What Counselors Need to Know About Recent Legislation Impacting LGBTQ+ Clients

Description: The Florida legislature recently passed a bill (SB 254) that the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, referred to as a “gender-affirming care ban.” Does this bill really ban gender-affirming care? What are its potential implications for mental health counselors and the clients they serve? What about other bills that were passed directly (or indirectly) relate to our work with LGBTQ+ clients (e.g., SB 1580, SB 1320, HB 1521)? And what’s the deal with that “guideline” issued by the Department of Health last year against “social gender transition” for adolescents? Does that change anything for counselors working with transgender youth?

Get updated and informed with this 1.5-hour webinar! The Chair of FMHCA’s Government Relations Committee and FMHCA’s President will provide a brief overview of legislative actions and government guidelines impacting counselors working and their LGBTQ+ clients, and a panel of counselors specializing in work with LGBTQ+ clients will discuss these measures and answer questions posed by attendees.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1097560

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and describe recent legislative actions impacting transgender care.
2. Differentiate between legal and ethical standards related to working with LGBTQ+ clients.
3. Contrast national and international transgender care standards (e.g., HHS, WPATH) with state standards.
4. Reduce liability when addressing client requests for letters related to treatments for gender dysphoria.

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, and forensic psychometry. He serves as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, a national not-for-profit board officially endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association that provides training, certification, and professional advocacy for licensed mental health professionals specializing in forensic mental health evaluation. He is an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Dept. of Mental Health Law & Policy. He serves as Southern Regional Director, Ethics Committee Liaison, and International Counseling Task Force Chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He is the Consulting Editor for AMHCA’s The Advocate Magazine. He co-authored the Forensic Evaluation section of the “AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling,” authored the proposal for AMHCA’s Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation (CMHS-FE) credential, and served on the expert panel that created the standards and written exam for the Florida Certification Board’s Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credential. He has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor specializing in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues, cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depressive disorders, and substance use treatment. He was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2019, and he was awarded AMHCA’s Public and Community Service Award in 2020. An experienced writer, presenter, and trainer, he has been published in several academic journals and professional magazines in the counseling profession.

Laura Peddie-Bravo, LMHC, NCC is the current President Elect of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, FMHCA. Laura graduated from The University of Central Florida’s CACREP accredited Counselor Education program in 1998. She obtained her NCC credential in 1999 and obtained her license in 2001. Laura owns a private practice, The Bravo Counseling Group, LLC, in Winter Park, Florida. She is married and the mother of three young adult children, one of whom has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Among her specialties are Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Bi-Polar, OCD, Domestic Violence, and Personality Disorders. Working with clients and families with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a special passion for her. Laura also enjoys serving the profession of counseling, and she has been a member of and volunteered for professional associations since she was a graduate student.

Logan Bell is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. He works across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum helping patients navigate aspects of development and managing comorbid mental health concerns. Logan specializes in work with severe mood disorders, including bipolar disorder, active suicidal ideation, and death work, operating from a psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral lens. Logan also works with LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and aims to help other clinicians better understand the law, ethics, and ways to help.

Kerry Conca is a licensed mental health counselor who has been practicing therapy since 2013. Kerry recently completed her certification to become a Certified Practitioner (CP) of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy. She presently has a private practice in Tampa, Florida where she works with adolescents, young adults, and families. Kerry spent many years working with at-risk youth and children in foster care. She is passionate about advocacy for children, adoptees, neurodiverse individuals, and marginalized people.