Ending Conversion Therapy: Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ Youth

Course Description: This course provides mental health professionals with accurate information about effective and ineffective therapeutic practices related to children’s and adolescent’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Specifically, this course addresses the issue of conversion therapy for minors. The conclusions are based on professional consensus statements arrived at by experts in the field. Specifically, conversion therapy—efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression—is a practice that is not supported by credible evidence.

Learning Objectives:

• Critique the statements of professional consensus regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression
• Analyze the research findings involving sexual orientation and gender in childhood and adolescence, and the impact on health and well-being
• Evaluate the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions for sexual and gender minority youth
• Describe various approaches to ending the use of conversion therapy
• Evaluate guidelines for families and others working with LGBTQ children and adolescents to help facilitate the best outcomes for these youth

Course Components:

• Online text (included)
• Multiple choice online exam (included)
• Electronic certificate of completion (free)

Course Credit(s): 4 CE Credits or Hours

Course Format: Online Text (format of this course is noninteractive)

Course Schedule: Self-paced

Course Author(s): Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, MPH

Content Publisher(s): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Course Author(s) Qualifications:

Laura Jadwin-Cakmak is the Communications Director at the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Laura Jadwin-Cakmak graduated from the University of Michigan School of Public Health with a Master’s in Health Behavior and Health Education in 2012. She has worked extensively in the field of sexuality and health with Dr. Jose Bauermeister and Dr. Gary Harper.

Course Level: Beginning/Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced

CEmobile, LLC, #1558, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. CEmobile, LLC maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 5/2/2018-5/2/2021. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.
Social workers participating in this course will receive 4 clinical continuing education clock hours.