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

Do you make the biggest mistake treating your clients? Are you trying to get them to come out? You could be traumatizing your clients if you are.

I made the same mistake when I forced my clients to name and claim their sexual identity.

I did not know how to ask about their sexual practices. I offended them when I tried.

I will give you the right tools and information if you watch my workshop. Population is rapidly changing. To better counsel your lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning clients.

Specific strategies will be learned to better treat the unique challenges your client may be facing.

• self-acceptance and internalized homophobia
• non hetero-normative sexual behaviors and practices
• trauma and abuse from growing up LGBTQ
• the difficult process of coming out

It’s a mistake to think that a couple is a couple and treat them the same as their heterosexual counterparts.

1. Assess gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning clients for psychological trauma to assist in informing treatments interventions.
2. Establish and understand 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. Consider the dynamics of same gendered couple, including vulnerabilities and strengths, when working with LGB couples in session.

Make your client feel safe and 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

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

There is a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male and a person who is not male.

• 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 behavior and sexual fantasies

Working with 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

Mixed Orientation Couples and Relationships are being worked on.

• 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

Get. Clinical Issues and Treatment Strategies for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Clients: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Clients: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Clients: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Clients: Lesbian, Gay, The author. Joe Kort is a man.

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