2024 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
Exploring Affirming Therapy and Healing Practices for Nonbinary Individuals
Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Online Workshop – 2.5 CE Credits
Fee: $35/person
FREE for Active PBC Volunteer Clinicians
Featured Presenters: Randall Leonard, MSW, LCSW-C ; and Aidan L. Grennell Cormier, LMSW, MPH
Session Description: This course will delve into the rich history of individuals thriving beyond the limitations of the traditional gender binary while acknowledging their vast history in various global cultures. As the U.S. undergoes a transformative shift towards more expansive gender identities, many nonbinary individuals are now finding the language and courage to authentically express themselves. Despite this progress, the lack of understanding among service providers continues to result in harmful care experiences and medical mistrust. Our session will examine the colonial roots of the gender binary, the detrimental effects of assumptions and erasure, strategies for respectfully engaging with nonbinary individuals, and inspiring examples of lives flourishing beyond the confines of traditional gender norms.
Workshop participants will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide affirming therapy and healing practices that meet the unique needs of nonbinary individuals, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive mental health landscape.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of nonbinary identities, including diversity within the spectrum, historical contexts, and cultural influences to inform affirming therapeutic practices.
- Demonstrate competence in recognizing and addressing the intersectionality of nonbinary identities with other aspects of identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
- Implement affirmative therapeutic interventions that empower nonbinary clients to navigate societal challenges while fostering healing, thriving, and positive self-esteem.
Presenter Bio: Randall Leonard, LCSW-C
Mx. Randall Leonard, LCSW-C (they/them/theirs) is a proud Black nonbinary clinical social worker and community healer serving communities across the nation directly from Baltimore, MD. They currently hold healing space focused on the liberation of Black and Queer people through encouraging authenticity, reconnecting to history and lineage, and empowering shared lived experiences. These roles include both independent Clinical Therapy and active co-facilitation with the “Decolonizing Therapy for Black Folk” collective.
They also provide consultation for professionals and organizations on care for Queer fox, polyamorous relationship counseling, and supporting kink and sexual healing. Randall loves their queer, poly, pansexual identity and enjoys sharing these perspectives in hopes of having more spaces that serves their community. Their recent achievements include testifying for the “X” gender marker on Maryland driver’s licenses enacted in 2019, and being featured as part of Sephora’s 2019 “Belong to Something Beautiful” gender-diversity campaign.
Presenter Bio: Aidan L. Grennell Cormier, LMSW, MPH
Aidan L. Grennell Cormier (they/them) is a Baltimore-based educator, trainer, and advocate with a passion for education and community-centered research. They hold a Master of Social Work with a focus in Community Action and Social Policy as well as a Master of Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology, both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Aidan’s interests tend to focus on the intersections of human behavior, social stigma, and biological impact. Much of their work centers around harm reduction practices and ideology, engaging in system-level work to provide more training to effectively work with transgender and gender-nonconforming (T/GNC) individuals, as well as individuals engaged in high-risk behavior. Additionally, they are passionate about sexual health and offer education on alternative relationship and sexuality configurations, including ways to take an accurate sexual history. They have been working in education and training for over 20 years, providing services to religious organizations, nursing programs, student organizations, mental health providers, and medical practitioners. They are passionate about restorative justice and center anti-racism and anti-colonialism in their work. Their goal is to help people ask difficult questions and develop ways of thinking that challenge traditional systemic approaches, creating a sustainable environment for everyone to thrive.
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for 2.5 credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
Please note that upon attendance verification, you will receive your CE certificate within four weeks via email. Please add Pro Bono Counseling to your contacts and check your SPAM folder to ensure delivery.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
