Take Responsibility
Recognize their own biases, privileges, and worldviews as it pertains to SGM youth and adults and take responsibility for how these impact assessment and treatment.
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The First of its Kind, Fully Online
Fairfield University offers a 9-credit certificate for mental health professionals to serve a diverse range of queer and trans youth and adults. Coursework includes an emphasis on the minority stress model to understand the impact of stigma on mental health, and ranges from analyzing health disparities to theoretical and evidenced-based approaches to treatment.
The program is available to current Fairfield graduate students as well as mental health professionals who hold at least a bachelor’s degree. The required courses can be taken as a concentration while working towards a master’s degree at Fairfield University or can be completed as a stand-alone certificate.
Program Highlights
- Suited for working professional or graduate student and is suited for marriage and family therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and more
- One year of flexible, online learning that can fit into a busy schedule
- Highly engaging, interactive online courses taught by passionate and knowledgeable practitioners
- A focus on intersectional, relational, life cycle, and self-reflective perspectives to foster a holistic view of both client and clinician
- An opportunity to create and implement a project, program, or product that impacts LGBTQ mental health
Contact Us
Office of Graduate Admission
P: (203) 254-4184
F: (203) 254-4199
gradadmis@fairfield.edu
Learning Objectives
Learning outcomes for this program are based in professional standards for clinical treatment of SGM clients (i.e., American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association), the School of Education and Human Development Conceptual Framework, and the Jesuit mission of Fairfield University. The certification in Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health prepares candidates who:
1
2
Distinguish
Distinguish how biological, familial, cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological factors influence the development, growth, life cycle, and relationship and family formation for SGM individuals.
3
Recognize
Recognize how sexual and gender identity intersect with other social identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, nationality, class, ability, religion/spirituality) to create diverse experiences of development, privilege, and oppression.
4
Articulate
Articulate an affirmative approach to mental health treatment that includes a strength-based, normative view of sexual and gender diversity as well as an understanding of how stigma impacts mental health and well-being.
5
Seek & Access
Seek and access resources for client care and continued professional development, including training, consultation, and research findings.
6
Create
Create solutions that directly impact service delivery, community resources, or policy initiatives that improve SGM well-being.
Requirements & Curriculum
Required Courses
| Queer and Trans Mental Health | |
| Transgender and Gender Expansive Affirming Care | |
| Conversations with Queer and Trans Youth | |
| Queer and Trans Mental Health Capstone |
Visit our our academic catalog for detailed course descriptions and more information.
More About Queer and Trans Mental Health
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
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Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fairfield is dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.
Faculty
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Faculty
Our caring and committed Queer and Trans Mental Health faculty offer a rigorous course of study, with a broad range of courses that integrate critical reflection and extensive field experience.