Introduction to LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency

What's your LGBTQ+ IQ? How would you rate your cultural competency in working with people from LGBTQ+ communities? Are you familiar with queer cultures and histories? Do you practice culturally-affirming principles and competencies?

IHI Competency Courses is proud to present Intro to LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency, a self-study e-course training that will help boost your LGBTQ+ IQ and earn you 4 continuing education credits (CEUs)*!  

Since 1973, the Institute for Human Identity (IHI) has been the first-in-the-nation provider of affirmative professional mental health services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified people. The Institute draws from its nearly fifty years of advocacy, queer history, lived experience, and cultural knowledge to bring you an e-course to enrich your general competency in:

  • Understanding sexual orientation, gender identities, and cultural terms

  • Acknowledging  histories and experiences in the U.S.

  • Creating affirming clinical practice environments for working with LGBTQ+ people

Did you know?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services… “…LGBT individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBT persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. Experiences of violence and victimization are frequent for LGBT individuals, and have long-lasting effects on the individual and the community. Personal, family, and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals.” [1]

Gain the cultural competencies you need to support LGBTQ+-identified clients.

This IHI Competency Course will provide you with the continuing education you need to:

  • Create safer spaces where all sexual orientations and gender identities are recognized and affirmed

  • Establish solid rapport with LGBTQ+-identified clients through advanced cultural knowledge and understanding 

  • Understand cultural terms, concepts, and expressions integral to LGBTQ+ communities and develop relational competencies in working with LGBTQ+-identified individuals

  • Support clients in their individual exploration of gender and sexuality to support a person’s unique “coming out” process

  • Identify aspects of personal, interpersonal, and institutional systems that impact LGBTQ+ identity development, contribute to health disparities, and affect access to health and mental healthcare

  • Understand the history of oppression and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+-identified people within the U.S.

  • Explain the progress made toward advancing human rights and social justice within LGBTQ+ populations and identify challenges and barriers that continue to impact these individuals and communities

  • Recognize the stigmatic impact that HIV and AIDS have had on LGBTQ+ individuals and communities and develop awareness of the resilience of people living with HIV

  • Identify specific issues faced by transgender individuals and communities, including understanding binary and non-binary gender identities and expressions

Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) without leaving home.

The Institute for Human Identity is authorized by the State of New York to provide continuing education credits (CEUs) to licensed master social workers (LMSW), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) who complete our trainings. Upon successful completion of this IHI Competency Courses e-course, you will receive four (4) CEU self-study credits. All users who complete this e-course will receive a digital certificate of completion regardless of their professional status or location. Mental health practitioners across the U.S. are encouraged to submit this training experience to their respective state boards for approval.
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ACT NOW AND ENROLL FOR ONLY $99!

Enroll now and get the full 4-hour e-course for a special rate of $99. Enter code SPECIAL99 at checkout!

Learn from the nation’s first LGBTQ+-affirmative psychotherapy center.

IHI Competency Courses are taught by senior psychotherapists and facilitators from IHI Therapy Center, New York City’s leading LGBTQ+-affirmative community-based psychotherapy institute. IHI has been providing culturally competent, affirming, and inclusive mental health services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied communities since 1973.

In addition to e-courses, IHI Competency Courses provide comprehensive LIVE in-person LGBTQ+ cultural competency trainings to clinicians, group practices, corporations, schools, and organizations who have specific interest in better serving the needs of LGBTQ+ clients, students, employees, and colleagues. Click here for more information or to book a live training for your organization. Live trainings can be conducted via teleconference platforms such as Zoom.

Meet Your Instructor

Kristy LaRocca

Director of Professional Development

Kristy LaRocca

Kristy is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor and passionate advocate of LGBTQ+ rights and all human rights. Kristy completed her clinical internship at IHI Therapy Center, one of NYC’s leading training programs for LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapy, and has served on staff there for several years as a Staff Therapist, the Intern Coordinator, and as a Steering Committee Member. Currently, Kristy runs her own private psychotherapy practice and continues her commitment to IHI as the Director of Professional Development and Supervisor. Kristy received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Brooklyn College and taught psychology courses as an Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn College for four years. Kristy has facilitated guest lectures and served on panels promoting LGBTQ+ competency and health. Kristy also provides supervision and consultation services to other therapists and professionals.

Learn at your own pace, in your own space.

This IHI Competency Courses e-course can be completed anywhere-- from a cafe to your office to the comfort of your home. All you need to get started is a computer or mobile device and a secure internet connection.

IHI Competency Courses e-courses are self-paced, distance-learning online courses that utilize lectures, interviews, visual aids, reflective exercises, and case study analysis to educate participants and encourage positive, affirming attitudes toward LGBTQ+-identified clients and patients.

This course only takes 4 hours to complete. You can start and stop the course as you need and complete the course at your own pace.

What's Included

When you enroll in this IHI Competency Courses e-course, you’ll receive the following:

  • Access to the e-course for six (6) months after course activation (see Terms of Service)

  • Downloadable handouts and resources to supplement your learning

  • Four (4) self-study continuing education credits (CEUs) for Social Workers (LMSW, LCSW) and Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) licensed in New York State

  • Support from IHI Competency Courses Team on Facebook for the duration of your e-course access period

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FAQs

  • Cost?

    The full-value fee for this e-course is $128. Promotional pricing may be offered occasionally on a time-limited basis. To receive updates on promotional pricing, sign up for the IHI Competency Courses mailing list above.

  • What makes IHI’s Competency Courses different from similar trainings?

    Since 1973, the Institute for Human Identity has been the first-in-the-nation provider of affirmative professional mental health services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified people.

    IHI's founder--Dr. Charles Silverstein--was instrumental in the fight to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association's list of mental disorders.

    IHI Competency Courses draw from IHI's nearly fifty years of advocacy, queer history, lived experience, and cultural knowledge to bring you culutral competency trainings that enrich your general competency in:

    ● Understanding sexual orientation, gender identities, and cultural terms
    ● Acknowledging LGBTQ+ histories and experiences in the U.S.
    ● Creating affirming clinical practice environments for working with LGBTQ+ people

    For more information on IHI’s rich history of advocacy, mental health service provision, clinical training, and community service, visit www.ihitherapy.org/about.

  • What’s the refund policy?

    IHI will refund your enrollment fee in full only if you cancel within 24 hours of purchasing this e-course.

  • Is this e-course available on an iOS or Android app?

    No. IHI Competency Courses e-courses are, however, fully responsive to web browsers on iOS and Android devices. In fact, approximately 70% of our students will take the course on a device such as a smartphone or tablet.

  • Will my access to the course expire?

    Yes. You will have six (6) months (180 days) to complete this e-course from your date of purchase. After this period, if you wish to access this e-course's content, you will need to purchase again.

  • Do you offer CEUs to other mental health professionals such as psychologists or Marriage and Family Therapists? And what about mental health professionals licensed in states other than New York?

    IHI is currently authorized to provide continuing education credits (CEUs) to social workers and mental health counselors licensed in New York State. Everyone over the age of 18, however, regardless of professional status, is welcome to take this e-course for professional development. All participants who complete this e-course will be provided a digital certificate of completion that is suitable for printing and framing. IHI plans to provide CEUs to practitioners of other mental health professions the future.

  • What technology and/or system requirements are needed to take this e-course?

    To take the e-course, you will need either a computer, tablet, or mobile device with internet connection.

    In order to make sure the e-course runs well, please make sure your computer/device has the following:

    ● The most recent version of a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge)
    ● Javascript enabled
    ● PDF plugin
    ● Graphic and audio output capability
    ● Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
    ● LS 1.2 supported by your web browser