdependence. Those same careworkers require sustainable and accessible options for maintaining their own networks and relationships. A collaborative Black Disability Justice framework offers a powerful guide towards collective liberation as we prepare for what’s to come. In this presentation participants will be invited to identify strategies to incorporate into their practice that are lessons from Black led Disability Justice movements. By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:

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• Explain a Disability Justice framework

• Identify two strategies to incorporate into their practice established in disability justice movements and communities

 

Sex Therapy 101

Rahim Thawer, MSW, QTAP (he/him)

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Low desire, fear of non-arousal, physical frustration, experience of pain, and performance anxiety. These are some of the most common challenges people encounter in their sexual relationships. Therapists sometimes fumble around offering specialized support in the realm of sexual “dysfunction” and shame prevents many people from seeking support to speaking openly with their partners. This workshop seeks to democratize sex therapy and make some of the basic concepts and tools accessible for a larger audience. Participants will engage in group work to discuss in-depth case scenarios, explore common behavioral interventions, and reflect on personal successes and challenges they’ve experienced. Participants will:

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• Gain a comprehensive understanding of common sexual challenges such as low desire, performance anxiety, physical discomfort, and fear of non-arousal

• Explore and practice basic behavioral interventions commonly used in sex therapy, and how to apply these tools effectively in their own lives or professional practice to support individuals experiencing sexual difficulties

• Develop strategies to overcome shame and communicate openly about sexual challenges

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Supporting Donor-Conceived Children and Families: Best Practices
Jamie L. Goodwin, PhD (she/her) and Anna Gaglianone (she/her)

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This presentation will review personal, family, and clinical issues relevant to donor-conceived children, those raising them, and those treating them. Queer individuals are more likely to utilize doner gametes when having children, and with this comes a necessity of understanding what donor-conceived status means to and for the children who are created with this process. Historical and contemporary beliefs and practices related to donor conception will be discussed, as well factors relating to psychological adjustment of donor children, ethical disclosure, and the importance of genetic identity. Best practices will be reviewed for families considering donor conception, communicating with their donor-conceived children about their conception, and supporting those who experience challenges relating to their genetic identity. The need for specialized knowledge for clinicians working with donor-conceived children in various stages of development and process will be discussed, as well as factors of consideration in helping those with misattributed parental experience (“MPEs”). Participants will:

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• Consider the impact of historical donor conception practices and how they have influenced contemporary attitudes about donor-conceived children

• Identify best practices in disclosing donor status to and supporting donor-conceived children

• Articulate the influence of donor-conceived identity on individuals and how this may impact their development, relationships, and mental health

SBIRT: A Necessary Skill  for Providing Culturally Competent Care to LGBTQ Clients
Victoria Nagel, PhD Candidate, LCADC, CCS, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH (she/her) and

Clarissa Mulligan Attara, PhD, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS, NCC (she/her)

In this presentation the presenters will address the importance of mental health and medical professionals’ awareness of utilizing SBIRT with their LGBTQ+ clients. SUDs remain a significant public health concern, affecting 17.82% of U.S. adults annually, with over 45 million individuals managing the consequences of drug and alcohol misuse, it is necessary clients receive screening (Reinert et al., 2022). LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of SUDs compared to their heterosexual counterparts and are more likely to present with severe conditions when entering treatment (NIDA, 2024; Paschen-Wolff et al., 2024). Medical and mental health providers are often the first to have conversations about mental health with their LGBTQ+ clients, making it vital for them to be trained in SBIRT to aid in linking their clients to appropriate care options. SBIRT helps bridge the gap between substance use, mental health, and medical care, creating a pathway for comprehensive and integrated care. Attendees will:

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• Define substance use, substance misuse, and substance use disorders

• Define screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) and its components

• Identify strategies for delivering culturally competent and affirming SBIRT interventions tailored to LGBTQ+ individuals

• Learn their role in linking their LGBTQ+ clients to SUD treatment and how addressing this gap will lead to better overall outcomes for their wellbeing and health

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Panel: Legal Considerations and Protections for LGBTQ+ Individuals, Couples & Families in the Current Climate

Assemblywoman Luanne M. Peterpaul, ESQ (NJ-11), with Robyn Gigl, ESQ and Bill Singer, ESQ

