Children and adolescents who identify as LGBTQ+ may carry stress related to stigma, rejection, invisibility, or invalidation. These experiences often show up in protective strategies such as concealment, heightened vigilance, humor, perfectionism, withdrawal, or shifts in play themes and symbolism. Therapists may feel affirming in intention yet uncertain about pacing identity exploration or responding when emotional activation increases in session.
This 90-minute workshop offers a trauma informed and developmentally grounded approach to supporting LGBTQ+ young people through expressive and creative engagement.
Participants will examine how stress related to stigma presents differently across childhood and adolescence, including changes in narrative expression, relational engagement, and symbolic communication. Observable indicators of activation will be reviewed to strengthen clinical attunement and reduce misinterpretation.
