Postpartum rage and anxiety are often misunderstood, overlooked, or misdiagnosed—yet they can significantly impact birthing individuals and their families. This engaging, expert-led training is designed for clinical mental health providers who want to deepen their understanding of these complex postpartum experiences and feel more confident addressing them in practice. Grounded in current research and delivered through an accessible online format, the course blends clear instruction, reflective exercises, and interactive discussion to connect theory to real-world clinical work.

Participants will learn how to recognize postpartum rage, understand its connection to anxiety, and apply practical, evidence-informed tools to help clients cope and reduce distress. The training emphasizes compassionate, inclusive, and client-centered care, rooted in social work values of dignity, human connection, and social justice—particularly for communities with limited access to specialized perinatal mental health services. Led by Ricci Howell, LCSW, a seasoned perinatal mental health clinician, this introductory course offers meaningful insight, practical strategies, and increased confidence for clinicians supporting clients during the postpartum period.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define and identify postpartum rage

2. Understand the connection between postpartum rage and anxiety

3. Identify 3 tools to use in practice with clients

AASECT CKA:

H: Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

Navigating Stages of Change in Sexual Health, part 2

This three-part series explores the stages of change as they relate to sexual health and out-of-control sexual behavior. Therapists will gain practical strategies to assess where clients are in their journey and apply evidence-based interventions tailored to each stage.

Through engaging lectures, guided reflection, interactive exercises, and expert feedback, participants will build confidence and clinical skill in supporting clients’ growth and transformation. Presented in collaboration with Kristin B. Hodson, LCSW, CST, CST-S.

IMPORTANT: THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE LGBTQ THERAPIST'S GUILD AND IS NOT HOSTED BY THE HEALING GROUP INSTITUTE.

 In 2023, the Electronic Software Association (ESA) found there were over 212 million people playing video games, and GLAAD uncovered that approximately 1 in 5 players identify as LGBTQ. The gaming industry is increasingly aware of those in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities as active players. Yet the gaming industry often inadequately represents, and at times, inadvertently fosters hostility towards these populations. In this digital age, it is paramount that clinicians better understand the nuances and intersections between gamer culture, its subdivisions, and the individuals and families they work with in therapy. Video games and VR inherently offer a variety of avenues for skills development and exploration of the self; from client engagement to narratives, internal worlds to external worlds, individual to family functioning, micro to macro systems. Through the practice of gamification and utilizing video games and virtual reality in therapy sessions, we have an opportunity for further understanding and working with our clients.

In order to participate, please sign up for The LGBTQ Therapist’s Guild here: https://www.lgbtqtherapists.com/

Gain the confidence and clarity to address sexual health concerns with professionalism, care, and ease. This engaging introductory training equips clinicians with practical tools to ethically integrate sexual health conversations into everyday practice using the widely respected PLISSIT Model. You’ll learn how to normalize discussions about sexuality, provide clear and appropriate education, offer limited clinical guidance within your scope, and confidently identify when a referral is needed—so you can better support your clients without overstepping boundaries.

Through expert-led instruction, dynamic discussions, and guided reflection, this course bridges theory and real-world clinical application. Participants will have opportunities to connect the material to their own experiences, ask questions, and practice using permission-giving language that reduces shame and builds trust. By the end of the training, you’ll walk away with a solid understanding of the PLISSIT Model, greater comfort addressing sexual health concerns, and concrete strategies you can immediately apply to enhance client care and therapeutic outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the PLISSIT Model framework

2. Identify appropriate levels of sexual health intervention

3. Use permission-giving language to reduce shame 

4. Recognize when referral is clinically indicated

AASECT CKA: 

N. Learning theory and its application.

AASECT ST: 

A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

F. Ethical decision-making and best practice.

Move past outdated definitions. Gain the depth and clarity needed to support today’s diverse clients.

Gender is far more than a simple binary. It’s a complex, multidimensional concept shaped by biological, psychological, cultural, and social factors — and understanding this complexity is essential for competent, affirming clinical care.

In this insightful, research-informed session, Dr. Lisa Diamond, internationally recognized scholar on gender and sexual identity, guides mental health providers in broadening their conceptual framework of gender. You’ll explore the intersection of biological and non-biological influences, challenge narrow definitions, and learn to integrate a more nuanced understanding into everyday practice.

What You’ll Learn

• Adopt a Broader Perspective on Gender
  Expand your understanding beyond binary models to include biological, psychological, cultural, and social dimensions.

• Understand the Clinical Relevance of Gender Diversity
  Recognize how nuanced gender understanding informs assessment, treatment planning, and therapeutic relationships.

• Differentiate Between Biological & Non-Biological Factors
  Clarify how sex and gender interact and how these distinctions matter in clinical settings.