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Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul, Esq. (NJ-11) will moderate a panel discussion with prominent NJ attorneys, Robyn Gigl, Esq. and Bill Singer, Esq., to explore the current legal protections, challenges, and advocacy efforts for LGBTQ+ individuals and families in New Jersey and nationally, including key laws and policies related to anti-discrimination, healthcare access, and education. They will also discuss recent court rulings, legislative actions and Executive Orders that have influenced LGBTQ+ protections at both the state and federal levels, highlighting cases with significant implications. The discussion will provide valuable insights for policymakers, advocates, health professionals, educators, and LGBTQ+ individuals and families navigating legal protections in their own communities. After this plenary, attendees will be able to:

 

• Identify key LGBTQ+ legal protections in New Jersey, related to anti-discrimination, healthcare rights, and educational policies

• Explain how recent court rulings and legislative actions impact LGBTQ+ protections at both the state and federal levels

• Evaluate potential threats to LGBTQ+ rights and describe their implications for the community

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SUNDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS​

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Navigating Family Court: Mental Health Professionals Supporting LGBTQ+ Families Through Divorce and Custody
Tania Andrews, LMFT, QTAP (she/her)

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Divorce can be an opportunity for families to reorganize and establish healthier dynamics as they transition into two households. For LGBTQ+ families, this process is often complicated by systemic biases, stigma, and unique challenges beyond those faced by heteronormative families. This workshop equips mental health professionals with tools to support LGBTQ+ clients navigating divorce and custody disputes. Participants will learn to reframe divorce as a reorganization rather than a failure, fostering collaboration and resilience. The session addresses systemic barriers, cultural biases in family court, and the need for affirming care. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to guide clients through divorce, emphasizing advocacy, affirmation, and long-term well-being for all family members. Participants will:

 

• Learn to help clients view divorce as an opportunity to establish two functional households while minimizing conflict and fostering healthier dynamics

• Receive tools to prepare LGBTQ+ clients for family court processes, including custody evaluations and hearings

• Develop practical skills to support LGBTQ+ clients emotionally and relationally through divorce, promoting resilience and collaboration

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Queer Endings: Death, Dying and Grief in Queer Couples
Naomi Brown, LCSW-S, QTAP (she/they)

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The loss of a partner is associated and mired with universal experiences of grief, pain and struggling to continue with life alone. This experience can be different and similar for many members of the queer community. There are themes that repeat in most of the stories, some are tragic, some joyful, others have a hint of humor. They all speak of the resilience of the queer community under astronomical odds. In practice especially in working with loss many factors shape and form the experience of death, the process of dying and the work of grieving. LGBT people face additional barriers and stressors in bereavement, including homophobia, failure to acknowledge their relationship, additional legal and financial issues and the ‘shadow’ of HIV or AIDS. By the end of this session participants will be able to:

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• Distinguish and explore disenfranchised, collective, and compounded grief experiences in queer folx

• Examine how can we expand grief support to incorporate ambiguous and secondary loss

• Recognize and address the intersectionality of identities within the LGBTQ+ community, taking into account race, ethnicity, disability, and other factors that may compound grief experiences.

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The Hidden Opponent: Unique Challenges for LGBTQ+ Athletes
Staci Drewson, PhD and Jennifer Grubb, LPC

This presentation aims to shed light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes and the ways in which minority stress impacts their experience. By drawing on the Minority Stress Model, the session will encourage a more nuanced understanding of the intersection between identity and athletics, equipping attendees with tools to foster more inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ athletes. Attendees will leave with a deeper appreciation of the complexities of LGBTQ+ identity in sports, and will:

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• ​Define minority stress and its relevance to LGBTQ+ athletes

• Identify key challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes

• Analyze the psychological and emotional impact of minority stress

• Provide evidence-based strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ athletes

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Love Wins -  Film Screening & Fireside Chat

Director Robin Kampf and Jeff Lutes, LPC, QTAP

Love Wins is a half-hour documentary that tells the story of two women, Jan (88) and Emily (91), who met and fell in love during a time when doing so was strictly taboo.  During this time they raised a family of three children while living in suburban New Jersey, completely in the closet. They'd travel to Provincetown each year, where for one week, they would be able to live their true lives.  Their story has many layers to it, not the least of which is that Jan met Emily while Emily was working with Jan's husband! Their compelling and at times, humorous story gives a fascinating look into how gay couples lived double lives and feared being outed. After 45 years of living that double life, Jan and Emily finally got married once marriage equality passed as law in New Jersey. Attendees will learn:
 

• More about the history of LGBTQ people finding love and connection during a time when it was socially forbidden

• The value of young people knowing these stories about the experiences of their LGBTQ+ elders

• How corporations are using the film to educate their employees.

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