OKC PRIDE 2nd Annual Mental Health, Education and Prevention Symposium

Transcending Differences

Friday, June 17, 2020

SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW OKC Pride 2nd Annual Mental Health, Prevention and Education Symposium will address proven methods for reducing barriers in the Gender Diverse community provide quality services. In recent years we have made numerous advances in equality in the areas of gender diversity. These advances have brought with them new questions and potential fears for both service providers and those they serve. Our goal is to increase the number of mental health professionals providing quality treatment to gender diverse populations through education. And provide gender diverse education, prevention and resources to the gender diverse focused community. This symposium will explore various topics impacting our gender diverse community; theories of mental distress and mental health disparity for populations and subpopulations through a series of presentations by leading clinicians and professionals in the field. This year we are pleased to provide a special series of Interactive workshops specifically for our youth. Upon completion of the symposium participants will increase their knowledge in:

• Meet and Hear Inspiring Stories from Gender Diverse Experts
• Neuropsychiatry of Gender Identity
• Gender Diverse Ally Training
• Ally Support Groups
• Gay Affirmative Therapeutic Services
• Health Disparities among the Transgender Community
• Reducing Recidivism with Gender Diverse Clients
• How to Create a Safe Space for Young People – Learn to Listen to Learn

OKC Pride 2nd Annual Mental Health, Education and Prevention Symposium – Transcending Differences is privileged to partner with leading clinicians and professionals in the field to provide you a full day of training with the option of continuing education credit. Special Acknowledgments: OKC Pride, NorthCare, Cornerstone Counseling and Consultation, Oklahoma State University of Stillwater, Trans- Cendence International, Inc, Elizabeth Lawrence LCSW and Finnigan Fischer.

SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES The objective of the 2016 OKC Pride Annual Mental Health, Education and Prevention Symposium is to develop and enhance professional skills and knowledge in prevention, recognition, assessment and treatment of mental health. Discussions will highlight emerging knowledge, best practices and innovative approaches to integrated care, with emphasis on increased access to appropriate high quality prevention, intervention, and supports that impact relationships, behavioral health, and spiritual well-being, and inclusive of special populations and cultural/ethnic diversity. Ethical considerations will also be addressed.

REGISTRATION Admission to workshops are without cost, donation are appreciated. A fee of $10 per credit hour for professionals seeking CEU’s. Lunch is being provided to registered attendees, please register online at www.okcpride.org . If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of this workshop, please click here.

VENDOR OPPORTUNITY Vendor opportunities for non-profit and for profit agencies/organizations will be allowed to purchase table space during the day of symposium. Table space will be made available to agencies to provide information about services, etc., For-Profit agencies will pay a fee of $100 and Non-Profit agencies a fee of $75.00. All proceeds go to funding OKC Pride, to continue providing quality services to the LBGT community. Click here for Vendor Registration

TARGET AUDIENCE The symposium is designed to provide mental health, prevention, and education opportunities for a diverse group of individuals and organizations working to support the LGBTQT community and their wellness. The resulting target audience includes: Friends, Family, Allies, Licensed mental health professionals  ·  Social workers  ·  Psychologists  ·  Behavioral health specialists  ·  Physicians  ·  Nurses ·  Case managers  ·  Alcohol and Drug Counselors  ·  Peer support specialists  ·  Physician Assistants  · Allied healthcare workers  ·  Health education professionals  ·  Prevention specialists  ·  Administrative teams  ·  Advocates  ·  Health policy experts  ·  Public health officials 3rd party payers  ·  Students in healthcare related fields  ·  Clergy  ·  Corrections/law enforcement  ·  Community planning/support Please direct questions and concerns with the OKC Pride 2nd Annual Mental Health, Prevention and Education Chair and Secretary of OKC Pride Kelley Blair M.S. LPC at secretary@okcpride.org or by cellphone 405-761- 7402 (text and voice mail are acceptable forms of communication).

