Widening Understanding of Sexual Orientation

This is Day 2 of the three-day training* 'Cultural Competency in Counselling People with Gender, Sex and Relationship diversities' with Tina Clark, Client Centred Counsellor and Sex and Gender Diversities Therapist.

Each day focuses on one area – Gender, Sexual Orientation or Relationship – and is *devised as a standalone, whilst relating to common themes running across the series. Workshops will comprise information giving, discussion, individual and group work.

Across recent years it has become progressively evident that people who experience same sex attraction are of no less value to society than their heterosexual counterparts; moreover that human sexual orientation is much wider than the simplistic binary of Straight or Gay. However cultural constructs are hard to shift and those who have been out-grouped still experience social stigma and oppression.

To be true to the core principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice it is important that we are able to hold hierarchies in awareness, and avoid being drawn into them. Whether we experience personal orientation as heterosexual, gay, lesbian bisexual, pansexual, or asexual we should be able to meet people from the other groups with respect. In order to do this authentically we need to be open to the experience of their different frames of reference.

This workshop will:

• explore the 21st century’s expanding vocabulary and understandings of human sexual orientation

• look at how cultural authorities have controlled perceptions of sexual orientation in the past, so that we may bring into awareness the potential prejudices, and micro-aggressions, that could block unconditional positive regard.

• discuss the developmental and social differences arising from being outside majority orientation

• work with vignettes on some of the personal and social issues sexual orientation raises in counselling.

For further info on the event, the facilitator and how to book, visit PCT Scotland