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Affirmative Psychotherapy With LGBTQ+ Clients

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Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 01/28/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)

Associate Certificate Program

Affirmative psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ clients is grounded in part on knowledge about sexual and gender identity development; the impact of minority stress; and the intersection of sex and gender with other facets of personal identity. This 2-training sequence summarizes current research and its implications for individual mental health and interpersonal functioning, with particular attention to the development of primary sexual-romantic relationships. Implications for the development of working alliance and the application of evidence-based practice with LGBTQ+ clients are discussed.

SESSION 1: Affirmative Psychotherapy With LGBTQ+ Clients: Foundational Knowledge and Practice Considerations
Wednesday, January 28, 2:00-3:30pm Eastern Time

This session reviews research on individual identity development and social connectedness as well as prominent mental and physical health disparities impacting LGBTQ+ community members. Research on psychosocial risk and resilience factors is reviewed in the context of minority stress theory. Implications for planning and delivery of evidence-based practice are discussed.

SESSION 2: Affirmative Psychotherapy With LGBTQ+ Clients: Sexual-Romantic Relationships and Psychotherapy With LGBTQ+ Couples
Thursday, January 29, 2:00-3:30pm Eastern Time

The past two decades have seen increasing attention to the correlates of main or primary partner relationship formation and development among LGBTQ+ people. This training reviews relevant research on the characteristics and strengths of LGBTQ+ relationships and the impact of minority stress on relationship formation, quality, and maintenance. The training culminates with a discussion of how individual psychotherapy can incorporate attention to relationships and relationship skill building as well as a review of description of recent innovations in practice with LGBTQ+ couples.  

Continuing Education Information

This program is not offered for continuing education.

Disclosures

No conflicts of interest to disclose.

Tyrel Starks, PhD

Dr. Starks obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology (specializing in work with children and adolescents) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2009. Currently, he is a Professor of Psychology at Hunter College of the City University of New York, a New York State licensed clinical psychologist, and certified trainer and member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). For more than a decade, Dr. Starks has conducted research funded by the National Institutes of Health focused on sexual-romantic relationships and health, with a particular emphasis on the development of substance use and sexual health interventions for couples. This work is ongoing and includes the 2022 publication of his book, Motivational Interviewing with Couples, by Oxford University Press.

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