Pink Therapy News
Keeping YOU in the Frame
February 2009
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Greetings!
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 I'm not quite sure where January went, but we're already into the second month of the year and a lot has been happening here. We're delighted to have finalised the programme for the UKCP conference on 15/16 May and further information about this is below.
We're starting to have some clear expressions of interest from therapists wishing to specialise in working with sexual minority clients and become the second cohort of therapists undertaking our one year Certificate in Sexual Minority Therapy. Since space on this course is strictly limited, if its something you've been considering, it might be timely to let us know this. The fees and structure might change slightly, but the information online will give you an good overall view.
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UKCP/Pink Therapy Conference
15 & 16 May 2009 |
 As many of you will be aware, Pink Therapy was invited by UKCP to programme their first ever conference on working with gender and sexual minority clients. The conference is open to all therapists (you don't need to be a member of UKCP) and members of the Pink Therapy Directory qualify for a reduction in the registration fees.
The conference will open on the Friday evening with a Keynote on Mental Health and LGB people by Professor Mike King, who has been at the forefront of British LGB mental health research. The main conference day will be the Saturday and it will feature four keynotes plus the chance to attend two workshops. Click here to download a full conference programme. Or to view just the conference timetable click here.
Further information can be found on our website. If you want to book a place, please click this link to download a booking form which should be returned to UKCP as they are handling all conference administration.
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Working with Internalised Oppression
21 February 2009 1pm - 7pm
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 'Internalised oppression' refers to ways in which we, mostly unconsciously, take into our psyches and forms of thinking and being, oppressive ideas, attitudes, behaviours and feelings. These responses to systems of prejudice towards sexual minorities, with which we have all grown, can result in a range of clinical manifestations, from anxiety to self hatred, including rationalisation, erotophobia, homophobia, denial, projection, rigidity, compulsions and self harm. It is not possible, or ethical, adequately to address issues for sexual minorities in therapy or psychology without this vital context. This day provides information, theoretical models, and experiential exercises to raise awareness of these issues and begin to look at strategies for working therapeutically with them.
The workshop forms Day 3 of our five-day Essentials in Sexual Minority Therapy course but is open to therapists interested to know more about this area of work. It is fscilitated by Charles Neal. Places are strictly limited. The workshop takes place at our office in Soho from 1-7pm
Click here for further details
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Introduction to Psychosexual Therapy with Gender and Sexual Minorities
28 & 29 March 2009
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 Unless one does a specialist sex therapy training, one is probably ill prepared for understanding much about sexuality issues. Even if one did do a psychosexual training, probably very little was mentioned about minority sexualities.
This two day workshop provides an introduction to some of the key issues in working therapeutically with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients with psychosexual concerns, as well as clients involved in Kink/BDSM practices.
The course is facilitated by Naomi Adams and Dominic Davies and forms a core part of our one-year Certificate in Sexual Minority Therapy - although it is open to therapists of all gender and sexual identities and all theoretical models wishing to learn more about gender and sexual minorities sexuality and sexual practices and how to work with sexual issues in the consulting room.
It is a course of which has always been warmly received by previous participants:
"The course left me feeling saturated yet hungry for more."
"As an 'introduction' to psychosexual therapy, I felt it worked well in introducing and opening up different ways of working with clients who may introduce issues of difficulty. 'It did what it says on the tin!'!"
"I liked the blend of presentations, role play and exercises giving us an opportunity to put into practice our learning in a controlled environment."
"I appreciated Naomi and Dominic's accessibility and sharing of clinical and life experiences."
"The presentation style was informative, relaxed, sensitive and with appropriate humour."
"I found the pictures and films on female anatomy and genitalia helpful. As a heterosexual woman I've never seen so many vulvas! The video on explicit sexual practices was also help."
"The course left me feeling more confident with psychosexual therapy, incorporating it more where it is not always obvious and more confident in working with lesbian clients. Thank you very much."
Further details here, click here. |
Mentoring with Charles Neal
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 Charles Neal (pictured left) (co-editor of the Pink Therapy trilogy of textbooks) has been running a CPD group for therapists wishing to develop their therapy work with gender and sexual minority clients and has a couple of places remaining in his group which meets bimonthly on Friday afternoons in Soho.
The dates are: 6 March, 15 May, 10 July, 18 Sept, 6 Nov.
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Funding for LGBT groups working on health issues
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 The Department of Health's LGBT Advisory Group has some funding available and would especially like to hear from organisations working on the needs of bisexual people and those whose mental health has been affected by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. However, they will consider any proposals in the area of LGBT health and social care. Grants of up to £3,000 are available.
Please contact Paul Head Programme Manager on paul.head@dh.gsi.gov.uk with any questions or for more details and a proforma to apply. The final closing date for applications will be 6 February.
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| Online survey on pregnancy loss |
Participants for an online questionnaire study exploring lesbian and bisexual women's experiences of pregnancy loss. Both birth (biological) and social (non-biological) mothers can take part in the study.
If you are eligible and willing to potentially complete the survey the link is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xklQNLLe8sXfdteY6HiJrg_3d_3d |
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Pink Therapy Yahoo Group |
We've established a Yahoo group, it is a discussion group for therapists interested in working in a non-pathologising manner with gender and sexual minority clients. If you are a therapist of whatever theoretical or sexual orientation and however you define your gender identity, you are welcome to join the discussion. You can also upload relevant articles (and Dominic's put a few online to tempt you in)!
Whilst the group is primarily aimed at counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical and counselling psychologists we also welcome therapists from other disciplines who have an interest in our mental well-being.
To join the group send an email to pinktherapy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and remember check your SPAM folder if you don't immediately see a reply.
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That's all for this month, thanks for your attention, and please do send us things that have a specific relevance to people working with gender and sexual minority clients. |
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Dominic Davies
Pink Therapy
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