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MN LGBT Therapists Network News October 2011 20+ years of LGBT-friendly mental health networking
vol. IV, Issue 4
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LGBT Therapists @ National Coming Out Day Luncheon
Only 3 seats left at our table! Friday, October 7, 2010 11am-1pm Resource fair and luncheon with speakers Hilton Minneapolis Luncheon/Quorum Members: $35.00 (price for paid members of LGBT Therapists' network*) Luncheon/Quorum Non-Members: $40.00 website Let's sit together - several of us had fun attending together the last two years and decided to do it again this year! To ensure being seated at our LGBT Therapists network table, first register at Quorum's website and then email Irene Greene or call her at (612) 874-6442 to get on our seating list. *LGBT Therapists is a Quorum member. If you are a paid member of the network, you can use the member price.
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LGBT Therapists Steering Committee Meeting All members of the network are welcome to attend Friday, October 28, 2011 12:15-1:30 Office of Mindy Benowitz The Semple Mansion, Second Floor 100 West Franklin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404 map Agenda: confirm fall program and begin conversation regarding another conference. RSVP to Irene Greene email (612) 874-6442
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Upcoming LGBT Therapists Workshop Save The Date
The Trauma of Discrimination: Politics are Getting Personal
How does homophobia and heterosexism impact you and your clients? Is the increased homo-hatred around the same-sex marriage amendment getting to you? This workshop will explore the psychological and somatic impacts of trauma discrimination and address strategies to help us and our clients.
Friday December 2, 2011
8:30 - noon
Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis We will offer CEUs. Registration will begin in early November. More information to come. Co-sponsored by MN LGBT Therapists Network and PRIDE Institute.
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Featured Member
Our New eNewsletter Editor:
Tamarah L. Gehlen, MA LAMFT LADC CFLE Hello, Everyone! My name is Tamarah Gehlen, I am the Program Director at WINGS Treatment Center in Litchfield, MN and am working to get a small private practice (Gehlen Counseling) going from my home in Hutchinson, MN. Through Adlerian, Narrative, and Solution-focused approaches, I specialize in working with teens who are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem issues, identity and coming out, in addition to chemical dependency. I also enjoy working with individuals and couples/families, and am trained in EMDR. As a provider in outstate Minnesota, it is my goal to start a support and networking group for LGBTQ youth as resources are limited in this area. This is one of the reasons that I happened upon the LGBTQ therapist network - and why I am so grateful for organizations like this - to build a bridge from the plethora of resources that can be found in metro areas, to outstate areas that are not as fortunate. I am excited to be working on the eNewsletter each month. If there are conferences, articles, or other items of interest that you would like to pass along, these are greatly appreciated. It would be wonderful to have additional members take advantage of our "featured therapist" section so that we could get a chance to get to know each of you. Should you have any additional questions for me, or wish to forward items for future eNewsletters, please feel free to contact me at 320-583-0145, via email, or by visiting my website.
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Upcoming Events Men's Survivor Conference Nov 15-18, 2012 Call for papers website This international conference will provide a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth, networking, and the dissemination of new knowledge in the area of sexually traumatized boys and men. The four-day event will feature numerous workshops for male survivors of sexual abuse, their loved ones/partners, and the professionals who work with them. RECLAIM LGBT Youth Services Open House Oct 26, 2011 6:30pm to 8pm
website flyer RECLAIM aims to increase access to mental health support so LGBT youth may reclaim their lives from oppression in all its forms. Tobacco CE/CME Activity November 15 & 16, 2011
Treating Tobacco Dependence in Mental Health Settings Tuition scholarships are available
732-235-4053 flyer
Specifically designed to provide psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric advance practice nurses & other mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and treat tobacco dependence in smokers with mental illness. This activity emphasizes pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for tobacco dependence. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Metro office, of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Free training seminars on interacting with deaf or hard of hearing people in your personal or professional life informational flyers Minnesota Contemplative Dance & Authentic Movement Workshops Sept 30 & Oct 1-2, 2011 with Alton Wasson
website
For new and experienced movers. Movement as spiritual practice, artistic resource and psychological narrative. Mindful Heart Couples Workshop October 16, 2011, 1:30 - 4:30 pm Facilitated by Susan Broadwell Fall Couples Workshop for same-sex and opposite-sex couples website flyer
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Research Predictors of Psychological Health in Heterosexual,
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Middle-Aged and Older Adult website
What predicts the psychological health of middle-aged and older adults with different sexual orientations. Study participants: adults living in the United States who are age 45 or older. Bisexual-Identified Women website
To increase understanding of the experience of bisexual women who are in monogamous romantic relationships. Gender Identity Disorder (GID) (763) 957-9578
Interviewing therapists (special interest in those who use the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care) who work with this population, in order to provide a deeper understanding of the experience involved in providing therapy to individuals with GID. Adult Males Who Desire Males website
Exploring attitudes of men who engage in same-gender sexual behavior. Opportunity to win a $200 gift card.
