LGBTQ Presentations.

PART 1: The Human Experience (LGBTQ 101)

LGBTQ Safe Zone Inspire Recovery

The “LGBT” community is much more than a four-letter acronym! We have created a colorful and fun way to teach others about the huge diversity that exists within the Pride rainbow of life. For many, a lot of the information we are covering is new territory. Clinicians can ask questions to ensure they are understanding the many ways people identify or express themselves.

The truth is, it may be very difficult for a client to speak about their gender or sexual orientation. However, these areas of their life may need to be processed therapeutically in order for clients to heal from their past and envision a positive and fulfilling life in recovery. By familiarizing clinicians with this information we hope your LGBTQ clients can begin to heal and grow in the safe environment a treatment center is able to provide.

This broad training educates on the entire human experience helping you to understand the difference between Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Sexual Expression, Sexual Orientation an Anatomy. Each of these topics has terms and sub-topics within that we will teach and explore with you. Should you have a desire to learn more about any specific or a group of specific sections you may book a workshop focused on what your team desires to learn more of.

PART 2: ROOT CAUSE OF ADDICTION FROM THE LGBTQ PERSPECTIVE

We present facts and statistics from a variety of sources covering some of the struggles that LGBTQ individuals face, starting in their youth. Although LGBTQ clients are generally the minority in treatment centers across the country, those who are LGBTQ have extremely high rates of substance use, as well as co-occurring disorders. We will discuss why less LGBTQ individuals gain access to treatment and why it’s so important for clinicians to be familiar with the LGBTQ culture in order to provide aqueduct care.

PART 3: HOW TO BE A GOOD ALLY

LGBTQ Ally Flag Inspire Recovery

Many of our clients note being incapable of committing to recovery in a treatment center that “invisibilizes” their gender or sexuality. This common occurrence leaves treatment centers with the challenge of having their clients without the adequate care every client deserves.

In this part of our LGBTQ presentations, we go over what it means to be a good ally to the LGBTQ community. An ally is someone who is in alliance with any marginalized group of people. Learning how to be a good ally means educating ourselves. More LGBTQ people are wanting to live their life not through the escapism that drug and alcohol addiction provides, but publicly and comfortably without the shame or discrimination that they have internalized for most of their lives. It is our goal to help treatment providers be able to be engaged with their clients about their gender identity and sexual orientation, ensuring that their time in treatment helps them to process any part of their addiction that relates to these core aspects of their lives.

We are excited to provide your treatment center with tips and tools with our LGBTQ presentations that will help you to be respectful and healing, instead of hurtful, to clients and individuals who face much discrimination in their daily lives. Together we can build a more kind and supportive space for the LGBTQ community in recovery – and the world.