By BTL Staff
Natasha Lewis-Grinwid
FERNDALE – Clinical educators will come together to conduct a two-day intensive training on clinical issues related to sexual orientation Nov. 7 and 8.
This year, Natasha Lewis-Grinwis, a certified sex therapist and licensed social worker, will join the team that has been assembled by Affirmations. The training offers twelve continuing education credits and covers topics such as: sexual identity and social development, coming out, legal issues, clinical, professional and ethical considerations.
"Sexual health is an important aspect of mental and physical wellness. People increasingly expect the professionals they consult to be comfortable with this topic," Lewis-Grinwis explained. "Providing education and asking if and how treatment is impacting a person's sexuality improves client care and decreases caseload attrition. When working with LGBT community members, there are additional treatment considerations of which to be mindful."
Educators for the training include ACLU Attorney, Jay Kaplan; therapist and author Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW; psychologist Judith Kovach, PhD, LP; psychologist Amorie Robinson (Kofi Adoma), PhD, LP; psychiatrist Don Spivak, MD; social worker Maxine Thome, PhD, LMSW, AMSW, MPH; and psychotherapist and sex therapist Natasha Lewis-Grinwis, LMSW, CST.
Local and statewide social workers, licensed counselors, school counselors, physicians and psychologists are encouraged to attend.
The November training marks the organization's third year since embarking on this initiative, which offers the only trainings of this kind in Michigan. In March of 2015, Affirmations is planning its third two-day intensive training on gender identity. That same year Affirmations will also offer trainings to physical health providers, especially nurses and other front-line staff.
Training and registration information can be found at http://www.GoAffirmations.org/training.
