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Love More

A licensed therapist’s reflections and musings for queer, trans, and other LGBTQIA2S+ folx (and those who love them).

Serving BDSM Clients Part 1: Why All Relational Counselors Should Become Kink-Aware
sexuality, for clinicians Beth Cortez-Neavel sexuality, for clinicians Beth Cortez-Neavel

Serving BDSM Clients Part 1: Why All Relational Counselors Should Become Kink-Aware

many counselors like sex therapists and relational counselors are not adequately prepared to work with kinky clients. They also may be actively pathologizing kink. Even if a counselor or therapist is open to working with BDSM clients, the willingness to work with this population is not sufficient to ensure we are doing so in a safe and ethical way. Relational counselors must take our practice one step further and become kink-aware.

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Part Three: What Mental Health Professionals Can Do to Help Clients Heal from Domestic Violence

Part Three: What Mental Health Professionals Can Do to Help Clients Heal from Domestic Violence

As mental health professionals, especially if we work with couples and families, we are bound to come across clients who are experiencing or have experienced abuse. It is incredibly important for people in our field of work to have at least some basic training in working with these types of clients. Unfortunately, the basics are often left out of graduate school curricula. Read on to learn how we can help our clients who may have experienced abuse.

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Part Two: Let’s Learn About Domestic Violence in Queer and Trans Communities
domestic violence, transgender, queer Beth Cortez-Neavel domestic violence, transgender, queer Beth Cortez-Neavel

Part Two: Let’s Learn About Domestic Violence in Queer and Trans Communities

In queer relationships, the hidden aspects of domestic violence are tenfold that of violence in heterosexual relationships. Queer folx have more trouble finding help escaping from domestic violence or keeping themselves safe if they are continuously experiencing it. This especially includes queer folx with marginalized gender identities.

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Part One: October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – What It Is and How You Can Recognize the Signs
domestic violence Beth Cortez-Neavel domestic violence Beth Cortez-Neavel

Part One: October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – What It Is and How You Can Recognize the Signs

Domestic violence can encompass many different types of abuse and violence, not just physical. Through the next three blog posts, let’s demystify domestic violence in our community and help those who have experienced it in the past, or may be experiencing it now. My hope is that they are able to find reassurance that help is out there, healing is possible, and that they are not alone.

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How Bisexual Erasure is Harming Queer People
Beth Cortez-Neavel Beth Cortez-Neavel

How Bisexual Erasure is Harming Queer People

Bisexuals–part of the plurisexual spectrum–continue to be discriminated against in both straight and queer spaces. This discrimination and erasure are damaging to our health. The discrimination and erasure we face may contribute to increased risk of health problems such as higher self-reported rates of anxiety, depression, cancer, and others.

Read more to hear the first-hand experiences of plurisexual people from around the world.

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Discrimination is Dangerous to Fat People’s Mental Health. Here’s why and what mental health professionals can do to help.
body image, discrimination, research, for therapists Beth Cortez-Neavel body image, discrimination, research, for therapists Beth Cortez-Neavel

Discrimination is Dangerous to Fat People’s Mental Health. Here’s why and what mental health professionals can do to help.

The word “fat” isn’t supposed to be a dirty word, a joke, or a judgment. Instead, “fat” is a neutral word describing the type of body a person has, just like the descriptions of “thin,” “tall,” and “short.” … research shows that the prevalence of weight-based stigma … continues to increase against fat people, with negative consequences. This increase in weight-based stigma is continuing to endanger fat people’s mental health.

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My Teen Might Be Transgender. What Do I Do Next?
parenting, transgender, teens, pre-teens, gender identity Beth Cortez-Neavel parenting, transgender, teens, pre-teens, gender identity Beth Cortez-Neavel

My Teen Might Be Transgender. What Do I Do Next?

You are already a compassionate parent! You don’t have to be deeply knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the queer community to be a safe haven for your child, pre-teen, or teen.

Here is a short guide to help you get started on your parental journey of having a queer/trans/nonbinary kid.

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