• Integrate Inclusive, Client-Centered Care
  Apply expanded frameworks to foster more affirming, culturally responsive, and clinically sound treatment.

Unlock a deeper understanding of sleep, circadian rhythm, and their powerful impact on mental health with this engaging, clinician-focused training designed to enhance your therapeutic practice. In this expert-led lecture, you’ll explore the fundamentals of sleep health and learn practical, evidence-informed strategies to help clients improve sleep satisfaction and overall well-being. As a unique bonus, the course introduces a simple, multi-tier approach to working with individual dream content—while thoughtfully honoring each client’s cultural background and lived experience. Through informative lectures, interactive discussion, and guided reflection, you’ll build confidence in addressing common sleep challenges such as insomnia, nightmares, and disrupted schedules, and gain practical tools including CBT-I strategies, sleep hygiene interventions, and an overview of supplements and medications.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how sleep impacts general health and what occurs during sleep cycles

2. Understand common problems (insomnia, nightmares, inconsistent schedules) and utilize interventions including CBT-I, sleep hygiene, supplements, and medications.

3. Develop a basic understanding of one approach toward dream analysis

AASECT CKA: 

H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

N. Learning theory and its application.

AASECT ST: 

A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

Chronic Pelvic Pain, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and trauma are three of the most commonly misunderstood, complex, and often co-occurring disorders that both behavioral health providers and medical health providers struggle to appropriately and accurately assess and treat. The primary goal of the presentation is to provide an effective, efficient, and comprehensive approach to not only understanding the common thread between chronic pelvic pain, MCAS, and trauma, but also how to educate and treat patients navigating these complex, and often co-occurring, disorders. Research from multiple fields, including psychoneuroimmunology, will be reviewed. Clinical knowledge, guidance on interdisciplinary care and collaboration, and clinical skills will be provided utilizing two complex case studies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the common thread between Chronic Pelvic Pain, MCAS, and trauma

2. Explain how to simultaneously take a patient history and provide pain science education

3. Understand the key components of treating clients with Chronic Pelvic Pain, MCAS, and trauma

AASECT CKA: 

A. Ethics and ethical behavior.

G. Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology.

H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

AASECT ST: 

A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

Discover a fresh, engaging approach to supporting perinatal clients. This course invites you to expand your clinical toolkit by exploring how play therapy can become a powerful, practical lens for adult treatment—enhancing connection, insight, and healing in your work with perinatal clients. Through interactive lectures, live demonstrations, role-play experiences, and meaningful reflection, you’ll gain hands-on strategies you can use immediately. Walk away with increased confidence, concrete play-based tools, and a renewed sense of creativity and competence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain what play therapy is and how it can be a beneficial therapeutic lens for adults.

2. Understand the importance of play in the therapeutic process.

3. Identify at least 3 tools/techniques applicable to adult clients.

AASECT CKA: 

H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

AASECT ST: 

C. Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems

The purpose of this training is to enhance perinatal mental health and sexual health practitioners’ understanding of childbirth physiology, contemporary birth practices in the United States, and the psychosocial context in which pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period unfold. Birthsmarter PRO introduces clinicians to the Birthsmarter Framework—a trauma-informed, non-binary, critical-thinking approach to childbirth education—designed to support realistic expectation-setting, nuanced communication, and patient-centered advocacy within clinical scope of practice.

As maternal mortality, pelvic health complications, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders continue to rise, mental health professionals occupy a uniquely trusted role in preparing clients for birth and postpartum recovery. However, well-intentioned practitioners may unintentionally reinforce fear-based narratives, outdated assumptions, or overly idealized portrayals of birth. This training offers a reframing of birth education that moves beyond fearmongering and toxic positivity, equipping clinicians with language, context, and conceptual tools to help clients navigate uncertainty, complexity, and individual circumstance with greater confidence and emotional safety.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of birth physiology, the historical and systemic forces shaping perinatal care, and practical strategies for integrating childbirth education concepts into therapeutic work—enhancing their ability to support informed decision-making, emotional regulation, and embodied agency throughout the perinatal period.

Learning Objectives:

1. Communicate more effectively with perinatal clients by applying the Three Actions of Physiological Birth and using precise, non-alarmist, non-idealized language that supports emotional safety and informed consent.

2. Think critically about birth culture and clinical narratives, including the history of obstetrics in the U.S., systemic inequities in maternal health, and the impact of practitioner bias on client expectations and experiences.

3. Provide empathetic, individualized support through intentional language choices and strategies that meet clients where they are emotionally, relationally, and culturally.

4. Identify and utilize curated perinatal resources to enhance clinical care for pregnant and postpartum clients and strengthen referral networks.

AASECT CKA: 

C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.

G. Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology.