Contact Information Kelley Blair, OKC Pride (405) 761-7402 secretary@okcpride.org

Venue Information

• Dunlop Codding
• 609 W. Sheridan Rd.
• Oklahoma City OK 73102

(Map)

Session Breakdown

8: 00- 8:30 am Registration

8:30-8:45 am Coffee & Mingle

8:45-9:15 am Introduction & Welcome

9:15- 10:15 am Keynote Speaker - One Silent Journey to Just Be Authentic - Ruth Seaman

10:15-10:30 am Break

10:30-11:30 am Breakout Sessions

Ethical Issues in Counseling Transgender Persons and Their Families - Al Carlozzi
Ally Training - Finn Jones & Kelley Blair
Youth Meet and Greet (Youth part 1) - Elizabeth Lawrence & Finnigan Fischer

11:30-11:45 am Break 

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch & Performance

12:45-1:00 pm Break

1:00 -2:00 pm Breakout Sessions

Relevant Biological/Neurological Medical Model – Ruth Seaman
Framing Our Needs (Youth part 2) - Elizabeth Lawrence & Finnigan Fischer
Lifting SOFFAs (Significant Others, Family, Friends and Allies) - Finn Jones & Kelley Blair

2:00-2:15 pm Break

2:15-:3:15 pm Breakout Session

Affirming Treatment for LGBT – Paul Williams
Health Disparities in the Transgender Community - Sue C. Jacobs

3:15-3:30 pm Break

3:30-4:30 pm Plenary Session (Youth part 3) - Round Table Q & A - Finnigan Fischer

4:30-5:30 pm Closing Keynote Address - Solidarity Saves Lives - Finn Jones & Kelley Blair

Key Note Speaker: One Silent Journey to Just Be Authentic - Ruth Seaman A raw and utterly human sharing of the struggles to just be oneself.  An unfiltered and primary-process personal narrative from those who have suffered, endured, lost, and triumphed in the fight within ourselves and with those who do and do not accept our inherent diversity. Narrative guests to include Val Wiestner and Robin Macklepenny

Objectives:

• To experience compassion anew for others and for oneself.
• Understand the value of living your personal truths.
• Empower the participant to sustain their tenacity for demanding fundamental civil rights for ALL humans.

Dr. Seaman began her career in Psychiatry in 1995 in the USAF. She was selected to run the consultation psychiatry service at the flagship tertiary care hospital for the USAF, and promoted two years below the zone to Major in 1999. Dr. Seaman maintains current board-certification in both Adult Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine. She is the only physician in Oklahoma with subspecialty certification in Behavioral Neurology under the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Dr. Seaman gives full credit to her prior mentors and professors for their selfless teaching and leadership-by-example. She feels particularly honored to be able to learn from and share in the healing of many diverse patients. Dr. Seaman was also previously an Associate Professor of Psychiatry as well as a Psychiatric Residency Director. During those years, she served on several committees related to ethics and education within local, regional and national medical organizations. She has also published several scientific articles in national medical journals as well as 4 textbook chapters. Interestingly, before medical school, she served for three years as a graduate researcher in the laboratories of Dr. Inge Ward at Villanova, one of the world’s most prominent and productive scientists in understanding the gender differentiation of the brain.

Ally Training – Finn Jones Gender identity can seem to be complicated to understand, particularly for those who want to be allies for gender diverse people. In this workshop the concept of gender identity will be explained. The following topics will be discussed: Objectives:

• Transgender terminology
• Gender etiquette
• Things to say to be a good ally
• What not to say to be a good ally
• How best to support the transgender community and their family, friends and other allies

Finn Jones Vic President and Co-Founder of Trans-Cendence International, Inc. Finn is one of the co-founders of Trans-Cendence International, Inc. He serves as a leader in the transgender community of DFW and participates in social education and advocacy around the area. He works closely with many organizations such as ACLU, ACH, Excel, LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S., University of Texas at Arlington, North Lake College and surrounding GSA’s to help further education on transgender and gender diversity issues and policy. Transgender/Gender Identity Consultant and Ally Trainer. Finn is also a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

Youth Meet & Greet - Elizabeth Lawrence & Finnigan Fischer Participants will be invited to learn about identity, gender, and expression. This interactive session we will begin to build our connections with one another. Objectives:

• Break the ice between participants
• Begin to build connections
• Learn more about the spectrum of gender identities
• Normalizing social stigma via group activities

Elizabeth Lawrence, LMSW, lives near Austin, Texas where she works as a master’s level medical social worker in dialysis care. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (BA, MSSW) with a specialization in gerontology with her practice focused on grief, loss, and chronic illness. In her private time she is an alternative sexuality educator who has taught relationship workshops around the country for LGBTQIA+, poly, and fetish conferences. She identifies as a queer poly cisgender (cis) woman and is raising five children with her cis heterosexual spouse. Her focus on advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights is in part fueled by her rainbow mix of a straight cis son, a lesbian cis daughter, a queer cis daughter, a gay transgender son, and a gender fluid step-child. Finnigan Fischer is a 15 year old transgender male who identifies as gay. He has been out as trans since October of 2014 and on testosterone for what will be a year in July of 2016. As a freshman in a public high school in rural Texas he has faced and overcome many challenges too frequently faced by transgender/gay youth. He is a member of the marching band and theatre at his school. He advocates for young gender diverse people via his online support group @gender_sexuality_support.

