Speaker(s): Stephanie F. Dailey, EdD

Over the last decade, conscience objections have surfaced in the public arena, raising questions as to whether counselors may legally refuse services to LGBTQ+ clients due to a counselor’s personally held beliefs. These laws not only deny services to LGBTQ+ clients, but are in direct violation of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014). In addition to values-based referrals, this presentation will address other challenging and complex ethical and legal issues all counselors, particularly those working with LGBTQ+ adults, need to know.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the impact of conscience clause legislation on the counseling profession.
• Examine the intersection of values and ethics in counseling.
• Explore values-based conflicts and referrals.

Speaker(s): Julie Basulto, MA in Marriage and Family Therapy

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer youth (LGBTQ) experience a variety of struggles when coming out to their families of origin. These struggles include lack of acceptance and support by their families as well as isolation, depression, engagement in risk taking behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, and the risk of suicide. The focus of this presentation will be to address prior research on family support and acceptance with LGBTQ youth in their sexual identity development, and possible solutions for counselors to provide assistance with the youth and their families during this adjustment process.

Learning Objectives: 

• To educate counseling professionals about LGBTQ youth and the impact of disclosure of their sexual and/or gender identity as well as the consequences on the lack of emotional support from caregivers.

• Benefits to providing support and acceptance to LGBTQ youth, including research evidence and how caregivers can assist in the youth’s coming out process.
• Treatment approaches and resources to assist LGBTQ youth and their families.

Speaker(s): Joel M. Filmore, EdD

Description:
Dr. Joel Mark Fillmore describes his history as a cross-dressing prostitute, drug addict, and prison inmate to a counselor educator. Along the way he experienced conversion therapy and can discuss it in a way that is both thought-provoking and fresh.

Objectives:

1. Summarize the basic tenets of Dr. Joel M. Fillmore's podcast
2. Discuss the controversial practice of conversion or reparative therapy
3. Provide information on the literature and research of conversion/reparative therapy

Author(s): Melissa Luke, PhD
Speaker(s): Kristopher Goodrich, PhD

Description:
Where does sexual/affectual identity and gender expression intersect? The authors discuss terms which may be new to some listeners. Group work appears to be a modality that is effective for LGBTQI persons. The authors discuss why that is the case. Ethical considerations are also discussed, along with the disclosure and “coming out”.

Objectives:

1. Summarize the basic tenets of the Group Counseling with LGBTQI Persons podcast
2. Discuss the effectiveness of the Group work modality for LGBTQI persons
3. Discuss key ethical considerations before conducting group counseling with LGBTQI persons

Author(s): Rafe Julian McCullough, PhD | Lindy K. Parker, EdS | Cory Viehl, PhD | Catharina Chang, PhD | Thomas M. Murphy | Franco Dispenza, PhD

Description:
The counseling experiences of 13 transgender and gender nonconforming individuals were examined via semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Using multiple standards of trustworthiness (e.g., member checking, negative case analysis), researchers analyzed each interview from an interpretative phenomenological analytic framework. Four main themes were identified: (a) mental health professional selection process, (b) trans-affirmative approach, (c) trans-negative approach, and (d) support systems beyond counseling. Implications for implementing culturally responsive TGNC affirmative counseling, TGNC sensitive counselor training, and social justice oriented research are discussed.

Objectives:

1. Examine transgender and gender-nonconforming clients’ counseling experiences.
2. Explore factors that support culturally responsive affirmative counseling for transgender and gender-nonconforming clients.

Speaker(s): Amy Zavadil, Ph.D., NCC

For several decades, civil rights-based protections for LGBTQ- identified individuals were increasingly solidified through case law, federal guidance, and legislation.  Through the lens of Title IX, college student affairs and other equity issues resources, we will discuss how counselors can support their students and clients through awareness of legal and policy protections in school and workplace.  Identifying the available legal rights and resources that can support client advocacy, whether in a school or agency setting, is vital to the focused empowerment by counselors that encourage client self advocacy.

Learning Objectives: 

• Participants will learn to identify and monitor LGBTQ civil rights protections in school and workplace.
• Participants will learn to identify options for advocating for LGBTQ rights as well as offering students and clients tools for self advocating in a strength-based atmosphere.
• Review legislation and guidance.

Speaker(s): Deanna N. Cor, PhD | Megan J. Doughty Shaine, PhD

Following up on a presentation at the 2017 ACA Annual Conference and Expo, this educational session will provide attendees with contextually informed strategies for working with and advocating for trans- military service members and veterans during an uncertain time. In 2016 the Pentagon ended the ban on trans-people serving openly in the U.S. military—yet recent moves by the Trump Administration leave trans-service members feeling uncertain and fearful about their future. All counselors must be prepared for those service members, in the face of this uncertainty, to continue to seek services outside of the military. The authors will review background information in the context of the current political environment, followed by two case studies, based on original qualitative interviews with trans-military service members. They will then lead audience members in a workshop-style, small-group activity in which they will apply the information presented to the presented cases.

Learning Objectives: 

• Gain a better understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by trans military personnel and veterans, as well as the barriers they have historically faced to both medical and mental health treatment.
• Learn key concepts related to minority stress and identity concealment, and be able to apply those concepts, using the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies framework, to the experiences of trans military clients through a case example. 
• Apply at least three potential counseling interventions/approaches, rooted in evidence-based treatments, that may be appropriate for the trans* military population.

Speaker(s): Misty M. Ginicola, PhD | Joel M. Filmore, EdD | Cheri Smith, PhD

The chapter will assist counselors and other mental health professionals in gaining competence in working with LGBTQI+ clients.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Examine standards and competencies counselors can use to develop competence in working with LGBTQI+ individuals.
2. Explore concepts of power and privilege, oppression and bias, career and health disparities, and overarching cultural biases regarding affectional orientation and gender variance.

Speaker(s): Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich, PhD

*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate.

This session provides: (1) an overview of gender dysphoria and gender transition; (2) strategies on affirmative clinical evaluation of gender dysphoria; and (3) affirmative clinical assessment and recommendations for clients pursuing social and medical transition. Examples of clinical management and a letter of recommendation for gender transition are provided. Practical considerations for affirmative practice, including ethics and cultural diversity, are discussed.