Gender and sexual identity are lenses through which all of us are constantly negotiating our place and meaning in the world, against a background of powerful binaries and stereotypes, most notably male/female and gay/straight. Yet, in recent years there has been a sea change amongst teenagers and young adults, who are increasingly resisting traditional, binary gender identities and not defining themselves as heterosexual.
Using a mixture of creative, open exercises and small and whole group discussion, we will:
- Focus on our own unique gender and sexual identities – connecting to and safely sharing our own feelings, thoughts and experiences from our professional and/or personal lives.
- Explore the reality of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer (LGBTQ+) and gender-fluid children and young peoples’ lives and the discrimination they face in the UK and beyond.
It was a really valuable session, brilliantly and safely facilitated. I really enjoyed the personal development approach rather than just giving us loads of information. – past participant
About Neil Young: Neil is an integrative arts psychotherapist working with young people and adults in private practice and teaching at the Institute for Arts & Therapy in Education. Neil is a gender and sexual identity specialist, delivering lectures, training, workshops and embodied performances to mental health professionals, students and organisations. Neil’s background also includes 25 years as a trainer/facilitator, researcher, youth work manager and queer community advocate – he founded Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre and worked as an LGBT advisor to the first two Mayors of London. Neil has just co-written a chapter – ‘Don’t panic! Queering the child’ – for the recent book Queering Psychotherapy.
Book your place on this valuable session now – CPD certificates will be provided.