H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

AASECT ST: 

F. Ethical decision-making and best practice.

Navigating Stages of Change in Sexual Health, part 3

This three-part series explores the stages of change as they relate to sexual health and out-of-control sexual behavior. Therapists will gain practical strategies to assess where clients are in their journey and apply evidence-based interventions tailored to each stage.

Through engaging lectures, guided reflection, interactive exercises, and expert feedback, participants will build confidence and clinical skill in supporting clients’ growth and transformation. Presented in collaboration with Kristin B. Hodson, LCSW, CST, CST-S.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and describe the stages of change as they relate to sexual health and out-of-control sexual behavior

• Differentiate client presentations across stages

• Apply developmentally and clinically appropriate interventions that promote movement toward sexual health and self-regulation.

AASECT Core Knowledge Areas
A. Ethics and ethical behavior.
B. Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the life course.
C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
D. Issues related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity: heterosexuality; issues and themes impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual people; gender identity and expression.
E. Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.
F. Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles including, but not limited to, polyamory, swinging, BDSM and tantra.
H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.
J. Sexual exploitation including sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
L. Substance use/abuse and sexuality.

AASECT Sex Therapy Skills Training
A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

IMPORTANT: THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE LGBTQ THERAPIST'S GUILD AND IS NOT HOSTED BY THE HEALING GROUP INSTITUTE.

Chris Wharton has represented clients in more name and sex/gender-marker cases than any other attorney in Utah. Chris also won the Utah Supreme Court case that set statewide standards for name and name and sex/gender-marker changes.  This presentation will cover the legal processes and applicable statutes for name and sex/gender-marker changes. We will also discuss the medical and psychological evidence courts typically consider in these proceedings. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about these processes and how medical health providers can help set their patients up for success in court.

In order to participate, please sign up for The LGBTQ Therapist’s Guild here: https://www.lgbtqtherapists.com/

The purpose of this training is to enhance perinatal mental health and sexual health practitioners’ understanding of childbirth physiology, contemporary birth practices in the United States, and the psychosocial context in which pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period unfold. Birthsmarter PRO introduces clinicians to the Birthsmarter Framework—a trauma-informed, non-binary, critical-thinking approach to childbirth education—designed to support realistic expectation-setting, nuanced communication, and patient-centered advocacy within clinical scope of practice.

As maternal mortality, pelvic health complications, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders continue to rise, mental health professionals occupy a uniquely trusted role in preparing clients for birth and postpartum recovery. However, well-intentioned practitioners may unintentionally reinforce fear-based narratives, outdated assumptions, or overly idealized portrayals of birth. This training offers a reframing of birth education that moves beyond fearmongering and toxic positivity, equipping clinicians with language, context, and conceptual tools to help clients navigate uncertainty, complexity, and individual circumstance with greater confidence and emotional safety.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of birth physiology, the historical and systemic forces shaping perinatal care, and practical strategies for integrating childbirth education concepts into therapeutic work—enhancing their ability to support informed decision-making, emotional regulation, and embodied agency throughout the perinatal period.

Learning Objectives:

1. Communicate more effectively with perinatal clients by applying the Three Actions of Physiological Birth and using precise, non-alarmist, non-idealized language that supports emotional safety and informed consent.

2. Think critically about birth culture and clinical narratives, including the history of obstetrics in the U.S., systemic inequities in maternal health, and the impact of practitioner bias on client expectations and experiences.

3. Provide empathetic, individualized support through intentional language choices and strategies that meet clients where they are emotionally, relationally, and culturally.

4. Identify and utilize curated perinatal resources to enhance clinical care for pregnant and postpartum clients and strengthen referral networks.

AASECT CKA: 

C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.

G. Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology.

H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.

AASECT ST: 

F. Ethical decision-making and best practice.

2-hour Cultural Competency training

Cultural humility isn’t just a buzz phrase - it’s clinical ethics. In this training, therapists and health providers will examine how bias, power, and social stress show up in treatment (even with the “nice” practitioner), and why neutrality often becomes avoidance. Participants will learn a direct, usable repair protocol for moments of identity-linked harm, misattunement, and rupture—plus concrete language for consent-based pacing, shame reduction, and inclusive care that doesn’t require clients to educate their practitioners. We’ll close with a non-fluffy self-care lens: creativity as a way to metabolize political intensity and protect the therapist’s nervous system so repair stays possible.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and describe at least one key clinical considerations for ethically responding to client concerns, and choose an appropriate clinical response using a brief case example.

2. Apply at least two client-centered frameworks to conceptualize presenting concerns within identity, cultural, and systemic contexts, including one equity-informed lens to reduce harm and strengthen collaboration.

3. Begin to develop a brief, individualized professional sustainability plan that includes one boundary strategy, one regulation strategy, and one creativity-based practice to support resilience during heightened social or political stress.

AASECT CKA: 

A. Ethics and ethical behavior.

C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.

