CVN Webinar – Affirmative Clinical Work with LGBTQ+ Clients: Reducing Internalized Stigma

Webinar Description: LGBTQ+ clients present for therapy with unique needs related to living in a society in which their lives and experiences are not the norm. One of the ways that this environment can impact LGBTQ+ people is through internalized stigma. This intermediate-level workshop will use a case example to demonstrate how cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can be applied to working with LGBTQ+ clients to reduce internalized stigma and its impact on mental health and well-being.

Target Audience: Behavioral health providers

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

  1. Be able to define and explain internalized anti-LGBTQ+ stigma
  2. Be able to generate at least three questions to assess for internalized stigma
  3. Be able to explain how cognitive therapy techniques can reduce internalized negative beliefs about being LGBTQ+

Presenter: Kimberly F. Balsam, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Psychology Department at Palo Alto University, where she is also the Director of the LGBTQ Area of Emphasis in the PhD program, Director of the Center for LGBTQ Evidence-Based Applied Research, and the PI of the Research on Intersectional Sexual and Gender Identity Experiences (RISE) lab. She has been conducting research on LGBTQ+ psychology since the 1990s, including topics such as trauma, minority stress, mental health, families and relationships, and development of culturally relevant assessment tools for LGBTQ-specific constructs. She also has a 20-year history of clinical practice with LGBTQ+ patients. Dr. Balsam is passionate about education and training in LGBTQ+ psychology. She is currently the PI of the Clinical Academy, a partnership with Santa Clara County to develop, implement and evaluate a 40-hour intensive cultural competence training for master’s level clinicians. Dr. Balsam served as Division 44 President during 2016-2017 and is the recipient of the division’s Distinguished Contribution to Education and Training award in 2021.

Participation Information:

  • Fee: This webinar is available free of charge
  • Date and Time: Jan 27, 2022 03:00 -4:00 PM EST
  • Registration: Registration is required for non-CVN participants. You may register online at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P5OEtB9kQ4GTGhOOaUTccA
  • System Requirements: This webinar will be held online via Zoom Communications. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, we HIGHLY recommend testing your computer and network with the following link: https://zoom.us/test
  • Course Interaction: This webinar will be held via the Zoom Webinar format. Participants will be able to ask typed questions via the chat function, but will not be on camera or able to share audio. There will be opportunity for Q&A and sharing of questions is encouraged.
  • Questions, comments, concerns, grievances, and requests for accommodation: Please email the training team at training@cohenveteransnetwork.org.

CE Information:

Participants who complete this training in its entirety will be eligible for 1 CE.  Cohen Veterans Network is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cohen Veterans Network maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Cohen Veterans Network, provider #1648 is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Cohen Veterans Network maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/31/21-3/31/24. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

In order to receive CEs, participants will need to register, attend the webinar in its entirety, complete the post-webinar evaluation survey and pass the post-test. The post-webinar evaluation and post-test will be provided online via SurveyMonkey; the link will be emailed to all registrants following the webinar.  Participants will have two weeks to complete the survey. CE Certificates will be emailed two weeks following the webinar.  For any questions related to the CE process, please email training@cohenveteransnetwork.org.