Diverse Genders and Sexualities (DGS)
UPSKILL MICRO-CREDENTIAL
In this micro-credential you’ll learn how to work effectively with LGBTIQ+ clients. You’ll learn about the specific challenges and areas of risk faced by the LGBTIQ+ population, including depression and suicide. You’ll review the benefits and limitations different therapeutic approaches can have when working with a client from the LGBTIQ+ community. You’ll also work through five case studies.
The lived experiences of transgender and gender diverse people have demonstrated that gender is not always a simple binary, nor an inevitable outcome of one’s biological sex: a person born male can feel as if and identify as a girl or a woman, and vice versa for a person born female.
Similarly, traditional understandings of sexual orientation in mainstream Western culture have been limited to three possibilities: opposite sex attracted (heterosexual), same sex attracted (gay and lesbian) and attraction to members of both sexes (bisexual). In the same way that our understandings of gender are becoming more nuanced and complex, so too are our understandings of sexuality; the concept of a spectrum of sexualities – extending well beyond ‘straight, gay or bi’ – is much more widely acknowledged than it once was.
To work effectively with LGBTIQ+ clients, counsellors need to know about the sociocultural history of LGBTIQ+ people and their communities and the issues that are relevant to them. Research shows that counsellors who are knowledgeable about the issues that affect LGBTIQ+ people and the challenges they face, are viewed by LGBTIQ+ clients as more supportive and helpful.
Mainstream Western understandings of gender and sexuality are changing. For example, gender identity has traditionally been understood in a limited way – a person could either be a man, a woman or ‘other.’ In the past twenty years the possibilities of gender and sexuality have become increasingly apparent.
This Upskill has been specifically designed for helping professionals, building on your existing knowledge, skills and practical experience, and helping you develop understanding, techniques and strategies to assist you as you continue your professional journey.
The course includes a Study Guide, a Book of Readings, and recorded webinars, and is completed through passing a multiple-choice assessment. The Study Guide will take you through the core content of the course, including background information on diverse genders and sexualities, professional considerations, examples of practices for your work with clients, and more. These are supported by selected readings (all contained within the Book of Readings), each of which has been selected to expand or elaborate upon a particular area of knowledge or skill.
Upon completion of this course, you will have learnt how to:
Understand contemporary concepts and definitions of gender and sexuality
Help clients with their concerns around coming out, transitioning and discrimination
Learn about the challenges in relationships, families and parenting that people from LGBTIQ+ backgrounds commonly face
Utilise appropriate therapeutic approaches such as Person-Centred and Positive Psychology
Course Recognition
Why study an Upskill Micro-Credential
The world of work is changing. Upskilling, reskilling and agility is key to ensuring you or your organisation thrives in this ever changing, tech-focused decade. As the pace of change quickens, you and your workforce will need to learn new skills quickly to adapt and stay competitive.
Career boost
Our micro-credential courses fill and advance critical areas of knowledge. They are deep-dive explorations into important topic areas that’ll advance your capacity at work and personally.
Education specialists
We’re specialist educators in mental health with over 30-years’ experience. Our extensive experience provides us with a deep understanding of learner and market needs.
Extremely applicable
Our micro-credential courses are extremely applicable to people from all work and education backgrounds. Our courses cover diverse content areas relevant to an array of professional contexts.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time, it’s crucial that learning fits around our other commitments. That's why our micro-credential courses are self-paced and carefully designed to provide a rich, enjoyable learning experience.
Career boost
Our micro-credential courses fill and advance critical areas of knowledge. They are deep-dive explorations into important topic areas that’ll advance your capacity at work and personally.
Education specialists
We’re specialist educators in mental health with over 30-years’ experience. Our extensive experience provides us with a deep understanding of learner and market needs.
Extremely applicable
Our micro-credential courses are extremely applicable to people from all work and education backgrounds. Our courses cover diverse content areas relevant to an array of professional contexts.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time, it’s crucial that learning fits around our other commitments. That's why our micro-credential courses are self-paced and carefully designed to provide a rich, enjoyable learning experience.
Course Outline
This Course is divided into 4 Parts:
The first part of this Upskill will help practitioners to have a solid understanding of the diverse gender identities, roles and expressions which exist. Then you will learn about the different pronouns clients might use, as well as the increasingly diverse range of sexual orientations. Next you will understand the differences between sexuality and gender, before being provided with an overview of key historical events and circumstances relevant to the Australian LGBTIQ+ population.
This section highlights the challenges that the LGBTIQ+ community faces. Up to 42% of young LGBTIQ+ people have had thoughts of suicide and transgender people 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression. They also can commonly seek support about coming out and transitioning, as well as looking for help after experiencing discrimination and stigma. This section also covers some key tips on how you can work inclusively with LGBTIQ+ clients.
It is important to review the benefits and limitations that approaches can have when working with a client from the LGBTIQ+ community. For example, Person-Centred therapy is recommended for individuals who are experiencing a conflict between their authentic identity and the societal values that they have internalised – which makes it beneficial to clients who are struggling with internalised negative views relating to their sexuality or gender identity. This section also examines when it is appropriate for counsellors to make their support for a LGBTIQ+ client explicit.
Five case studies are included at the end of this Upskill. These are presented with some background information, before going into script form so that you can see some challenges and appropriate language that practitioners use when working with LGBTIQ+ clients. Each scenario is then concluded with a session summary covering the main points. The case studies cover topics such as dealing with family expectations, transitioning, cultural norms and sexuality.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we deliver micro-credential courses in a range of areas. Our micro-credentials are between 20 and 40 hours of deep, rich, learning in specific areas.
All micro-credentials lead to a Digital Badge and Certificate of Attainment. They are self-paced and assessed through multiple-choice.
Some of our micro-credential courses include Creative and Critical Thinking, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Working with Mental Health, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, and many more. You can find a catalogue of all courses here: AIPC Upskill
Our AIPC Upskill courses are all micro-credentials, which means you receive a Digital Badge and Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion.
Our micro-credentials are between 20 and 40 hours of deep, rich, learning in specific areas.
Some of our micro-credential courses include Creative and Critical Thinking, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Working with Mental Health, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, and many more. You can find a catalogue of all courses here: AIPC Upskill
No, anyone can enrol in an AIPC Upskill micro-credential course.
Our Upskill micro-credential courses are self-paced and online. Each course includes a Study Guide, a Book of Readings, and recorded webinars; and are assessed through multiple-choice questions.
Our micro-credential courses are between 20 to 40 hours of learning.
Upskill micro-credential courses comprise multiple-choice, online assessments. For successful completion of an assessment, you are required to attain a minimum 65% pass rate. As the assessment is competency-based, if you don’t pass on your first try, you will have the opportunity to review and re-submit your answers (there are no re-attempt limits).
Upon completion of an Upskill micro-credential course you receive an electronic Certificate of Attainment and a Digital Badge. A Digital Badge is a form of Digital Credential (also known as ‘micro-credential’) that can be verified/validated online. A digital badge signals your achievement to potential employers and stakeholders, as they are able to verify your learning/skill acquisition outcomes in real-time, over the web.
A Digital Badge is a form of Digital Credential (also known as ‘micro-credential’) that can be verified/validated online. A digital badge signals your achievement to potential employers and stakeholders, as they are able to verify your learning/skill acquisition outcomes in real-time, over the web.
As Upskill micro-credential courses cover a variety of topics and are relevant to diverse professions, you should check the CPD requirements of your industry association.
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