Neuropsychiatry of Gender Identity:  1959-2016 – Ruth Seaman M.S., M.D., F.A.P.M. Attendees will identify primary sexually dimorphic brain structures. Recognize the congruence between the –cis and –trans brain organization and the basic scientific paths that have produced this knowledge. Attendees will gain appreciation related to the burgeoning datasets of brain structure evidencing the ranges of masculine and feminine Objectives

• Persistence of early paradigm
• What we learned from animal models
• Key human studies
• Blending early hypotheses with new data
• Current vectors in research
• What biology can and cannot do

Dr. Seaman began her career in Psychiatry in 1995 in the USAF. She was selected to run the consultation psychiatry service at the flagship tertiary care hospital for the USAF, and promoted two years below the zone to Major in 1999. Dr. Seaman maintains current board-certification in both Adult Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine. She is the only physician in Oklahoma with subspecialty certification in Behavioral Neurology under the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Dr. Seaman gives full credit to her prior mentors and professors for their selfless teaching and leadership-by-example. She feels particularly honored to be able to learn from and share in the healing of many diverse patients. Dr. Seaman was also previously an Associate Professor of Psychiatry as well as a Psychiatric Residency Director. During those years, she served on several committees related to ethics and education within local, regional and national medical organizations. She has also published several scientific articles in national medical journals as well as 4 textbook chapters. Interestingly, before medical school, she served for three years as a graduate researcher in the laboratories of Dr. Inge Ward at Villanova, one of the world’s most prominent and productive scientists in understanding the gender differentiation of the brain.

Framing Our Needs (Youth Track Part 2) - Elizabeth Lawrence, LMSW & Finnigan Fischer We will collaborate and discuss issues facing LGBT+ youth. As a group, we will create a statement to be presented to all attendees of the symposium of what we need from the mental health, medical practitioners, and educators in our lives to support us. Objective:

• Continue to build connections with one another
• Learn more about the spectrum of gender identities and special issues
• Create a statement of needs to be presented to symposium attendees
• Normalizing social stigma via group activities

Lifting SOFFAs (Significant Others, Family, Friends and Allies) – Finn Jones It can be challenging for transgender people to find support. Sometimes, we are fortunate to have accepting and affirming partners, family, friends, and community members. Yet, the challenge to find support is also true for those in our lives who are trying to better understand our needs, our changes, and our struggles and how they can assist us on our journeys. Our supporters need support of their own as they transition along with us. Trans-Cendence International, Inc. is growing in its network of local trans and SOFFA support group chapters. They are dedicated to the well-being of everyone involved in the lives of trans people in order to assist stronger and healthier individuals, partnerships, families, and communities. In this presentation, attendees will learn about the impetus for founding a support group under this model as well as a brief history of Trans-Cendence International, Inc. Attendees will hear from transgender individuals and their SOFFAs about how this holistic approach to support has benefited their relationships personally, professionally, and in their communities. They will discuss how this approach can be incorporated into existing groups or how others can create a local chapter of Trans-Cendence to support those in their own communities. Objectives

• Identify Allies
• Challenges in finding Ally Support Groups
• What is SOFFA
• How SOFFA helps families and friends

Affirming Treatment for LGBT - Paul Williams MA NCC DBTC LPC Gay Affirmative Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients which encourages them to accept their gender identity, and does not attempt to “change” them to heterosexual, or to “eliminate or diminish” same-sex “desires and behaviors”. This seminar provides a primer in Gay-Affirmative Therapy and the forming of treatment objectives that are unique to LGBT clients, as well as helping LGBT clients navigate through unique spiritual issues, family cultural constellations, and other efforts related to the LGBT person. Objectives

• Learn views toward gender identity and sexual orientation in the mental health treatment field.
• Define key principals of Gay-Affirmative Therapy.
• Identify how clinical ambivalence, neutrality, or silence on the issue of gender identity and sexual orientation can harm LGBT clients.
• Identify key clinical objectives that therapists should ensure are offered to LGBT clients to address in their course of therapy.
• Learn specific affirmative clinical strategies to use in Gay-Affirmative Therapy.
• Identify principal clinical rebuttals to “reparative therapy” for LGBT clients.

