Family Matters

Online Course

Course Logistics

Course Instruction

In the Course Content section bellow you will find that this course has been divided up into three topic sections for easy navigation and digestion of the material. The content builds on itself to create a truly transformative education, so please move through the sections in order. After watching each video lesson, give yourself ample time to engage deeply with the journal prompts offered for each section. Journal integration is imperative to your success in this course, so please don’t sell yourself short. Dig in!

You will find supplemental materials such as handouts, activities, resource links and more by clicking the “Materials” tab that appears at the top of your screen on the lesson page. Navigate to the lesson page by scrolling down to the Course Content section and clicking on the lesson title. 

You can track your progress through the course at the top of your lesson page. Once you finish a topic section, mark it complete by clicking the “Mark Complete” button at the top right of your lesson page or at the bottom of each lesson. Marking a section complete will unlock the next lesson for you. Enjoy the journey!

Informed Consent

The topics taught in this course inherently challenge much of what we are taught about gender and sexuality in our upbringings with an aim to liberate ourselves from unconscious biases and bring us deeper into our humanity. YES! Because of the complex nature of this content, personal emotional material may arise as a result of this education. 

Due to the independent nature of online self-paced learning, it is imperative that you maintain a caring and compassionate eye on your internal emotional landscape. Please seek therapy services if they may support you to heal and integrate any personal material that arises as a result of this transformative education. 

Facebook Community Forum

As a part of this course, you have access to our online Community Forum where you can post your questions, find resources, and connect with community. I want to acknowledge that Facebook is not everyone’s preferred platform (it certainly isn’t mine for many many reasons) and for now we are hosting our forum there because it still yields the highest engagement rate. If you are not a Facebook user and don’t want to be, I hear you, I see you, I support your decisions, and this is what we’ve got for the time being.

Course Objectives

Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community also means supporting the people who are closest to them. In this class we will discuss the nuances of close relationships that surround LGBTQIA+ individuals and the importance of biological versus chosen family. You will learn the best ways to support family and loved ones through transitions related to gender and sexual orientation that keep support systems strong and make relationships thrive throughout change. 

• Discover how supporting caregivers of LGBTQIA+ people is imperative to social justice for the LGBTQIA+ community. 
• Learn how to get buy-in from caregivers to do their personal work in order to better serve their LGBTQIA+ loved one.
• Learn about the mental and physical health risks associated with rejection of LGBTQIA+ identity. 
• Identify caregiver do’s and don’ts for affirming LGBTQIA+ identity.
• Hone your approach when it comes to addressing caregiver resistance.
• Understand the nuances between supporting caregivers and intimate partners of LGBTQIA+ people. 
• Build resources and tools for supporting the families of LGBTQIA+ youth.