* This presentation was originally recorded in English. Closed captioning is available in both English and French.
Vincent Francoeur & Rick Julien (ACT), Rahim Thawer (Affective Counselling & Psychotherapy), and Trevor Hart (Ryerson University, University of Toronto) - While the pandemic has negatively impacted socializing and isolation, it has also generated an increase in global anxiety, perhaps more so in already marginalized communities. There is therefore a need to support and train counsellors working with GBT2Q communities in the context of COVID. A panel of ethnically diverse GBT2Q counsellors and counsellor trainers, including men living with HIV, will discuss the unique challenges of training providers that cater to GBT2Q community members, especially in the current COVID context. Questions and concerns for discussion include: What GBT2Q specific information and strategies are helpful to training, and what are not? How can trainers and counsellors leverage technology to increase access in the COVID era? Where can trainers and counsellors find their own support to debrief? What are the rewards of training counsellors for the GBT2Q community? How can our training and counsellor community be resilient in the new normal of COVID? The panel and audience discussion will be facilitated by Dr Trevor Hart, Director of the Gay Men’s Counselling Training Hub at Ryerson University.