Paul Williams, MA NCC LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is the Clinical Director for the Adult Outpatient Program with NorthCare in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Williams was trained in mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy in Arizona. He trained at the Veterans Administration (V.A.) Hospital in Tucson AZ, within the Family Mental Health Clinic, designed to address the family needs of military families. Mr. Williams provided therapy for children, adolescents, families, adults and couples. Mr. Williams then worked for La Frontera Center, Inc., the largest mental health provider in Southern Arizona, as a child and family therapist. He then became a program manager within the techniques of family systems clinical approaches, as applied to the challenging venues of community clinics. Mr. Williams moved to Oklahoma in 2006 and joined NorthCare. He returns annually to Arizona to teach the week-long intensive F.S.I and teaches modules of F.S.I at NorthCare. Mr. Williams teaches weekly parenting classes for caregivers, which includes parents court-ordered or DHS-referred. Mr. Williams is a Board-Approved Supervisor for candidates for professional counselor’s licensure. Mr. Williams has received intense clinical training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and he has received intense training in Dialectical Behavioral Training from Marsha Linehan Ph.D’s Behavioral Tech, LLC

• Identify clinical strategies to approach LGBT clients in the contexts of their complex religious and family constellations.

Health Disparities in the Transgender Community -Sue C. Jacobs, Ph.D Information on health/mental health disparities in the spectrum of those who are transgender is increasing, but still limited. In this presentation, attendees will learn about some of the reasons that have been identified in the literature for lack of access and other barriers to receiving services from qualified providers. Even less is available in the literature on building successful positive continuums of care for health/mental health in transgender communities; attendees will be a provided a summary of current literature. Objectives

• Define health disparities and describe them in the transgender community.
• List at least 3 barriers to health/mental health care for the transgender community.
• Identify some of the psychosocial effects of health disparities on transgender individuals.
• Identify some of the health effects of health disparities on transgender individuals.
• Identify several issues in the experiences of transgender clients/patients in using health/mental health care that decrease their use.
• Identify several issues in the experiences of transgender clients/patients in using health/mental health care that increase their use.
• Express in written form their ideas, hopes for decreasing health disparities.

Plenary Session - Plenary Session (Youth part 3) - Round Table Q & A Finnigan will present the statement from the youth track to gathered attendees and answer questions related to it. Objectives

• Session open to all attendant speakers and attendees
• Material generated by the youth about their needs to be presented
• Learning to be allies without being paternalistic
• Answer questions related to the materials presented

Finnigan Fischer is a 15 year old transgender male who identifies as gay. He has been out as trans since October of 2014 and on testosterone for what will be a year in July of 2016. As a freshman in a public high school in rural Texas he has faced and overcome many challenges too frequently faced by transgender/gay youth. He is a member of the marching band and theatre at his school. He advocates for young gender diverse people via his online support group @gender_sexuality_support.

Solidarity Saves Lives – Finn Jones The world feels like society is moving backwards right now to a time when every aspect of our lives was controlled. From dress, the church we attended, jobs and civil rights. Legislative bodies are trying to take us back to that time. To control who we marry, what we can and cannot do with our own bodies and even which restroom we can use. In an age of egos, self-centeredness, fast paced, high tech, greed and lower we are losing control of our own lives and our own choices. In order to be the change we want to see and need we need to begin to come together as a community. To unite one another again in solidarity as the freedom fighters did in the 60’s to take back control of our own future. One voice in solidarity. Finn Jones Vic President and Co-Founder of Trans-Cendence International, Inc. He serves as a leader in the transgender community of DFW and participates in social education and advocacy around the area. He works closely with many organizations such as ACLU, ACH, Excel, LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S., University of Texas at Arlington, North Lake College and surrounding GSA’s to help further education on transgender and gender diversity issues and policy. Transgender/Gender Identity Consultant and Ally Trainer. Finn is also a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

Ethical Issues in Counseling Transgender Persons and Their Families - Al Carlozzi, EdD, LMFT.
Ethical responsibilities of providers of mental health services who treat transgender persons and their families are addressed in this presentation. WPATH standards for mental health treatment, letters to surgeons, and support for families are discussed.

Objectives

• Ethical Responsibilities
• WPATH Standards
• Letter Writing
• Support for Clients & Family Members

Dr. Al Carlozzi is a Licensed Psychologist, OSU Professor and the Director of the OSU-Tulsa Counseling Center. He has provided counseling services and   supervised the provision of counseling service to transgender persons for many years. For the past five years, he has co-facilitated a support group for parents of transgender children and teens at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa, and earlier this year received three days of intensive training in the treatment of transgender persons sponsored by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).