Over the past decades, the social and political landscape for LGBTQ+ people has shifted profoundly. Marriage equality, family-building, and gender expansive identities have supported the growth of queer communities, and people are presenting in therapy with unique concerns that are often confusing for our allies. This program will assist clinicians in understanding the wide spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as the coming out process for people across the lifespan. Dating, coupling, and marriage patterns, similar to heterosexual people in some ways, and divergent in many others, will be explored. Family building, from assisted reproductive processes, to surrogacy and adoption, will be discussed, as will the intersectionality of racial/ethnic/cultural dynamics as families of origin and families of choice come together.

As the families of gender non-conforming children and transgender youth are targeted across the U.S., the need for clinicians who are skilled in working with the struggles these families are facing becomes paramount. This webinar will describe the differences between social and medical transitions, how to assist families (those who are affirming and those who are resistant) in parenting their gender expansive children, and will provide concrete skills on psychosocial assessment and referral processes.