Lifescapes Counseling Associates is hosting a webinar titled ‘Navigating LGBTQIA+ – Guidance for Parents’ to provide vital insights and practical strategies for parents supporting their LGBTQIA+ children. The webinar aims to demystify topics around sexual and gender identity, offering a supportive space for real-time interaction with experienced therapists.
Navigating Parenting Challenges: Lifescapes Counseling Hosts LGBTQIA+ Support Webinar
The journey of parenthood presents its unique challenges, and these can become particularly pronounced when navigating conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation. To coincide with Pride Month, Lifescapes Counseling Associates is offering a lifeline for parents struggling to support their LGBTQIA+ children through a specially designed webinar.
Scheduled for June 27, 2024, the webinar titled “Navigating LGBTQIA+ – Guidance for Parents” aims to provide essential insights and practical strategies for parents grappling with questions about diverse sexual and gender identities. The session will feature a panel of experienced mental health professionals: Julia Bernards, PhD, LMFT; Meredith Drake, MEd, LCMHCA; and Amy Moulds, MEd, LCMHCS. These experts bring a wealth of knowledge from their backgrounds in family therapy, education, and mental health counselling.
“This isn’t just another online seminar,” explains Amy Moulds, Practice Director at Lifescapes. “We’re making space for real-time, anonymous interaction with professional therapists. The goal is to address the concerns that parents might feel too awkward or embarrassed to ask elsewhere.”
Growing up LGBTQIA+ can be incredibly challenging, especially when the support systems at home feel shaky. Often, parents who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with these topics find themselves unprepared to address questions or behaviours that stem from their child’s exploration of their sexual or gender identity. The webinar aims to demystify these topics, offering parents a chance to learn about child and identity development, gender dysphoria, and the spectra of gender, sex, and sexual orientation.
The intersection of family dynamics and individual identity can be fraught with tension. Traditional religious beliefs, societal norms, and preconceived notions about ‘acceptable’ gender roles can lead to conflict. Yet, family acceptance is crucial. Studies consistently show that LGBTQIA+ youth who receive robust family support have markedly better mental health outcomes compared to those who experience rejection.
The Lifescapes webinar honours this understanding, focusing not only on family acceptance but also on offering practical parenting strategies. These strategies aim to foster strong parent-child relationships that can adapt and flourish over time.
“If therapy seems inaccessible due to time, cost, or stigma, consider this webinar an entry point,” Moulds adds. “Our aim is to cut through the noise of misinformation and provide evidence-based advice in a supportive setting.”
By offering a large group environment, ACCESS Lifescapes hopes to democratise mental health support. Participants can submit questions anonymously during registration or live during the webinar, ensuring privacy while also allowing for genuine interaction and peer support. This innovative format allows for a collective learning experience while respecting the individual’s need for confidentiality.
Support and validation are critical, especially for those dealing with the complexities of LGBTQIA+ issues in their families. Lifescapes has a track record of addressing timely psychological, psychiatric, and behavioural concerns through its webinars. Previous sessions have tackled subjects like school refusal and psychiatric medication, reaching numerous parents and guardians seeking reliable information and a sense of community.
The upcoming “Navigating LGBTQIA+ – Guidance for Parents” isn’t just another event; it’s a vital resource at a time when understanding and support are more necessary than ever. As society continues to evolve towards greater acceptance, resources like this webinar ensure that parents aren’t left behind in the conversation.
Spaces are limited for the webinar, and interested participants are encouraged to register soon. Past webinars are also available for review, offering additional resources for those who may need them.
To register for the upcoming session or explore future topics, visit the Lifescapes Counseling website.
In an era where allyship and understanding are paramount, Lifescapes Counseling Associates stands as a beacon for those navigating the challenging waters of parenting LGBTQIA+ children, equipping them with the tools needed to foster acceptance, love, and resilience.
Lifescapes Counseling Associates offers outpatient mental health services, including psychological evaluations, medication management, and individual, couples, group, and family counselling. Their mission is to provide compassionate, professional care tailored to the needs of their diverse clientele.
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