Background: This panel discussion will present an overview of how an eating disorder treatment center rolled out LGBTQ+-specific programming at one of their locations, and used the experience as a springboard for creating ongoing, system-wide improvements in providing inclusive and affirming care. Panelists will share their experiences, the processes involved, and outcomes from clinical, operational, and community-oriented perspectives. Best practices for working with LGBTQ+ clients will be discussed, as will recommendations for how to implement these practices in varying levels of care.
Objectives:
- Participants will be able to list 3-4 factors that contribute to an inclusive and affirming treatment environment for clients who identify on the LGBTQ+ continuum (Gender-neutral bathroom signs, visible resources for LGBTQ organizations, LGBTQ specific groups, rainbow and trans symbol stickers in physical space and on your organizations website/materials, stickers/nametags that include pronouns, paperwork that includes gender inclusive options, consistent and up-to-date staff trainings on best practices)
- Participants will be able to identify 3 therapeutic groups and activities that can be utilized in LGBTQ+ specific programming (Body Image, expressive art therapies, family issues, process groups, general gender and sexuality groups)
- Participants will be able to list 2-3 ways in which a treatment center can engage with the community at large in regards to providing care for LGBTQ+ clients (identifying local individuals and groups with expertise and inviting them to participate in a conversation about what the needs of the community are, actively and visibly participating in external events and partnering with LGBTQ+ organizations, referring clients to vetted LGBTQ+ supports in the community, providing content and education via external trainings and blogs)
- Introduction of presenters
- Topic Overview
- Background and context
- Statistics regarding prevalence of ED in the LGBTQ+ community
- Creation of breakout therapy track in the Amherst clinic
- Initial goals
- Clinical overview
- Specialized programming topics for LGBTQ+ clients (list)
- Evolution of curriculum in Amherst
- Expressive arts
- Structured groups
- Process groups
- Adolescent Gender and Sexuality group
- Overview of environmental considerations
- Examples of best practices for an affirming environment
- How these practices were incorporated in the Amherst clinic
- Staff training overview
- Formal vs informal
- Content examples
- Integrating client feedback
- Formal (data collection) vs informal
- Content examples
- Community engagement in Amherst
- Locating resources
- Community meeting
- Content examples
- System-wide expansion efforts
- Task force
- Creation
- How it functions
- Task force
- Goals
- Clinical
- Environmental
- Training
- Client and community engagement
- Parallel process for employees
- Broader public presence
- Social media
- Community events and trainings
- Partnerships and sponsorships
- External trainings and resources
- Where we stand now
- Overview of changes made system-wide
- Outcomes
- Ongoing training and data collection
- Future goals
- Conclusion - tips and takeaways
- General best practices
- Specific to ED treatment environment
- Resources
- Importance of the parallel process
- General best practices
- References
This presentation will tell the story of a single ambulatory clinic that implemented a breakout track for working with LGBTQ+ clients, and evolved a small- scale, grassroots effort into an endeavor to disseminate the information collected and changes being made throughout an entire system of care. Themes include clinical and environmental considerations, as well as the importance of staff trainings, community collaborations, gathering feedback, and of the parallel process of simultaneously working to incorporate best practices in the care and treatment of our LGBTQ+ clients, and providing an affirming and inclusive work environment for LGBTQ+ employees. Participants will leave with practical considerations and recommendations regarding the aforementioned themes, resources for more information, and an overview of best practices in the care of LGBTQ+ clients with eating disorders at varying levels of care.
Joanna Imse, LICSW, CEDS is the Program Director of Walden’s Amherst, Worcester, and Milford MA clinics. In this role she oversees the day-to-day care of adults and adolescents in the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. She works closely with staff, providers, families and clients to help foster a recovery-focused environment. Her career at Walden began in 2011 when she served as clinician for adolescent IOP in Waltham. Prior to her current role, Joanna spent time as a clinician in Waltham, Worcester, Braintree and Peabody sites. She received her masters of social work at Salem State University in 2007.
Christine Lang, MSW, M.Div., is an adolescent clinician in the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs in Amherst, providing individual, family and group counseling for adolescents and families with eating disorders. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from Clark University, a master’s of divinity from Pacific School of Religion, and a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College. Christine is particularly interested in working at the intersection of trauma and addiction, and how that connects to identities of gender, sexuality and religion/spirituality. She utilizes Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her relational, strengths based and trauma-informed approach. In her spare time she enjoys reading and writing poetry, taking pictures outside and spending time with friends and family.
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Fiona LaRosa-Waters, BS
Fiona LaRosa-Waters is Community Relations Specialist for Walden Behavioral Care. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services at Lesley University, and is currently pursuing an M.Ed in Health Education through the Eating Disorders Institute at Plymouth State University. Prior to coming to Walden, Fiona held positions as a professional outreach representative for eating disorder, substance use, and trauma treatment facilities, was a counselor in a treatment center for adult women with eating disorders and provided outpatient case management for clients struggling with addictions and eating disorders. She is passionate about helping people locate resources to support treatment and recovery, advancing education about eating disorders and addiction and about connecting with the mental health community.
