Social Justice Speaker Series: Gender Diversity: History, Happenings, and How to Help
June 22 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Free – $15.00
CPA’s Social Justice Speaker Series
Gender Diversity: History, Happenings,
and How to Help
Date & Time: Thursday, June 22nd, 2023 from 7:00PM – 8:00PM
Location: Via Zoom: Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/5n8rztth (Participants will be prompted to enter name and email address)
Cost: FREE to attend
Continuing Education: Eligible for 1 CE – FREE for CPA Members; $15 for Non-Members
Presenter: Dr. Derek Fenwick
Description:
This talk will attempt to increase flexible thinking for clinicians around gender diversity. First, the talk will outline the historical perspective of gender diversity across cultures. Next the talk will examine the current climate of LGBTQ+ anti-legislation and its impact on this marginalized group. Finally, the talk will give tips to clinicians when working with patients who identify as LGBTQ+.
Learning Objectives:
1) Participants will be able to describe at least 2 ways gender diversity among cultures and groups of people has existed throughout history.
2) Participants will identify 3 ways the current political climate affects LGBTQ+ and gender diverse individuals.
3) Participants will learn about at least 3 specific clinical skills to help LGBTQ+ and gender diverse individuals when working with them in a clinical mental health setting.
Presenter Bio
Derek A. Fenwick (he/him/his) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who currently works for Hartford HealthCare (HHC) / Institute of Living (IOL). He is the Clinical Coordinator of The Right Track/LGBTQ Specialty Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) within Young Adult Services. The IOP focuses on the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ population who are at greater risk for psychosocial stressors, negative coping, and family rejection along with co-occurring mental health difficulties. Dr. Fenwick started out as a psychology intern at the Institute of Living in 2018, and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in The Right Track IOP from 2019-2020.
Dr. Fenwick received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2019. He has experience providing outpatient individual and group therapy, along with psychiatric inpatient services for adults. His clinical interests include LGBTQ+ adolescents, young adults, and adults, the role of identity development, and understanding personality. Dr. Fenwick’s work focuses on the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ population with an aim to help clients struggling with significant emotional distress, minority stress, and identity formation.
Dr. Fenwick is working on several initiatives within HHC to reduce health/mental health disparities for the LGBTQ+ community. He has played a major role in creating the new Center for Gender Health for HHC, and serves as the Assistant Director for the Center. Currently, he is also serving as co-chair for the Hartford HealthCare (HHC) LGBTQ+ College Resource Group (CRG). Dr. Fenwick is also involved professionally with Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) as the current President. He previously held a position on the board as Secretary (Term 2022-2023). Further, he was a participant in the CPA Early Career Psychologist Leadership Academy in 2020, and was the co-chair for the Leadership Academy in 2021.
In 2021, Dr. Fenwick was awarded by CPA with the ‘Distinguished Contribution as an Early Career Psychologist’ Award. Dr. Fenwick also received the 2022 Hartford Hospital David Hull, MD Young Practitioner Award from the Hartford Hospital Medical Staff. This award is given in recognition of leadership, excellence in clinical care and research, innovation, teaching, advocacy and activism on behalf of the art and science of medicine and the Hartford Hospital community.
References
1) Attacks on Gender Affirming Care by State Map. (2023, April 24). Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/
2) Dunlop, B. J. (2022). The Queer Mental Health Workbook. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
3) Faye, S. (2022). The Transgender Issue. Verso Books.
4) Pennington, H. (2022, June 14). What the evolution of gender can teach us about equality. Ford Foundation. https://www.