Frequently Asked Questions

LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) merges the established theory and techniques of CBT with minority stress theory and other advancements in LGBTQ-focused clinical science to prepare practitioners to successfully help LGBTQ people cope with the unique challenges they face. For instance, early and ongoing experiences of LGBTQ-related stressors can lead LGBTQ people to develop self-invalidating cognitive styles and patterns of behavioral avoidance. LGBTQ-affirmative CBT can help LGBTQ people increase their awareness of how these styles emerge and develop more self-affirming viewpoints. LGBTQ people may also develop habitual patterns of avoidance, learned over time as a functional adaptation to hostility, but often unhelpful when overly applied across life domains. LGBTQ-affirmative CBT helps LGBTQ clients distinguish between safe and unsafe contexts and engage in newly meaningful, authentic behavior, including affirming relationships within and beyond the LGBTQ community.

This training is for mental health providers and other professionals who regularly interact with LGBTQ+ clients.

• Community Centers
• Private Practice
• Mental Health Clinics
• Veteran's Health Programs
• Outpatient Programs
• University Counseling Centers

LGBTQ people face unique life experiences and stressors, which explain their elevated risk for several mental health problems including depression, anxiety, substance use problems, and suicidality. Both early and ongoing LGBTQ-related stressors contribute to mental health problems across the lifespan.

Extensive research has shown that CBT is an effective treatment for addressing emotional disorders. Several clinical trials have shown that LGBTQ affirmative CBT, in particular, is effective for addressing depression, anxiety, substance use, and other emotional disorders among LGBTQ people. LGBTQ-affirmative CBT was developed with insights from LGBTQ community experts and diverse LGBTQ community members. Our training program helps providers gain confidence in working with LGBTQ clients and applying scientific and community insights to their work.

• Continuing education credits
• A certificate of course completion from the Yale School of Public Health (a non-degree certificate from Yale)
• A greater ability to:
  • Apply CBT with LGBTQ clients
  • Describe how minority stress theory can inform evidence-based practice
  • Explain the principles and techniques of LGBTQ-affirmative CBT

CenterLink Affiliates

Mental health providers at CenterLink-affiliated LGBTQ centers will be able to access the trainings at a discounted rate. Please indicate your center’s CenterLink status upon registering. We will then check this status with CenterLink.

Students

Students will be charged at the CenterLink discounted rate. Proof of student status will be requested during the application process.

Scholarships

Scholarships will be awarded on a case-by-case basis to professionals who work with low-income communities. Should you wish to be considered for scholarship, please indicate this on your program application. You will need to include a short statement describing: 1) why you should be considered for a scholarship, 2) a description of the community you work with, and 3) how the community you work with will benefit from your participation in the program.

Cancellation Policy

• 12-week self-guided course: Because you will be granted access to the full course upon completing your payment, no tuition refunds can be issued after accessing the program’s Canvas site.
• Trainings with live-sessions (12-week training, 3-day training, webinars): A full tuition fee refund will be issued if you withdraw from the program before the start date. After the program begins, no refund can be issued. However, you may defer your participation until a future training, if and when future trainings are offered, if you encounter extenuating circumstances during the program.

You will be able to access all course materials on Canvas for 1 year. If you find you need more time, you are welcome to reach out to us at lgbtqmentalhealth@yale.edu to request additional time.

The course does not include the Oxford Manual in LGBTQ-affirmative CBT, but we do provide discount codes to purchase the manual at a reduced rate. These discount codes are available in Canvas after you register for the training.

You can direct any questions or concerns to our staff at lgbtqmentalhealth@yale.edu.

We charge for our trainings to cover administrative costs and program costs associated with providing Continuing Education credits.

To be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, you must complete all required components of all the 12 modules of the course. You must complete and pass (80% or higher) every quiz in the course.

There is one six-question quiz per module, and you may re-take quizzes as many times as you need. The information in the quizzes is covered in the course content. You will do best on the quizzes if you take them after you watch all the videos and complete the readings for that week.

There is also a final quiz located at the end of Week 12's materials. You must complete the final full-course post-test quiz, and receive at least an 80% to pass. You may retake the quiz as many times as you wish.

Yes! Once you have earned your certificate of completion, you can add it to your LinkedIn page, share it with your network, or print it out and frame it in your office!

We will process Certificate of Completion monthly on the 15th of the month. Therefore, if we receive your request on the 16th, you will not receive your certificate until the 15th of the following month. Certificates of completion will be emailed to the email with which you completed your program registration.

No, the program does not offer academic credit. Additionally, because the program is not credit-bearing, academic transcripts for completion of the program are not available.

No, because this program does not offer academic credit, we are not able to issue a 1098T form. Check with your tax preparer for more information on your eligibility to deduct training expenses.

If you have any additional questions about receiving CE credits for this course, please direct them to lgbtqmentalhealth@yale.edu and include the words “Certificate” in your subject heading. Thank you!