• info@3wkenya.org
Women Working With Women
  • info@3wkenya.org
  • RESOURCES
  • NEWSLETTER
  • GET FACT UP
  • VACANCIES
Women Working With Women
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • EVENTS
  • IN THE KNOW
    • Blog
    • Activities
    • Publications
  • OUR ACTIVITIES
  • GALLERY
  • CONTACT US

Gender and Sexual Diversity Sensitization for Psychotherapists.

Homepage Activities Gender and Sexual Diversity Sensitization for Psychotherapists.
Activities

Gender and Sexual Diversity Sensitization for Psychotherapists.

March 17, 2019
By
0 Comment
254 Views

Discrimination, abuse and marginalization resulting from sexuality or gender identity can make it difficult to fully enjoy life and to maintain a sense of mental health and well being. It can also make it hard to seek help when problems arise, and to know where to turn for help and support this is therefore why Women Working with Women (3W) supported by Uhai organized a two days training and sensitization sessions for psychotherapists on matters Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD). The GSD training was intended to broaden the perspectives of the participants so that they are better able to understand concepts and terminologies surrounding gender and sexual diversity, and apply these concepts to their work and in essence be cognizant of how to handle LBQ women.

Who is a Psychotherapist?  A psychotherapist is someone who helps people heal and resolve their emotional, mental, behavioral or relational problems that might be causing unhappiness or lack of freedom in life.

What Is Gender and Sexual Diversity? Human beings are naturally diverse, GSD includes identities such as Lesbians, Bisexual, Gay or Queer. When we talk about Gender and Sexual Diversity, we are talking about a few of a person’s many facets biological sex, gender identity and expression, and sexuality and recognizing human diversity across these dimensions.When we talk about sexual and gender diversity, it’s important to understand these terms:

    • Biological Sex: The biological characteristics that identify humans as female or male at birth. These biological features don’t limit a person to being male or female, as there are people who have both features.
    • Sexual Orientation: A person’s emotional and sexual attraction to others. It can change and may or may not be the same as a person’s sexual behavior.
    • Gender/Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of identity as female, male, both or neither, regardless of their biological sex.
    • Gender Expression: How a person expresses their gender. This can include how they look, the name they choose, the pronoun they use (e.g., he, she or they) and their social behavior.
    • Cisgender: a person whose sense of identity and gender matches their biological sex.

The political, cultural and religious institutions in Kenya are built on the foundation of stereotypes and binary assumptions, the participant discussed various assumptions that they have heard concerning Gender and Sexual minorities because of misinformation.

Advice for counselors included the following:

    • Coming out is a choice but is it not always safe (e.g., coming out to non-supportive parents who still provide financial support). It is not a linear process. One does not have to come out in order to be deemed healthy.
    • For them to explore their own internalized homophobia prejudice and bias related to gender identity.
    • They should educate themselves. There are a number of wonderful resources on Google on GSD.
    • Counselors should allow for and expect ambiguity. Accept and affirm experimentation.
    • Avoid over-sexualizing LGBT people.
    • Challenge negative and derogatory language. While respecting pronouns.
    • Respect confidentiality. “If an LGBT trusts you with information about his or her orientation or identity, treat it as a gift because you are seen as trustworthy”
    • Do not assume heterosexuality.
    • Listen, take seriously reported experiences, and refer appropriately. Be prepared to serve as an advocate in order to help and protect. Actively listen without judgment.
    • Counselors must confront their own individual prejudice and bias toward lesbian or gay clients and culture. The ethics codes of all the major mental health professional associations offer guidance for individuals who work with clients around issues related to their sexual orientation.

Sincere gratitude to UHAI-EASHRI for your continuous support


Previous Story
International Women’s Day
Next Story
PARENTING STYLES AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE CHILDREN

Related Articles

Observing 16 days of activism

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abuse or aggression that occurs...

Knowledge-based session with LBQT persons on safe-abortion

"Safe bortion is an issue of bodily autonomy. Being LBQT...

Recent Posts

  • PARTNERSHIP WELLNESS Wednesday, 15, Feb
  • THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SILENCE IS BETRAYAL Tuesday, 7, Feb
  • Observing 16 days of activism Thursday, 15, Dec
  • Knowledge-based session with LBQT persons on safe-abortion Saturday, 3, Dec

3W

3w

3W is open for all Kenyan women who share the same vision in finding free space for LBQ women…

About Us

Links

  • Advocacy
  • Documentation & Research
  • Capacity Building
  • Integrated Health Services
  • In The Know
  • Get Fact Up

News

  • PARTNERSHIP WELLNESS Wednesday, 15, Feb
  • THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SILENCE IS BETRAYAL Tuesday, 7, Feb
  • Observing 16 days of activism Thursday, 15, Dec

Contact Info

Talk to us today. We'd love to hear from you …

Contact Us

info@3wkenya.org

Developed by Butterfly Prime Solutions.
SearchPostsLogin
Wednesday, 15, Feb
PARTNERSHIP WELLNESS
Tuesday, 7, Feb
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SILENCE IS BETRAYAL
Thursday, 15, Dec
Observing 16 days of activism
Saturday, 3, Dec
Knowledge-based session with LBQT persons on safe-abortion
Friday, 18, Nov
Capacity Enhancement on Abortion
Monday, 17, Oct
Dialogue Meeting with the County Health Management Team (CHMT)

Welcome back,