Moderated by: Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., LPC & David Prescott, LICSW, ATSA-F
Cost: $8.00

Please Note: This session is not eligible for CE credits due to its informal conversational format.

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Mental health professionals face unique challenges when working with the LGBTQ+ community or being part of it themselves. These challenges often arise from societal stigma, discrimination, and systemic barriers, which impact both the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals and the ability of professionals to provide effective and affirming care.

We invite you to join us for a series of professional dialogues moderated by Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., and David Prescott. These sessions are designed to foster meaningful conversations, provide a supportive space for professionals to share experiences, and equip attendees with strategies to navigate the complexities of supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Each session begins with a focused exploration of a specific topic and evolves naturally into an engaging, attendee-driven conversation shaped by shared experiences and insights:

• Session 01: Let’s Talk Ethical Obligations in Self-Care
  May 16, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
  Explore the ethical obligations to self-care amidst feelings of erasure and overwhelm caused by the current climate affecting the queer community. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own experiences and challenges to discuss how professionals can maintain resilience while providing affirming care.
• Session 02: Let’s Talk Confidentiality for Queer Clients and Professionals
  June 18, 2025, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
  Examine the complexities surrounding confidentiality for LGBTQ+ clients and professionals. Topics can include navigating legal name versus chosen name, pronouns associated with sex assigned at birth versus self-identified pronouns, and managing situations where clients are out to providers but not to caregivers or other systems (e.g., juvenile/adult justice or child protective services). Share your experiences and strategies for maintaining trust while adhering to ethical standards.
• Session 03: Let’s Talk Cultural Competence
  July 17, 2025, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
  Delve into the critical role of cultural competence in addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those navigating intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or disability. Let’s explore how cultural competence directly impacts treatment outcomes, trust-building, and the ability to provide truly affirming care. Attendees are invited to share their own experiences, challenges, and insights related to working with LGBTQ+ clients from diverse backgrounds.

These sessions are more than a discussion—they are opportunities to network, build skills, exchange ideas, and contribute to shaping best practices in LGBTQ+ mental health care. Join us to connect with like-minded professionals, gain actionable insights, and make a meaningful impact in addressing the challenges faced by both clients and providers within this community.

Your personal privacy is our highest priority. These sessions will be recorded for liability purposes only. The recordings will not be shared with attendees or distributed outside of Safer Society Foundation.

Like any group discussion, everyone will have a responsibility to keep it a safe, professional, and confidential space. We will adhere to the codes of ethics of our professions, mandatory laws, and other professional standards. The Safe Haven series is intended to be supportive; not formal supervision, consultation, or legal advice.