LGBTQI & Professional Training Resources
Counseling, Wellness, and Advocacy Services for LGBTQI Persons and their Partners, Spouses, Families, and Friends
Connections Counseling of Western Pennsylvania, LLC provides specialized counseling services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) persons. Connections Counseling is a safe and affirming environment for LGBTQI persons, spouses, partners, families, and their friends.
LGBTQI persons seek counseling at a higher rate compared to heterosexual persons. However, they report higher rates of dissatisfaction from the counseling they receive. LGBTQI persons reported they felt judged and misunderstood by counseling providers. Some reported experiences of imposed heterophobia. When this occurs, counselors impose their own beliefs onto LGBTQI people which reinforce stigma and oppression (Alderson, 2013). LGBTQI persons can easily feel erased as a result of these experiences. When erasure occurs, people can experience minority stress which is manifested in symptoms of depression, anxiety, substance abusing behavior, and low self-worth. These symptoms occur as a result of erasure, not as a result of being an LGBTQI person (Alderson, 2013).
LGBTQI youth who experience family rejection, bullying and violence in school, work, or their community are at a 50% higher rate to engaging in suicidal behavior compared to heterosexual youth (Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, Card & Russell, 2013). Older LGBTQI persons, regarded as an invisible population, report experiences of disenfranchised grief, isolation, elder abuse, and barriers in accessing health care (Shankle, Maxwell, Katzman, & Landers, 2003). Acts of violence occur towards transgender persons in the United States of American every two minutes. Many of these acts of violence go unreported due to the sense of fear experienced by transgender persons. These experiences can also contribute to traumatic stress which can include symptoms of fear, anxiety, social anxiety, panic, paranoia, depression, hyperarousal and hypoarousal.
Connections Counseling engages in an affirmative and culturally sensitive model of counseling with LGBTQI persons and their spouses, partners, families, and friends. Counseling services are provided within a developmentally sensitive and strength based model. Therefore, topics such as relational fulfillment, spirituality, career and educational fulfillment, and cultural pride are integrated into services.
Services are provided to LGBTQI children and youth to assist them in the development of a pride-filled identity. Parents and family members are encouraged to be involved in order to increase their understanding of their child’s affectional orientation. We seek to strengthen family bonds. LGBTQI children, youth, and families will also develop self-advocacy skills which assists in redirecting and challenging stigma that can be imposed upon them. Connections Counseling also engages in advocacy work with and on behalf of LGBTQI children, youth, and adults. Advocacy work can extend into schools and communities.
Counseling services are provided to LGBTQI people of all ages. Services can consist of individual, family, and couples counseling. Connections Counseling also provides retreats and wellness opportunities that celebrate LGBTQI individuals, couples, and families. Leadership training is also offered to LGBTQI youth.
Connections Counseling can also link LGBTQI people and their supports to community based support resources. Rick Marsili, founder of Connections Counseling, has been part of community based collaboratives that have led to the development of safe places in the community for LGBTQI people.
References
Alderson, K. (2014). Counseling LGBTI clients. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.
Shankle, M.D., Maxwell, C.A., Katzman, E.S., & Landers, S. (2003). An invisible population: Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs, 20(2), 159-182.
Toomey, R.B., Ryan, C., Diaz, R.M., Card, N.A., & Russell, S.T. (2013). Gender-nonconforming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth: School victimization and young adult psychosocial adjustment. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(S), 71-80.
Training Resources
Connections Counseling of Western Pennsylvania, LLC provides training to a wide array of programs such as faith-based communities, schools, medical providers, and counseling programs. Training programs can be tapered to meet the individual needs of each request. Consultation can also be provided to assist programs that seek to increase and integrate effective practices towards LGBTQI persons. Please contact Connections Counseling to further discuss any training or consultation needs.
LGBTQI persons seek counseling at a higher rate compared to heterosexual persons. However, they report higher rates of dissatisfaction from the counseling they receive. LGBTQI persons reported they felt judged and misunderstood by counseling providers. Some reported experiences of imposed heterophobia. When this occurs, counselors impose their own beliefs onto LGBTQI people which reinforce stigma and oppression (Alderson, 2013). LGBTQI persons can easily feel erased as a result of these experiences. When erasure occurs, people can experience minority stress which is manifested in symptoms of depression, anxiety, substance abusing behavior, and low self-worth. These symptoms occur as a result of erasure, not as a result of being an LGBTQI person (Alderson, 2013).
LGBTQI youth who experience family rejection, bullying and violence in school, work, or their community are at a 50% higher rate to engaging in suicidal behavior compared to heterosexual youth (Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, Card & Russell, 2013). Older LGBTQI persons, regarded as an invisible population, report experiences of disenfranchised grief, isolation, elder abuse, and barriers in accessing health care (Shankle, Maxwell, Katzman, & Landers, 2003). Acts of violence occur towards transgender persons in the United States of American every two minutes. Many of these acts of violence go unreported due to the sense of fear experienced by transgender persons. These experiences can also contribute to traumatic stress which can include symptoms of fear, anxiety, social anxiety, panic, paranoia, depression, hyperarousal and hypoarousal.
Connections Counseling engages in an affirmative and culturally sensitive model of counseling with LGBTQI persons and their spouses, partners, families, and friends. Counseling services are provided within a developmentally sensitive and strength based model. Therefore, topics such as relational fulfillment, spirituality, career and educational fulfillment, and cultural pride are integrated into services.
Services are provided to LGBTQI children and youth to assist them in the development of a pride-filled identity. Parents and family members are encouraged to be involved in order to increase their understanding of their child’s affectional orientation. We seek to strengthen family bonds. LGBTQI children, youth, and families will also develop self-advocacy skills which assists in redirecting and challenging stigma that can be imposed upon them. Connections Counseling also engages in advocacy work with and on behalf of LGBTQI children, youth, and adults. Advocacy work can extend into schools and communities.
Counseling services are provided to LGBTQI people of all ages. Services can consist of individual, family, and couples counseling. Connections Counseling also provides retreats and wellness opportunities that celebrate LGBTQI individuals, couples, and families. Leadership training is also offered to LGBTQI youth.
Connections Counseling can also link LGBTQI people and their supports to community based support resources. Rick Marsili, founder of Connections Counseling, has been part of community based collaboratives that have led to the development of safe places in the community for LGBTQI people.
References
Alderson, K. (2014). Counseling LGBTI clients. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.
Shankle, M.D., Maxwell, C.A., Katzman, E.S., & Landers, S. (2003). An invisible population: Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs, 20(2), 159-182.
Toomey, R.B., Ryan, C., Diaz, R.M., Card, N.A., & Russell, S.T. (2013). Gender-nonconforming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth: School victimization and young adult psychosocial adjustment. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(S), 71-80.
Training Resources
Connections Counseling of Western Pennsylvania, LLC provides training to a wide array of programs such as faith-based communities, schools, medical providers, and counseling programs. Training programs can be tapered to meet the individual needs of each request. Consultation can also be provided to assist programs that seek to increase and integrate effective practices towards LGBTQI persons. Please contact Connections Counseling to further discuss any training or consultation needs.