Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Clients: An Ethical Perspective
About this Event
Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Clients: An Ethical Perspective
Facilitated by Cynthia Penwell, CSW-S & Shane Whalley, MSSW
August 6, 2026
1 pm to 4 pm
St. Andre Multipurpose Room, St. Edward's University
3001 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
Sexual orientation and gender identity are hot topics in our current political climate, which means that members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are navigating a lot right now. In this engaging workshop we will explore some of the biggest political issues the LGBTQIA+ communities are facing, and how they might be showing up in clinical work. We will look at the ethical considerations both in clinical practice and in advocacy work and discuss how to make your office and practice a safer place for LGBTQIA+ clients. We will explore special considerations to use in trauma informed care.
Workshop attendees will be able to:
- Create an LGBTQAI+ - friendly practice where all clients feel welcome
- Utilize person-centered, collaborative, and trauma-informed narrative techniques to successfully support LGBTQAI+ community
- Describe and apply ethical principles to common presenting issues and cultural issues with LGBTQAI+ clientele
- Identify systems and structures that often negatively impact LGBTQIA+ clients
Cynthia S Penwell, LCSW-S
Cynthia S Penwell, LCSW-S is a clinician and clinical supervisor in private practice, a long-term adjunct professor, and recent adjunct professor of the year, at University of Texas School of Social Work. She received her degree in social work at the University of Texas School of Social Work in 2010. Active in the social justice community since 1982, she has conducted numerous lectures and workshops on the topic of social justice and working with the LGBTQAI+ community. She holds credentials as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor, and is a trauma-informed and trained EMDR clinician. She worked in community mental health for 10yrs and started her private practice in 2012. Cynthia specializes in working with LGBTQAI+ community, specifically gay couples, families, transgender and gender expansive clients. Cynthia and her partner/spouse of 20 yrs, have three children and three dogs; she practices soul-care by camping, gardening, spending time with her family, reading, working out, and playing competitive scrabble games.
Shane Whalley, MSSW
Mx. Shane Whalley is a deeply relational and playful genderqueer facilitative educator, who has been facilitating workshops and conversations on issues faced by the LGBTQIA communities, cultural humility and responsiveness and social justice frameworks for over 20 years. Hir knowledge comes from hir lived experience as a now elder within the genderqueer and queer communities. Shane’s lifelong journey as a learner brought hir to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin where ze completed hir Master's in 2003 and continued as an adjunct faculty. Shane is currently an Adjunct faculty member at St. Edwards University. Shane has also been the Community Coordinator for the Office of Equity at Austin Independent School District, the Education Coordinator for the Gender and Sexuality Center at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked at several mental health nonprofits in Austin. Shane enjoys engaging in conversations around the complexities of "all the things'' whether as a mentor, consultant, or educator.
Continuing education credits (3 hours of ethics continuing education) are included with registration.
Email Laurie Cook Heffron at [email protected] with any questions.
*A limited number of workshop seats are reserved for St. Edward's University staff, faculty, and current students. Please email [email protected] with your name and SEU ID to receive the free registration code.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 75.00 to USD 100.00
