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Panel Discussions

LGBTQIA+

Resilience under Pressure: Adapting Trauma-Informed Care for LGBTQ+ Patients across the Lifespan amidst Shifting Psychosocial Landscapes

Panel Discussion 5 - Resilience Under Pressure: Adapting Trauma-informed Care for LGBTQ+ Patients Across the Lifespan Amidst Shifting Psychosocial Landscapes

Friday, June 26, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PDT
Location: Golden Gate C2, B2 Level
Earn 1.5 Credit
Keywords: LGBTQ+, Mental Health Disparities, Resilience
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Shen, J., Seager van Dyk, I., & Cohen, J. M. (2024). Talking with Youth about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Pediatrics In Review, 45(12), 721–725. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2023-006174,   Hope, D. A., & Puckett, J. A. (2024). Bans on Evidence-Based Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse People Present Risks for Clients and Dilemmas for Mental Health Providers. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 31(1), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2023.12.003,   Mark, K. M., McNamara, K. A., Gribble, R., Rhead, R., Sharp, M.-L., Stevelink, S. A. M., Schwartz, A., Castro, C., & Fear, N. T. (2019). The health and well-being of LGBTQ serving and ex-serving personnel: A narrative review. International Review of Psychiatry, 31(1), 75–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2019.1575190,   ,  
The current sociopolitical climate, characterized by shifting regulatory environments and legislative restrictions on care for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+) communities, presents complex challenges for mental health providers. Despite a recent decade of positive changes in social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals (Fish & Russell, 2022), many LGBTQ+ patients across the lifespan face changing policies that limit access to supportive care and increase mental health disparities (Hope & Puckett, 2024; Quasebarth et al., 2024). LGBTQ+ patients across the lifespan are in increasing need for support from mental health providers, with a rising utilization of suicide crisis lines among LGBTQ+ youth (Nath et al., 2024), as well as increasing stigma and barriers to care for LGBTQ+ veterans and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been used in evidence-based practice to create significant strides in supporting LGBTQ+ patients; however, up-to-date perspectives on implementing CBT are needed to navigate ongoing changes and restrictions in care options.

This panel convenes clinicians and researchers from diverse, multidisciplinary practice settings, including academic medicine, safety net hospitals, behavioral health, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Panelists will present on clinical examples and research expertise to discuss how to provide affirming, equitable, and sustainable CBT for LGBTQ+ people in the current landscape by: (a) improving comprehensive screenings for LGBTQ+ youth, families, adults, and veterans; (b) adapting trauma-informed, evidence-based CBT across distinct healthcare settings; (c) monitoring increasing risk factors and implementing safety-planning that bolsters resilience against minority stressors; and (d) navigating impacts of current guidance on healthcare provision and care models. This panel will contribute to the 2026 WCCBT Congress theme of “Health for All: Affirming, Equitable, and Sustainable CBT” by facilitating discussion among expert psychologists to provide key insights on delivering CBT to LGBTQ+ patients across the lifespan.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the current research base, clinical practice, and challenges in delivering CBT effectively to LGBTQ+ patients across care settings.
  • Identify strategies for adapting CBT to promote distress tolerance and resilience in LGBTQ+ patients and families exposed to rising stigma.
  • Articulate up-to-date resources for working with vulnerable LGBTQ+ communities amidst changing policies.