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Support & Therapy Groups
** Please see our full listing of support and therapy groups at the website ** Trans Support Group Every Wednesday, 6-7:30pm
MN Transgender Health Coalition's Shot Clinic
3405 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis website ALL gender non-conforming folks no matter where they are in their transition; late teens and older. Led by and for trans peers. Sexual Abuse Support Groups Sexual Violence Center
website Young Persons flyer Adult Men flyer
Starting a youth support group and an adult men's group sometime this fall. Closed groups running for 10 weeks and is for victim/survivors of sexual violence. Contact Megan Close 612.871.5100 Gender Exploration Group RECLAIM
3217 Hennepin Avenue South, Suite #2; Minneapolis, MN (612) 235-6743
website
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News New Standards of Care for the Health of Trans People This newest SOC represents significant forward progress in respecting trans people and affirming the necessity of medical transition care for trans and transsexual individuals who need it. Although controversies and issues of transition care access remain in the SOC7, WPATH has announced a more frequent update process that will hopefully be more responsive to emerging evidence and clinical experience in the future. full article
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Personal Focus Compassion Fatigue A friend and mentor of mine noted that, "...therapist have to be a bottomless well of caring, kindness, and nurturance so that our clients can learn from us, take the things that they need from therapy and be encouraged that they can be well." I very much agree with this. However, living in the real world, I know that while compassion flows through my practice, sometimes my cup over-runneth with stress, leaving the well of my nurturance feeling low - if not empty- at times. Compassion fatigue can be insidious as when wearing down we may lose sight of our own impairments. While symptoms may vary - some commonly seen issues are:
- Sleep disturbance
- Emotional intensity increases - having "unusual" reactions to common situations
- Cognitive ability decreases
- Behavior and judgment impaired
- Isolation and loss of morale
At least in the Recovery field, the current buzz-word is "mindfulness". To me - mindfulness and balance work in tandem, and this is the key to reducing the risks associated with compassion fatigue. Balance can look like a variety of things, but ways to incorporate balance into your life can look like:
- Practicing self-care - do you do the things for yourself that you tell your clients to do?
- Do activities that are sources of fun and diversion
- Reframe the negative experiences that you take witness to in your work by finding meaning, challenging negativity and finding gratitude for the work that your are able to do and the growth that your clients are able to achieve.
- When things begin to feel overwhelming, perhaps it's time to do a therapy tune-up. Again, if this is something that you would recommend to your client when things become difficult - we should take the same care of ourselves.
For more resources on compassion fatigue visit:
Gift From Within - article looking at the issues that can occur with Compassion fatigue
Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County - Tamarah L Gehlen
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Be a Featured Member in the LGBT Therapists eNewsletter We want to know more about our members - don't be shy! Let's all share a virtual handshake. If you would like us to feature you in an upcoming eNewsletter, contact Tamarah L. Gehlen (320) 583-0145. I have some questions for you to answer, and you can share info about your counseling services, yourself, and what being an LGBT Therapists network member means to you.
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About the MN LGBT Therapists' network eNewsletter Our network is a Minnesota-based grassroots group of queer and allied mental health therapists, students in mental health-related fields, and community mental-health related agencies. Our group shares information and resources that impact our varied work in the mental health fields and that is unique to the particular needs of the LGBTQ communities we live in and serve. We welcome submissions to this eNewsletter that are pertinent to mental health and LGBTQ issues! All network members are welcome to contribute to this monthly eNewsletter. Just send your referral question, announcement, member accomplishment, space available information, event, conference, workshop, group information, or other pertinent notice to Tamarah L Gehlen. All responses to questions, ads, workshops, etc. should be emailed directly back to the contact person in the notice. If you want to become a member of this organization please visit our website.
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