Is your clinic up to date on best practices for working with LGBTQIA+, consensually non-monogamous, and kink communities?
Are your staff, clinicians, and interns trained in affirmative psychotherapy?
Your staff should receive training simply because there are so many people from these communities seeking services:
- People who identify as LGBTQIA+ seek out mental health services at a disproportionately higher rate than the general public (Mikalson, Pardo, & Green, 2012)
- Four to five percent of people in the US report being in consensually non-monogamous relationships (Moors, et al. 2015)
- It is estimated that approximately 10% of the general population has engaged in kinky behaviors at some point in their lives, and one to two percent of the general population holds an identity centered on their kink sexuality (Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project).
Additionally, ethical guidelines (APA, 2011; APA, 2015; Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project, 2019; Moors, 2018; National LGBTI Health Alliance, 2014) on working with these communities indicate the need for education and training in order to provide competent care, and to counteract the history of stigmatization and pathologization community members have encountered in the mental health field.
By training your staff in affirmative practices with these communities, you can ensure that you are both expanding your clinic or organization’s reach and assisting underserved populations. With properly trained staff to work with them, fewer clients will prematurely terminate services at your site. We also provide sliding scale rates for sites who offer free or low-cost services to community members.
If you are interested in our group rates or an affirmative organization consultation, please schedule a meeting with our team.
References
Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project. (2019) Clinical practice guidelines for working with people with kink interests.
Mikalson, P., Pardo, S., & Green, J. (2012). First, do no harm: Reducing disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning populations in California. The California LGBTQ Reducing Mental Health Disparities Population Report.
Moors, A. C., Conley, T. D., Edelstein, R. S., & Chopkin, W. J. (2015). Attached to monogamy? Avoidance predicts willingness to engage (but not actual engagement) in consensual non-monogamy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 222-240. doi:10.1177/0265407514529065