Working With LGBT+ People
This course aims to help family members, friends and professionals supporting LGBT+ persons to understand them, prevent mental health risks and provide a safe environment for them.
  • Kenny Liew
  • Working with People
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  • Price
S$600
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  • Live Workshop
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Overview
Topics
Trainer Profile
Funding
Target Audience
What Others Say?
  • Course Overview

The needs of people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, or in the process of exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT+) are varied and complex. They face distinct challenges that many of us cannot even fathom.

This course aims to help family members, friends and professionals working with LGBT+ persons to:

  • understand the critical issues and challenges experienced by LGBT+ people and how it may vary across developmental stages
  • prevent mental health risks and promoting healthy outcomes among LGBT+ people
  • promote safe homes and environments to nurture healthy and successful individuals

 

This course takes a neutral stance towards LGBT+ people. Through the course, the participants will be led to better understand their own views and prejudices, before taking an informed position how to approach and relate to the LGBT+ individual guided by research-based perspectives and interventions.

At the end of the course, participants will understand more about the relevant concepts and terminology related to gender and sexual identity, the specific possible mental health issues that a LGBT+ person may experience, and practical ways to address these challenges and support these people.

Course Duration: 1 Day

  • What Others Say?
  • Course Topics

Part 1: Understanding Related Concepts

  • What are the differences between Gender and Sexuality?
    • Defining the terms of
      • Biological Sex
      • Gender Identity
      • Gender Expression
      • Sexual Orientation
      • Sexual and Romantic Attraction
  • What does Transgender mean?
    • Understanding what transitioning and gender identities mean

 

Part 2: Understanding Relevant Mental Health Issues

  • IS it a disorder?
    • Understanding LGBT+ behaviour through DSM-5
  • WHY do LGBT+ persons have unique and specific mental health issues?
    • Understanding through the framework of the “Minority Stress Model”
    • Reviewing research within the local Singapore context
  • HOW are the specific challenges similar or different for people at different ages?
    • Understanding developmental needs of adolescents and framework of “Attachment Theory”
    • Understanding the different stages and respective critique of the “Identity Formation Model”
  • Issue 1: “Coming Out”
    • What is the “coming out” process?
    • What are the challenges and fears of “coming out”?
      • Fear of rejection
      • Internalized shame
    • What is the impact of the responses from others after “coming out”?
  • Issue 2: LGBT-phobic Bullying
    • What are the distinct challenges of bullying experienced by the LGBT person?
    • Issue 3: Suicide Prevention
  • Issue 3: Suicide Prevention
    • What are some distinct risk and protective factors of suicidal behaviour for the LGBT person?

 

Part 3: Practical Ways to Support LGBT+ People

  • WHY is there relevance to discuss family and school support?
    • Data on how family and school support impact the lives of LGBT+ individual
  • Self-awareness: Understanding yourself
    • Understanding our own individual concerns & emotions about working with the LGBT+ person
    • Understanding our own expectations about how LGBT+ person may respond to our efforts in working with them
    • Understanding societal stigma and discrimination
  • HOW to talk about gender and sexuality issues with the LGBT+ individuals
    • How language matters when talking about gender and sexuality issues
    • What are some helpful ways to respond to “coming out”?
    • Practising confidentiality and validation
    • Practising repair if there is any rupture in the relationship
  • HOW to respond to interpersonal issues of the LGBT+ individuals
    • What are some helpful ways to relate to the friends of the LGBT+ person
    • What are some helpful ways to respond when they embark on relationships
  • Self- care: Taking care of yourself
    • How do we take care of our feelings and beliefs about the issue, while supporting the individual? How do we get resources to support ourselves when working with LGBT+ person?
    • Signposting: How do we redirect to other resources if we are not able to support the youth
  • Practising with case scenarios
    • Role-play
    • Open discussions
  • Trainer Profile
Kenny Liew
Kenny holds a Master degree in Clinical Psychology. He is registered as a Clinical Psychologist and Supervisor with the Singapore Psychological Society.For more than a decade from 2010 to 2021, Kenny served as the Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Child Guidance Clinic (CGC). His work included psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, and consultation to partner agencies. He specialized in helping youth with inappropriate sexual behaviours. He presented his therapy case of an adolescent who overcame his paraphilic and voyeuristic urges at an international child psychiatry conference. His work on a pilot treatment programme for first-time juvenile sexual offenders was recognized at the National Healthcare Group Awards.At present, Kenny works with children, adolescents, and adults across hospital, community, and private settings. He supports people with various challenges of stress, anxiety, depression, grief, gender and sexual identity issues, sexual dysfunction, and other inappropriate sexualized behaviours. Since 2020, Kenny concurrently works at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to supervise the students completing their Master of Clinical Psychology.Kenny is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Schema Therapy, often incorporating mindfulness-based techniques in his work.Kenny conducts workshops on counselling skills, suicide prevention, and working with people with gender and sexual identity issues. He had also published his research on mindfulness and self-compassion in the influential peer-review journal, Mindfulness.Kenny focuses on providing a safe space for his clients to share, supporting them along their journey. In his free time, Kenny enjoys staying active and spending time with loved ones.
Available Funding

SkillsFuture Credit: Can be used to pay course fee fully or partially

NCSS VCF Pre- Approval Funding: 30% ($180)

NTUC UTAP: NTUC union members enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support, capped at $250 or $500 (aged 40 years old and above)

  • Target Audience

This workshop is suitable for participants with or without psychological background. It is suitable for:

  • Parents and family members
  • Social workers, Counsellors and Psychologists
  • Educators
  • Medical Social Workers working in hospitals and medical institutions
  • Pastoral care  and welfare staff