Trauma & Resilience in The LGBTQ+ Community

While the LGBTQ+ community faces many challenges to well-being, they also demonstrate significant resilience. The panel will discuss sources of resilience including; having an affirming home, school and community; participating in political action; practicing self-care and creative expression; and seeking mental health support.
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Featured Speakers:
Dr. Essence Rivers is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Psychological Services at Customized Behavioral Healthcare. As a queer, chronically ill, neurodivergent woman of color, Dr. Rivers brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to her work. Dr. Rivers is passionate about breaking down barriers of shame, stigma, and inequality, particularly for LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals with ADHD. She offers a diverse range of virtual services across the US through PSYPACT, including therapy, coaching, consultation, training, and public speaking. Her approach is systemic, trauma-informed, and person-centered, focusing on the unique challenges faced by diverse couples and families.
Dr. Emily Deming is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Community Engagement for Customized Behavioral Healthcare. As a queer psychologist she is passionate about working with LGBTQ+ parents and parents of LGBTQ+ children, helping them navigate stress, be inclusive and affirming, and address other related concerns. Dr. Deming provides individual, family, and various other virtual therapy services across the US through PSYPACT. She is also a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and a certified PCIT Within Agency Trainer. Dr. Deming believes that therapy should be a safe space for growth and a means to break free from old patterns and habits.
Zander Moricz is the Founder and Executive Director of the youth-led SEE Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to building power for young people in Florida. In response to SEE’s explosive growth, Zander has taken a leave from Harvard to return to his hometown of Sarasota and lead the Alliance in organizing community actions, registering youth voters, and in opening SEE Space Sarasota-a brand new action-based collaborative.
Becky McDonough Wiemers, EdD, LMHC, QS is the Executive Director at ALSO Youth. She has a lengthy career in Behavioral Health Administration, focused on Trauma Informed Care for adolescents. Her main interests include social justice projects and working to develop safe spaces for youth to explore issues important to them and their families.