Episode 34: Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students in Wilderness

PREVIEW:The world is becoming more open when it comes to inclusivity surrounding gender and sexuality. At the same time, many young people in the LGBTQ+ community are still struggling with mental health issues; higher rates of suicide; and lack of acceptance among family, friends, and society. In this episode the SKYlights Podcast, Mariah Loftin, MA, LPC, Clinical Director and Senior Clinical Therapist, discusses why this issue is at the forefront of our minds, some sobering statistics that highlight the importance of providing support for LGBTQ+ individuals, challenges for family and friends, as well as how to create safe spaces for th LGBTQ+ community.  GUEST PROFILE:MARIAH LOFTIN, MA, LPCMariah Loftin, MA, LPC, Clinical Director and Senior Clinical Therapist, joined Open Sky in 2012 and has been an integral member of the clinical team ever since. As Clinical Director, Mariah leads Open Sky’s treatment team in delivering a transformative therapeutic experience for students and families. She is attuned to the evolving needs of the Open Sky community and is known for her passion and skill for leadership and development. Mariah skillfully blends her background as a psychotherapist, behavior analyst, and art therapist to build deep and positive connections with students and parents while supporting the family system through change. She is recognized by clients and peers for her positive nature, open personality, and tenacious dedication.TOPICS COVERED: Awareness, Communication, Connection, Gender, Inclusive Language, Inclusivity, LGBTQ, Mental Health, Pronouns, Sexuality00:00 Intro02:25 Awareness around gender and sexuality05:19 Mental health issues in the LGBTQ+ community07:39 How parents can support their LGBTQ+ children09:52 Where parents can get support10:30 Fears and challenges parents may face12:20 Creating safe and inclusive spaces14:24 Inclusive language17:50 How does support affect LGBTQ+ youth?21:00 Working with LGBTQ+ youth at Open Sky24:05 Fostering connectionSELECT QUOTES:“When people start to live in this brave, open sharing way, particularly about their gender and sexuality, I think this more visible way of being in the world, it gives people examples of how they can actually belong. How they can be themselves. And so of course, just like tattoos, we see it with TVs, movies, magazines in our communities. We look around and we see diverse ways that people are showing up, people are expressing themselves, and I think we're seeing more examples. So that's notable, how we see evidence of it in our communities.”“Parents can really struggle with different feelings. It might be hard to let go of particular expectations that they had of who their child was going to be, how their child was going to grow up and live out their life. And in that, parents need a lot of support in order to go through their own process. And I think it's relevant that parents have room to feel their own emotions too. ““It's important to just start trying. And you're going to make mistakes and you can acknowledge them, you can apologize and then move forward. And so I think the first part is to educate yourself on what individuals are identifying? How do they actually identify for themselves? How do they feel comfortable in themselves? What is the best expression for themself? That to me is an important part of establishing connection and communication and also establishing, ‘Hey, I care, I'm paying attention.’”“I think if a child sees their parents and family members as people who are accepting and supportive that it allows them to really step into their whole selves because they know they have their family behind them. And I think that allows them to authentically express who they are.”