O. Professional communication and personal reflection skills.

AASECT ST: 

F. Ethical decision-making and best practice.

PRESENTER: Amanda Jae Gonzalez, MSW, LCSW

As a growing expert in trauma, mindfulness, and body–mind bridging across the lifespan, Amanda strives to support individuals and families in making sense of what they’re experiencing and moving toward meaningful change. Her approach is light-hearted, relational, and evidence-informed, and works to create a space that feels both grounded and human. She often integrates somatics, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical approaches, and psychodynamic insight into an education-based style that helps clients better understand their nervous system, patterns, and needs.

Amanda frequently supports clients navigating anxiety, survivorship, post-traumatic stress, injury or chronic pain, and perinatal/postpartum concerns—including postpartum mood disorders and postpartum psychosis. Her clinical background includes training in psychodynamic theory and child development, and she also incorporates attachment-based work that supports healthier “relating,” emotional safety, and connection over time.

She deeply appreciates each client’s humanity throughout our work together. In each therapeutic relationship, her hope is to engage in a way that feels creative, informative, strength-building, and supportive of real change.

IMPORTANT: THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE LGBTQ THERAPIST'S GUILD AND IS NOT HOSTED BY THE HEALING GROUP INSTITUTE.

Dr. Rullo is ABPP Certified, a Board-Certified Clinical Health Psychologist, a AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, and a Certified Gottman Therapist.  In this in-service, Dr, Rullo will discuss Sensate Focus Therapy.  Sensate Focus isn’t just for sex therapists! It is a mindfulness and exposure-based intervention that any therapist can use. It is an essential intervention for couples who struggle with desire discrepancy and sexual avoidance. In this session, learn everything you need to know to start Sensate Focus today!

In order to participate, please sign up for The LGBTQ Therapist’s Guild here: https://www.lgbtqtherapists.com/

Integrate Sexual Health Principles into Clinical Work with Clients Engaging in Sex/Drug-Linked Behaviors, part 1

This three-part series will focus on sex/drug linked behavior. Based on a curriculum that was successfully implemented and evaluated at Stepping Stone, a drug and alcohol treatment program in San Diego, this series will support therapists in understanding and integrating basic sexual health principles into their work. Therapists will have an overall understanding of sex/drug linked behavior and recognize when a referral to an addiction treatment center is appropriate.

Through engaging lectures, guided reflection, interactive exercises, and expert feedback, participants will build confidence and clinical skill in supporting clients’ growth and transformation. Presented in collaboration with Kristin B. Hodson, LCSW, CST, CST-S.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the relationship between substance use and sexual behavior

• Integrate sexual health principles into assessment and treatment planning

• Recognize when referral to specialized addiction treatment is appropriate to support recovery and sexual well-being.

AASECT Core Knowledge Areas
H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.
J. Sexual exploitation including sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
L. Substance use/abuse and sexuality.

AASECT Sex Therapy Skills Training
A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

IMPORTANT: THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE LGBTQ THERAPIST'S GUILD AND IS NOT HOSTED BY THE HEALING GROUP INSTITUTE.

Kristin Hodson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Sex Therapist Supervisor, Founder and Executive Director of The Healing Group and co-author of “Real Intimacy: A Couples Guide for Genuine, Healthy Sexuality.” (Cedar Fort, 2011). The purpose of this training is to expand our knowledge and understanding of sexuality and aging—with a focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults—while also challenging both our personal and professional biases and assumptions. Together, we’ll explore how ageism and heteronormativity intersect in healthcare settings, how a lack of provider training in sexual health contributes to the “pleasure gap,” and how persistent myths—such as the belief that older adults are asexual or uninterested in sex—fuel loneliness, invisibility, and mental health challenges in aging populations. Special attention will be given to how these dynamics are further complicated for LGBTQ+ individuals, who often face a lifetime of stigma, inadequate care, and isolation as they age.

In order to participate, please sign up for The LGBTQ Therapist’s Guild here: https://www.lgbtqtherapists.com/

IMPORTANT: THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE LGBTQ THERAPIST'S GUILD AND IS NOT HOSTED BY THE HEALING GROUP INSTITUTE.

Since 2012, various members of the Reconciliation and Growth Project have been meeting twice a month to dialogue and find common ground on issues related to sexual, gender, and faith diversity. Members have included clinicians, academics, and educators with differing views on topics such as conversion therapy, same-sex marriage, and medical transitioning. This presentation will share the history and process of this collaborative effort to reduce polarization and highlight clinical recommendations designed to help a broad range of clinicians avoid harm, promote self-determination, reduce trauma and minority stress, build resilience, and foster meaningful human connection. 

In order to participate, please sign up for The LGBTQ Therapist’s Guild here: https://www.lgbtqtherapists.com/