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LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Healthcare – Clinical Practice and Ethical Issues

Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
2 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.

Every day, LGBTQIA+ individuals walk into behavioral health settings carrying invisible burdens—barriers to care, fear of being misunderstood, and trauma from past clinical encounters. Many leave without ever disclosing who they are. For clinicians, this isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a failure of care.

The cost of inaction is high: unaddressed trauma, deferred treatment, and lives lost to preventable despair. This course empowers behavioral health professionals to confront that reality and rise to meet it with inclusive, ethical, and clinically competent care.

Register for the 2 CE Online Self-Study for 

$60

 

Provide affirming, ethical care for LGBTQIA+ clients

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Get the LGBTQIA+ Training Certificate for $97

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Earn 4 CEs and access the two training modules

 

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Christopher McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW, is a nationally recognized expert in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and social work leadership. As Executive Director of NASW Maine and a clinician with over two decades of experience serving youth and families, Chris brings both personal lived experience and professional authority to this timely training. His practical knowledge and commitment to affirming care uniquely position him to guide providers toward inclusive, ethical, and client-centered services.

Chris’s approach is both passionate and practical. He offers research-based insights grounded in clinical reality, helping participants identify blind spots and build inclusive strategies they can implement immediately. With warmth and clarity, he transforms complex concepts into concrete skills that elevate the quality of care clinicians provide.

Topics explored in this course include the impact of representation in clinical settings, social determinants of health for LGBTQIA+ clients, best practices for trauma-informed care, documentation strategies, family dynamics, and ethical issues commonly encountered in practice. Clinicians will also receive guidance on the WPATH standards of care and gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs of trans and nonbinary clients seeking medical transition services.

Christopher McLaughlin Headshot

Instructor

Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW, (he/him/his), is the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and owner of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC. He obtained his BA in Psychology and his MSW from the University of Maine. Chris has spent more than 20+ years as a provider and a leader in behavioral health services for youth and families across a variety of clinical settings. Chris is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine and Husson University in Bangor.

Additionally, Chris served for four years on the Maine Board of Social Work Licensing and is a member of both the NASW and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLHC), where he is the current Maine Chapter President, and he is a member of the National Board. Chris holds additional certifications from Cornell University. Nationally, he was SSWLHC’s 2019 recipient of the Eleanor Clark Award and was named Health Care Social Worker of the Year in 2019 by the Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Chapter of the SSWLHC. You can learn more about Chris’ professional background and interests here.

Key Takeaways:

  • Clarify the impact of representation: Understand how visibility and affirmation influence client safety, honesty, and health outcomes.

  • Navigate gender-affirming care confidently: Gain a working knowledge of WPATH standards and how to apply them in clinical documentation and treatment planning.

  • Strengthen ethical decision-making: Learn to identify and address common ethical concerns when working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and families.

Why this course?

  • Clinically grounded and ethically driven: This course bridges clinical best practices with the ethical imperatives of affirming care.

  • Led by an experienced and respected instructor: Chris McLaughlin’s leadership in social work and LGBTQIA+ inclusion makes this course uniquely credible and relatable.

  • Offered by a mission-driven CE provider: Telehealth Certification Institute delivers high-quality, accessible, and practical training to empower clinicians in delivering exceptional care.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how the concept of Representation can impact clients seeking services

  • Explain the WPATH standards for clients seeking medical transition services

  • Describe ethical issues that might arise when working with LGBTQIA+ clients

This course offers more than just information—it’s a powerful invitation to grow as a practitioner and a human being. For clinicians ready to meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients with skill, sensitivity, and professionalism, this training is an essential next step.

Add to cart to begin learning instantly.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 2 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Enroll in the 2 CE Online Self-Study for $60

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Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to attend: Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.

This program was recorded on November 18, 2022.

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