Workshop offers insight on LGBTQ issues
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MARIETTA -- Resilience and compassion were reiterated throughout an all-day workshop hosted at Marietta College Tuesday for local counselors and social workers.
The Washington County Behavioral Health Board partnered with the college's Nonprofit LEADS program and Equitas Health, a federally designated community health center, one of the largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-serving health care organizations in the U.S. The workshop offered continuing education credits for free to local providers to increase their comfort and competency in treating an often marginalized community.
In the room were more than 40 providers ranging from physician assistants to Girl Scouts leaders, educators and substance abuse specialists, all seeking further professional development when serving the LGBTQ+ community.
The acronym LGBTQ+ denotes a fluid spectrum of self-identification of both gender and sexual orientation, including: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, with the plus sign recognizing additional identities both fluid and expanding in definition.
Attendees were provided with eight pages specifically explaining terminology in their most current usage.
"When you check your biases, you are maintaining a person's linkage to care," said Zoe Fawcett Freggens, education manager for Equitas Health Institute.
Questions in the different sessions focused on inclusive language that starts from a place of compassion.
"In preparing for this, we received a lot of feedback from clinical providers of how to be more supportive and ask the right questions, and so this all goes together," said Hilles Hughes, assistant director for the Washington County Behavioral Health Board.
Nurse Practitioner Ashley Wilder listed questions that open the door to more accurate discussions about health, with sexual, substance and mental context.
"What name do you go by? How do you identify? What pronouns do you use?" she listed. "Asking these questions in an unassuming way opens that door to better health communication with your patient or client. It helps them to feel safe and validated."
Physician Assistant Brad Pierce, a native of Caldwell, asked from the crowd how as a provider to also guide more welcoming speech with clients who may have differing views and/or beliefs.
"If they say something hurtful, how do you respond?" he asked.
The guidance given was for small, but affirming corrections--like a reiteration of pronouns without confrontation.
Additional resources provided at the workshop were all free of charge to Washington County providers, including those associated with Brandi's Legacy, Washington State Community College, Circles MOV, Integrated Service Behavioral Health, Hopewell Health and Life and Purpose Behavioral Health.