TRAINING
want to better serve your queer and trans clients?
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LIVE + VIRTUAL
At this time, all of our trainings are offered live via Zoom. If you’d like in-person training, please contact us. Our trainings are not recorded due to the sensitive nature of these topics and the propensity for bad actors to use the information contained therein for harmful purposes.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
We offer CEUs for LPCs, Social Workers, LMFTs, and Psychologists in Texas.
PRESENTER
All trainings are presented by Candice Holloway, LPC-S unless otherwise noted.
COST
Pricing depends on which training(s) you're interested in, how many attendees there will be, and whether or not you'll need CEUs. We offer discounts for groups of 5 or more.
SIGN-UP
To request a training, either fill out this contact form or send an email to hello@vadacounseling.com.
LGBTQ+ 101: what to know before working with queer clients
This entry-level training is for therapists, social workers, nurses, doctors, and other health care staff to enhance their understanding of the strengths, needs, and barriers of LGBTQ+ clients and patients. We’ll cover fundamental concepts related to sexual and romantic orientation, gender identity and expression, and the unique healthcare needs of queer folks in the U.S. After this training, you’ll be better equipped to provide knowledgeable and respectful care to those in the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ 102: Providing Affirming Therapy to Queer Clients
This training is tailored to mental health providers seeking to deepen their understanding of and enhance their skills in providing culturally competent and affirming therapy to LGBTQ+ clients.
Topics include coming out, family acceptance, internalized homophobia and transphobia, and the impact of minority stress on mental health. We’ll get into the spectrum of queer identities, the intersectionality of those identities with race, class, age, and ability, and the unique lived experiences queer clients may bring into the therapy room.
Therapists will learn tools and strategies to address systemic barriers, challenge heteronormativity and cisnormativity in clinical practice, and create queer-affirming environments where clients can explore their identities and experiences without fear of judgment or prejudice.
Trans aDVOCACY: providing gender-affirming therapy
In this training, therapists will learn the importance of gender-affirming care and how to provide it. They’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific experiences and challenges faced by trans and nonbinary individuals, including navigating gender identity, accessing healthcare, and confronting discrimination.
Topics include creating affirming therapeutic spaces, using gender-affirming language, validating diverse gender identities (and neurotypes), and addressing issues related to gender dysphoria and transition. Therapists will leave knowing how to support their clients in exploring their gender identity and expression in a safe, empowering, trauma-informed way.
Trans aDVOCACY: ALLYSHIP IN ACTION
This training will equip therapists with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to become effective allies for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. In a world where trans people often face discrimination, prejudice, and misunderstanding, it is imperative for mental health professionals to step up and advocate for their rights, well-being, and dignity.
Therapists will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive environments, challenging transphobia within professional networks, and providing competent and compassionate support to trans clients. "Trans Advocacy: Allyship in Action" empowers therapists to be proactive agents of change, fostering a more inclusive and affirming society for all gender-diverse individuals.
Trans advocacy: Writing letters for gender-affirming care
This training is for counselors, therapists, and social workers who wish to write strong support letters for clients needing gender-affirming surgery. Topics include Gender dysphoria as a diagnosis, types of gender-affirming surgical interventions, when and why letters are required, and how to write them. Participants will leave this training with the knowledge and resources to write their own support letters for clients seeking gender-affirming care—including letter templates!