Description: 

This presentation will explore how mental health therapists lack comprehensive education and supervision in working with LGBTQIA+ communities, leading to unmet mental health needs especially in LGBTQIA+ youth. The presenters will describe ways to employ the Netflix UK series Heartstopper, an adaptation of Alice Oseman's novella and graphic novels, as a potent therapeutic resource, presenting: Reflexive positioning statements, a synthesis of literature from critical media studies, queer theory and positive psychology, key themes for therapeutic use of Heartstopper, clinical vignettes, and discuss episode segments and strategies mental health professionals may use to affirm LGBTQIA+ lives.

Description: 

This presentation discusses emotional regulation, exploration of identity, empowerment, and a hands on exercise that may be used with clients, or for self reflection. Whether a client is exploring the options of transitioning, or they are in the process of transitioning, it is important to pause, and hold space for the current relationship to self.  This pause may be incredibly uncomfortable, feel scary, be unfamiliar or it might be exciting!  Through exploring the current relationship to self, and all of its potentially messy parts - it promotes a more empowered transition. 

Description: 

Participants will learn key strategies for supporting LGBTQIA+ youth who live within a politically hostile environment. A case study of Art from the Heart, a small business in the Orlando, Florida area that provides LGBTQIA+ youth with mindful and trauma-informed care through expressive arts, will be described. Mental health providers will learn methods that were effective in re-establishing services for this community after a years-long gap in care exacerbated by the pandemic. Within this context, the use of an empowerment model that utilizes art-making as a means of healing and a catalyst for LGBTQIA+ youth to amplify their resiliency will be described. Presenters will outline practical considerations regarding the delivery of services for LGBTQIA+ youth groups who have minority-related stress and provide information regarding how to build alliances with local non-profit organizations. 

Description: 

Participants will be guided through a practical exploration of the Somatic Body Mapping Protocol that directly addresses the permeating feeling of threat inherent in a disadvantaged identity such as that of the LGBTQIA+ service user. The Somatic Body Mapping Protocol tracks the body’s reaction to the external environment in order to bring conscious awareness to the service user of how their state of being changes according to the level of safety they perceive. This presentation includes examples from service users as well as offering a guided somatic experience of the protocol itself. We will experiment with this easily reproducible technique that gives form and color to the sensations and emotions that are felt in the body, helping them become contained and transformed.

Description: 

This presentation will explore art as a tool for identity formation with LGBTQIA+ youth. Participants will be engaged in art making, lecture, and discussion and will learn about the dimensions of identity, power/privilege, implicit bias, and continued growth in these areas. Aspects of identity will be explored in art and discussion. The presenter will discuss the use of art therapy in the development of client sense of self. Participants will learn about art interventions to use with clients as well as engage in art making to experience the interventions fully.

Description: 

This presentation is designed to address queer joy in multi-cultural settings. What is the balance of advocating for queer pride, but also being mindful of safety? Presenters will explore this balance and open up discussion for cross-cultural and international pride.

Description: 

This is an experiential workshop where participants will read poems on themes of sexual orientation and gender identity and participate in responding to poetry and journaling prompts. Instructions for creating collages will also be provided.

Description: 

During this conversation between two Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (Music Therapist and Drama Therapist), themes such as cultivating resilience, the necessity of finding queer joy in and out of the therapy space, addressing and locating joy in our bodies, exploring queer narratives through different modalities/mediums of art and re-claiming identity will be addressed. Clinicians will also address ethical practices surrounding gender affirming-care and explore the fear, joy and vicarious resilience that can come along with it. 

Description: 

This presentation will showcase the power of the expressive arts when working therapeutically with queer couples. We will explore the significance in revitalizing our creativity as a way to stay empowered in our desire by approaching topics of bodily sovereignty, metaphor, reclaiming pleasure, and the deconstruction of forced societal norms. Queerness already asks that we dismantle what we’ve been taught relationships should be based on the heteronormative gaze. The expressive arts supports our ability to redefine sex and intimacy by healing our relationship to imagination and trust that we are creators of our own pleasure and joy and turns the focus away from external structures and back towards the person—full presence and acceptance of the mind, body, and spirit. Specific expressive arts interventions for couples and those in relationship will be shared, touching on practices such as role play, creative writing, music, movement, and visual arts. Participants will gain confidence in supporting their queer couples in accessing true connective and intimate liberation.

Description: 

The presenter will share their findings and explorations on gender euphoria and its use as a tool in gender-affirming music that resulted in their culminating project at Drexel University. Excerpts from the concept album will be shared and the presenter will facilitate a discussion about what was evoked by listening to the music. The discussion may be used as material to inspire songwriting, followed by a reflection of how this process of listening could be utilized within gender-affirming music therapy.

Description: 

Dramatherapist Kath Akers and Yorkshire-based theatre makers Not Forever Yone - JJ Cruikshank and Alex Briggs - will present a case study from work they did together in a period of Reseach and Development leading to performance of How to Be a Hot Mess: a theatre piece that explores queer and trans resilience through a semi autobiographical journey. The company was made up of queer, trans and neurodivergent creatives, and the project involved outreach to the local queer community. The R and D of How to Be a Hot Mess was supported by Leeds Playhouse and the support of a Dramatherapist was woven into the project from the start. Kath, JJ and Alex will discuss what we learned along the way about how the creative arts therapies utilising a Neuroqueer lens, might support companies to hold a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and queer and trans-centred rehearsal room. A place for these important stories to be created, explored and shared. 

Description: 

In this presentation, we will explore the transformative power of vocal improvisation within expressive arts therapy to affirm and explore LGBTQ+ identities in Hong Kong. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Diane Austin's depth psychology-based vocal psychotherapy, we will examine how this approach can be extended to the expressive arts therapy. I will also illustrate my work from the perspectives of intermodal decentering (IDEC) and focusing-oriented expressive arts. Through my personal story and case examples, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the therapeutic process and its potential to empower LGBTQ+ individuals.