9:00am- 10:30am                                                                                          

Decoding the Alphabet Soup: Developing Competency and Quality of Care in Working with the LGBTQIA2S+ Community

Counselors are expected to be culturally competent and yet they are not immune from feeling overwhelmed with the "alphabet soup" that is often used to represent this community of clients. This presentation draws from both lived experience and research on clinical practice to assist counselors in gaining clearer understanding and confidence in their clinical work with clients from the LGBTQIA2S+ community.  This training focuses on equipping clinicians with culturally competent strategies to support clients with intersecting identities.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will be able to:

1. Implement culturally responsive interventions to provide affirming and effective care for clients with diverse and intersecting identities.
2. Identify and address the impact of minority stress, shame, and systemic discrimination on clients’ mental health.
3. Integrate strength-based approaches to empower clients in their self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth.
4. Demonstrate a deeper understanding of LGBTQIA2S+ identities and experiences to provide more affirming, inclusive, and culturally competent care.

Presenters: 

Felicia Caflin, LCPC & Bryan Bebb     

Felicia Caflin, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor with nine years of experience providing therapeutic services in the Flathead Valley. Dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and supportive community, she has been actively involved with the Glacier Queer Alliance (GQA), serving on its board for four years, including one term as Board President. Felicia specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender and queer youth and their families. She also played a key role in establishing the Community Care Collective, an initiative that removes financial barriers for Queer Allied and Identified individuals in Montana to access wellness services, including mental health therapy, massage therapy, nutritional coaching, chiropractic care, and more.

Bryan Bebb is the Founder and Executive Director of Glacier Queer Alliance (GQA), a nonprofit organization that through their community center and outreach efforts has been connecting and supporting the queer community in the Flathead Valley and beyond since 2018. Committed to creating positive, safe, and inclusive spaces, he has been instrumental in developing resources and events for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Bryan also spearheaded the UBU Initiative, which provides financial assistance for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals seeking legal name changes, gender marker updates on official documents, and access to The Gayety, a free community clothing exchange offering gender-affirming clothing, prosthetics, and makeup.

Together, Felicia and Bryan have collaborated to provide comprehensive sensitivity and educational training sessions—advancing inclusivity, best speaking practices, and awareness—to healthcare providers, religious organizations, and businesses throughout the Flathead Valley.