Helping LGBTQIA+ Youth Navigate Online Risks to make the Digital World Safer

Presented by Melissa Dellens, MA, LMFT, TRM-1

Date: April 4, 2025

Time 10:00am-12:00pm PDT

2 CEs

Course Description

In today’s digital age, the internet plays a significant role in shaping the experiences of LGBTQIA teenagers and young adults. While it offers opportunities for connection, self-expression, and support, it also exposes this vulnerable group to potential risks, including cyberbullying, discrimination, and exploitation. During a key time in identity development, affirmative therapists play a vital role in helping LGBTQIA youth navigate these online challenges while fostering a sense of safety and resilience. This live virtual course will use lectures, vignettes, and discussion to explore strategies and interventions that therapists can implement to help LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults stay safe online. The course will emphasize the importance of digital literacy, consider mental health outcomes of screen time, and help therapists create safer spaces in therapy for clients to talk about the ways they spend time online.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to

Discuss the unique online risks faced by LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults, including cyberbullying, harassment, and exploitation
Describe how privacy settings, online boundaries, and digital literacy can support safer online communities for LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults.
Name two clinical interventions to support the identity development of LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults.

About The Presenter

Melissa Dellens, MA, LMFT (she/they) works with teens and young adults with intersectional identities with Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and is the Chief Operations Officer with the Affirmative Couch. They offer their understanding of collective trauma, community stressors, and political advocacy through publications and education. Melissa earned their Master of Arts in Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles with an emphasis in Applied Community Psychology. They have completed the one year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate at the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS) and Level 1 of the Trauma Resiliency Model. Melissa is an affiliate member ofLAISPS, and is active in the institute’s Diversity Affairs Committee.

Praise for the Presenter & Testimonials from previous courses

All content was relevant and timely for my current client's needs.

Such great courses- much needed in these times. I have shared with my team at work.

Well done. Presented information in a very sensitive manner.

Great information and very relatable.

Really great content and conceptualizations to give life to the teachings.

Very well organized and nuanced in the discussion. I appreciate the use of case vignettes.

Excellent discussion and use of examples to solidify content.

I appreciated, the instructor, Melissa's weaving together of research, clinical experience, and personal experience. As well as the instructor bringing together affirmative therapy.

Price

$39 for licensed clinicians

$35 for licensed in non-profit organization (Use coupon code at checkout: digitalsafetynp)

$29 for pre-licensed (Use Coupon Code at checkout: digitalsafetypl)

Buy Now

You can also get access to this course and all other courses with our annual or lifetime memberships.

Annual Membership

Lifetime Membership

Additional Information

Instruction Level

This course is meant for an intermediate audience.

Who should Attend

Affirmative Psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists and social workers working with LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults.

Format

Live, virtual presentation with the opportunity for interaction with the presenter. This course will be available as a recorded homestudy approximately two weeks after the event.

Zoom Link

You will receive a reminder email to register for your Zoom link after signing up for the course.

If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please contact us.

Completion Requirements

Live Event

To get CE credit for the live event, you need to be present for the entire course.
You will be asked to sign in and out in the chat box in order to track attendance during breaks.
We will email you your certificate of attendance within 48 hours of the course.
This presentation will be recorded and available as a homestudy approximately two weeks after the live event.
Your active participation will contribute and enhance the learning of participants that complete the recorded homestudy version.

Home Study

You will need to take the post-test with at least a 80% score in order to receive your certificate for a home study course.

Financial Support

The Affirmative Couch pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest

There is no reported conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Contact Information

For any inquiries related to subject matter, problem resolution, corrections, grievances, or anything else, please contact us.

Accommodations

The Affirmative Couch will work to accommodate reasonable accommodations requests. Requests can be emailed with “accommodation request” in the subject line. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis