Sexuality & Gender Online Workshops With Chloe Foster
About Chloe's Workshops
Come join us in building your confidence in working with LGBTQ clients. With a range of different workshops to choose from you will learn the differences between sex and gender, why gender neutral pronouns are so important, and how our heteronormative and cisnormative society impacts our clients’ mental health.
Each workshop has been designed with a mix of interactive exercises and reflective discussions which are engaging and fun, giving you the opportunity to learn with others in small groups and as a whole group with the trainer. Chloe’s workshops can be booked separately or all together.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THESE WORKSHOPS?
Counsellor, therapists and mental health professionals. Suitable for both trainees and qualified practitioners.
Beneficial for counsellors new to working with LGBTQ clients and those with some experience already.
TRAINING ORGANISATIONS/CHARITIES
LET CHLOE TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS
(Scroll down for more info on each workshop)
Workshop 1
Sexuality, Gender and Sex – What’s the Difference?
Workshop 2
Gender Neutral Pronouns – Building Your Confidence
Workshop 3
Heteronormative Society – Impacts on Client Mental Health
Workshop 4
Cisnormative Society – Impacts on Client Mental Health
WORKSHOP STRUCTURE
Become more confident using gender neutral pronouns
Become more aware of the ever-evolving language relating to gender and sexual diversity
Know the difference between sex, gender identity/expression and sexuality
A raised awareness of how homophobia, biphobia and transphobia impacts LGBTQ clients’ mental health
An understanding of the terms heteronormative and cisnormative
How our society can affect LGBTQ clients.
OVERALL A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
Workshop Outcomes
Scroll down to listen to Chloe explain more about each workshop
WORKSHOP 1 - Sexuality, Gender and Sex - What’s the Difference?
Does the difference between sex and gender confuse you? Perhaps when we put gender expression, and physical and emotional attraction into the mix you are left even more confused?
This workshop will simplify all these terms and help you learn some of the key terms around sexuality and gender, leaving you feeling more confident to work with clients who may have questions around their own identity and what labels (if any) they might want to use to describe them.
There will be space for personal reflection where you will be encouraged to think about your own relationship to gender and sexuality. Then, in virtual small groups, you will have the opportunity to explore where you may fit on each spectrum using The Gender Unicorn model.
We will end with thinking together as a whole group about how this knowledge might be helpful in the counselling room with our clients.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING:
- "A refreshing and thought-provoking workshop enabling me to think professionally and personally about an issue that clients bring to sessions frequently. Thank you so much!"
- "An excellent interactive way of learning and meeting other Counsellors"
WORKSHOP 2 - Gender Neutral Pronouns – Building Your Confidence
Do you struggle to understand the use of ‘they’ as a gender neutral pronoun? Perhaps you find using it uncomfortable and unfamiliar? In this workshop we will explore together the background of ‘they’ as a pronoun and why it’s important to increasing numbers of clients we see in the counselling room.
We use pronouns all the time when we refer to our clients in supervision (perhaps without even thinking about it) but how many of us have asked our clients what their pronouns are? Looking at case studies we will learn together as a group how/when/if to ask clients their pronouns and what to do if we make a mistake.
Then, putting all this knowledge together, we will end with some virtual group work where you will get the opportunity to practice using the ‘they’ pronouns with some short role plays.
This interactive and experiential workshop will give you some basic understanding and confidence around the importance of pronouns in counselling and everyday life. We will end with thinking together as a whole group about how this knowledge might be helpful in the counselling room with our clients.
WORKSHOP 3 - Heteronormative Society – Impacts on Client Mental Health
Have you worked with many lesbian, gay or bisexual clients? How do you know? Did they tell you? Perhaps you inadvertently assumed they were straight...
In this workshop we will explore the impact of the society we live in, and how it can cause us, as counsellors, to automatically assume that clients will desire the ‘other gender’.
Through group discussions of case studies, we will learn the meaning of the terms heteronormative and bierasure, and how these can have a daily impact on our clients who are lesbian, gay or bisexual as they battle through the world having to continually decide whether or not to ‘come out’ each time they are in a new situation, including with you, as their counsellor.
Bringing this awareness together we will end with an interactive activity where we will discuss the impact this can have on our clients’ mental health.
WORKSHOP 4 - Cisnormative Society – Impacts on Client Mental Health
A deep voice on the telephone or a female name on an email often pushes us as counsellors to assume a client’s gender. This is the result of us all living in a cisnormative society where we have learned to automatically assume gender unless corrected.
In this workshop we will explore the impact of the society we live, in asking ourselves questions such as:
Have you worked with many trans or non-binary clients?
How do you know?
Did they tell you?
Perhaps you inadvertently assumed they were cisgender (not trans) …
Through group discussions of case studies, we will discuss how our cisnormative society can have a daily impact on the mental health of our clients who are trans, non-binary or questioning, as they battle through the world having to continually decide whether or not to ‘come out’ each time they are in a new situation, including with you, as their counsellor.
Bringing this awareness together we will discuss how you can take this learning forward to feel more confident in creating a welcoming and safe space for trans and non-binary clients in your counselling practice.
TRAINING ORGANISATIONS/CHARITIES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There are so many terms these days I get so confused; how can I possibly learn them all?
You don’t need know every single word to work in with LGBTQ clients. Language is ever evolving, particularly in the areas of sexuality and gender so it is more important to work on learning some of the key words and learning what to do if you don’t know a word or you make a mistake. These are all things we cover in the workshops
Will there be an opportunity to ask questions about some of the cases I am struggling with?
I can understand that this might be helpful. Unfortunately, though this is not a supervision group so we will not have time to discuss specific dilemmas in detail. However, on some workshops we will discuss case studies which may be similar to yours and may help build your confidence on how to manage and there will be the opportunity to add in you’re your experience if you want. We will though need to be careful with confidentiality of clients.
Will there be a chance to discuss and try out the things I learn, as sometimes I find it hard to follow theory?
Yes, certainly. Each workshop uses virtual ‘break out’ rooms so you can work on an exercise in a small group with other counsellors. Exercises will range from case study discussions to role play.
Do I need lots of experience in working with LGBTQ clients to participate?
No, you don’t need lots of experience to participate. In fact, you don’t need any. However, if you do have lots experience, you are still very welcome to join us as the workshops will give you the opportunity to reflect on your experiences.
I'm not very technical. How will I manage an Online Workshop?
Before the workshop, you will have a one-to-one session with a colleague from Onlinevents who will take you through the technical part. It's not complicated, and if you have basic computer skills you should manage fine. You will need a webcam with sound to fully participate, but again, this will be covered in the tech session. You can access the workshop from a variety of devices. Read More about our online workshops
Website: www.sussexrainbowcounselling.com
Twitter: @ChloeCounsellor
WE ASKED THE PRESENTER....
CHLOE FOSTER
WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE DIFFERENT?
Each workshop gives you a bite sized opportunity to meet me and learn through some eye opening fun exercises about how you can become a more LGBTQ inclusive counsellor. You will get the opportunity to ask the questions you might not have dared asked before and learn together as a group as you build your confidence in this area of work.
WHY DO YOU OFFER THIS COURSE?
I offer this course because I am passionate about giving counsellors the opportunity to increase their knowledge and confidence in working with sexuality and gender. I am also dedicated to improving the experiences LGBTQ clients have in therapy, and that starts with having competent knowledgeable counsellors.
WHAT THREE WORDS SUM UP YOUR COURSE?
- Eye opening
- Confidence building
- Interactive
ABOUT CHLOE
Chloe Foster
As a counsellor in my private practice, Sussex Rainbow Counselling, I specialise primarily in gender and sexuality within the LGBTQ communities.
My passion for working in this area began before my counselling career through my work in several LGBTQ organisations: Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard, MindOut and Allsorts Youth Project.
I love working as a trainer and have over 12 years’ experience which includes training LGBTQ volunteers to run community events to raise awareness of mental health stigma, training young people to run mental health awareness sessions in schools and colleges, training volunteers to teach English abroad and training team leaders of UK and international community team projects.
Since completing advanced training in online counselling I have been adapting my LGBTQ Awareness workshops to offer them online. This is continuing to bring a more accessible way of gaining CPD and helping fellow counsellors become more confident in working with sexual and gender diversity.
Website: www.sussexrainbowcounselling.com
Facebook: Sussex Rainbow Counselling
Twitter: @ChloeCounsellor
TRAINING ORGANISATIONS/CHARITIES
WHY AN ONLINE WORKSHOP?
New Workshop Programme
We are acutely aware that for many colleagues in the helping professions travel is extremely difficult due to time, money and health constraints. We are developing this programme so that the workshops offered by experienced trainers from all over the world can also be accessed by you from the comfort of your own home
This workshop will be hosted in the Zoom meeting platform which has all the resources we need to create an experiential group learning environment. The workshops will have access to an online group room, breakout rooms for small groups, whiteboards for creating and sharing resources and the capacity to communicate with voice and text.
How Do I Join the Workshop?
One week before the date of the workshop you will receive an email which will include a clickable link to join the workshop. About 10 minutes before the workshop is about to begin please goto this email and click on the link. This will open the Zoom meeting on your computer or mobile device.
When you register for the workshop you will receive an email with an invitation to meet a colleague from the onlinevents team in Zoom who will help you orientate to the Zoom environment. Because the workshop will require the use of the camera and microphone on your computer or mobile device we want to help you feel confident using your technology.
Please note that we are requiring that all workshop participants meet with a colleague from the onlinevents team before participating in the onlinevents workshop programme so that the workshop can begin and run smoothly. Any colleagues who do not respond to the invitation for the pre-workshop meeting will not be able to join the workshop. This pre-workshop meeting will prepare you to attend this workshop and any other onlinevents workshop that you choose to register for. You wont need to attend one meeting per workshop.
Reduced Workshop Fees
We are offering a reduced number of low cost places to this workshop on a first come first serve basis. The tickets will be visible until they are sold out and then the full cost places will be visible on the ticket form.
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