Increasingly adopted by therapists and mental health professionals, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients to cope with social, emotional and mental health issues by using the six core ACT processes: Acceptance, Cognitive Defusion, Being Present, the Self as Context, Values and Committed Action. This is the go-to-guide for evidence-based ACT techniques to be used by professionals to help their transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, third gender and agender clients. It provides the tools to help these clients develop emotional processing skills they can implement throughout their life, from coping with mental health issues and substance abuse, to navigating prejudice and social pressure, to building a career and developing a family.

As more clinicians train in mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies, the demand for skills specifically for treating diverse clients grows. In this much-needed edited volume, you’ll find evidence-based strategies for treating gender and sexual minorities with acceptance and compassion for better treatment outcomes. Gender and sexual minorities face unique concerns and, according to research, are actually more likely to want and seek therapeutic help due to greater levels of psychological distress. But research also shows that many psychologists and therapists do not feel adequately educated or efficacious discussing topics related to sexuality and gender in clinical practice. This book will address this significant gap with evidence-based and best-practice interventions and applications. Mindfulness and Acceptance for Gender and Sexual Minorities offers a number of practical strategies within a contextual behavioral science framework, including mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions, compassion-focused therapy (CFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), relational frame theory (RFT), and more. With chapters on stigma, shame, relationships, and parenting, this book will be a valuable resource for all therapists. If you’re a clinician, you understand the ongoing need for cutting-edge, effective approaches for treating a variety of clients. With this guide, you’ll learn about the unique application of contextual behavioral approaches as they relate specifically to the experiences of gender and sexual minorities, and feel better equipped to help all of your clients work toward happiness and health.

This Nutshell presents a very timely overview of legal topics relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and the law. Topics covered include: regulation of sexuality, gender identity and expression, parenthood, marriage, United States military, nondiscrimination statutes and ordinances, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and religious freedom. Discussion includes developments at the federal, state and local level. Statutes discussed include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX; the Fair Housing Act; the Affordable Care Act; Don't Ask, Don't Tell; Defense of Marriage Act, as well as some of the anti-LGBT rights measures that have been adopted in various states.

Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- ONE. The Case Law: Expanding Protection -- TWO. Neutrality -- THREE. Antisubordination -- FOUR. Status -- FIVE. Perfectionism -- SIX. Expressive Freedom: A Short Discussion of a Value That Is Not There -- SEVEN. The Race Paradox -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W

The increase in prevalence and visibility of sexually gender diverse (SGD) populations illuminates the need for greater understanding of the ways in which current laws, systems, and programs affect their well-being. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, or intersex, as well as those who express same-sex or -gender attractions or behaviors, will have experiences across their life course that differ from those of cisgender and heterosexual individuals. Characteristics such as age, race and ethnicity, and geographic location intersect to play a distinct role in the challenges and opportunities SGD people face. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations reviews the available evidence and identifies future research needs related to the well-being of SDG populations across the life course. This report focuses on eight domains of well-being; the effects of various laws and the legal system on SGD populations; the effects of various public policies and structural stigma; community and civic engagement; families and social relationships; education, including school climate and level of attainment; economic experiences (e.g., employment, compensation, and housing); physical and mental health; and health care access and gender-affirming interventions. The recommendations of Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations aim to identify opportunities to advance understanding of how individuals experience sexuality and gender and how sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status affect SGD people over the life course.

Sometimes it is difficult to identify and express our genuine gender identity. When we don't fit the ideal, the gender role, or the social script, we can feel trapped in ourselves. This "stuck" feeling is often reinforced by intrusive thoughts, mental rigidity, and self-judgement. Where do you even begin? Non-binary counselor, Alex Stitt, lays the foundations for addressing these feelings with reflective exercises and activities rooted in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) that help you understand what gender is, the spectrum of different gender identities, how to identify and accept your gender, coming out, self-actualization and much more. This interactive and humanizing workbook will help you identify your values so you can accept and embody what's most important to you in your gender exploration.