1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evidence-Based Psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ Populations is presented by Kimberly F. Balsam, PhD. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) people have unique risk and resilience factors that influence their mental health and response to psychotherapy. This program draws upon the growing body of psychological research with this population to provide a framework for clinicians to adapt their approach and provide affirmative, evidence-based psychotherapy for LGBTQ+ clients. Clinical examples and suggestions for incorporating clinician self-awareness and identities are included.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the unique risk and resilience factors influencing the presenting problems of LGBTQ+ psychotherapy clients
  • 2 Describe three key elements of affirmative psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ populations
  • 3 Describe the framework for providing evidence-based psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ populations

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who work with LGBTQ+ clients in clinical or therapeutic settings. It is relevant for those specializing in clinical psychology, counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, as well as allied professionals committed to providing affirmative, evidence-based care. The program addresses the unique risk and resilience factors impacting LGBTQ+ individuals and supports practitioners in delivering effective, inclusive psychotherapy.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists)
    • Allied professionals working with LGBTQ+ clients in therapeutic or clinical settings

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to working with LGBTQ+ clients and seek foundational knowledge about unique risk and resilience factors, as well as basic principles of affirmative, evidence-based psychotherapy.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with LGBTQ+ clients and are looking to deepen their understanding of clinical frameworks, research-informed practices, and strategies for integrating self-awareness and identity into their work.

    • Advanced: Participants have extensive experience providing psychotherapy to LGBTQ+ clients and are interested in refining advanced skills, applying complex clinical examples, and contributing to best practices in affirmative care.

  • Practice Setting

    Format Practitioners provide affirmative, evidence-based psychotherapy to LGBTQ+ clients in clinical and therapeutic environments that prioritize inclusivity, safety, and responsiveness to unique risk and resilience factors. Work typically involves assessment, individual and group therapy, and care coordination within interprofessional teams, guided by current research and clinician self-awareness.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private practice
    • Community mental health centers
    • Hospital-based behavioral health clinics
    • University or college counseling centers
    • Integrated primary care–behavioral health programs
    • LGBTQ+ community centers and nonprofits
    • Telehealth practices
    • Inpatient or residential treatment programs
Presented By

Kimberly Balsam, PhD

Kimberly F. Balsam, Ph.D., is Department Chair and Professor in the Psychology Department at Palo Alto University, where she is the Director of the Center for LGBTQ Evidence-Based Applied Research.  She has a 20-year history of clinical practice and has been conducting innovative research in the area of LGBTQ+ psychology since the 1990s.  She is currently the Principal Investigator for the LGBTQ+ Clinical Academy, a project to develop and test a 40-hour cultural competence training for behavioral health providers.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.