Class Descriptions

Interpersonal Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Clients

SW707

Course Description

This course will address issues of concern to interpersonal practice clients that identify as Transgender, Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Questioning, or Non Straight (TLBGQNS). This course will build on basic IP skills and knowledge of, primarily, individual therapy. Issues which are of greater concern, or for which services and in some cases, knowledge are lacking for these groups will be reviewed. For example, these issues will include: the development of sexual identity, coming out, social stigma, substance abuse, HIV and AIDS, the interaction of discrimination due to gender and/or ethnicity with the discrimination due to sexual orientation, violence within relationships and violence against these groups, discrimination on the basis of orientation, suicide, family development and parenting, passing and community interaction, and policy. This course will closely focus on skills needed for working with these specific issues.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Comprehend and critically analyze theories regarding the development of sexual identity.
2. Articulate the basic areas of concern covered in the course and the points of special relevancy for TLBGQNS clients (e.g., suicide, substance abuse).
3. Demonstrate sound and sensitive therapy skills for some of the issues in this course.
4. Articulate social work ethical values regarding practice with TLBGQNS clients.
5. Describe the impact of characteristics, such as economic class, culture, ethnicity, gender, disability status, religion, and age on TLBGQNS clients.
6. Write about and summarily describe the latest research and detailed therapy methods for some of the issues described in this course.
7. Address questions, concerns, and biases regarding sexual orientation's intersection with the issues in this course when working with clients (e.g., being able to discriminate between issues that are related to sexual orientation and those that are not).

Design

This course will be taught using lecture, discussion, and WWW technology, which allows knowledgeable academics, experts, and other guests from Texas, Wisconsin, Seattle, NY, and other parts of the country to contribute to the class via on-line conferencing. Students have participated in this course from as far as Reno, Nevada using Real Audio, PowerPoint slides, faxes, email, U.S. mail, telephone conferencing, and asynchronous on line chats. Guest speakers will also be utilized frequently to enrich and broaden the learning environment and experience.

Case examples will be offered in many sessions to help illustrate issues. Choices for treatment plans will be discussed, and therapy will be practiced in the class using role-plays.