CLINICAL ISSUES WITH BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED ADULTS AND ADOLESCENT LGBT

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on a publication the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and is designed to provide mental health and substance abuse counselors with a great deal of information regarding working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) individuals. The course begins with an overview for providers that includes an introduction for clinicians working with bisexuals. It identifies common myths as well as facts that are established by research about the bisexual population. Many clinicians continue to have professional biases about individuals who self-identify as bisexual, this course delineates these common professional biases and compares them to research. Transgendered individuals are discussed at length and this course provides definitions for key terms that are often confused or misidentified in transgendered individuals. Research that evaluates substance abuse, and HIV within the transgendered population is also discussed. The course ends with a chapter regarding LGBT youth. It covers alcohol and drug use, stigma, abuse and homelessness in the LGBT youth population. Assessment and treatment of LGBT youth is also covered. This course serves as an excellent resource for mental health professionals who work with substance abuse, or who would like to improve their clinical skills by learning more about how to work with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered individuals. Given the prevalence of LGBT individuals, this course provides much needed information to improve the cross cultural competencies of clinicians. Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can benefit from this course. This course may also be helpful for other practitioners, such as midwives and dieticians and nutritionists who work with substance abuse or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to learn more about bisexual and transgendered adults and LBGT adolescents. Author: SAMSHA Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with a review of cultural and clinical issues that are significant for LGBT individuals. Specifically, a professional will: · Identify common myths about bisexuals. · Describe clinical issues with transgendered individuals. · Describe assessment and treatment strategies for LGBT youth. Citation: SAMSHA (2001). A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals. Chapters 9 -11. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 01-3498. Visit us on the web at www.ce-classes.com