LGBTQ Issues | Adolescent Counseling Services

Heterosexual Privilege Awareness: Active Allyship

in Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights / Mental Health / Pride Month / Sexuality / Society Norms by Adolescent Counseling Services June 4, 2025May 30, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Anny Bae, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program WHAT IS PRIVILEGE?The concept of privilege refers to any automatic, unearned benefits and advantages awarded to members of dominant social groups, such as racial, gender, or sexual orientation identities (Case et al., 2012a; McIntosh, 1998). These privileges then operate on further intersecting identities (i.e., gay […]

Finding Community Can Improve Mental Health

in Academic Stress / Cultural Stressors / Gender / Gender identity / Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Mental Health / Self care / Stress by Adolescent Counseling Services May 28, 2025May 27, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Leslee Dominguez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ADOLESCENTS FACElife stressors like academics, relationships, food instability, economic instability, and many more stressful events. Additionally, youth who have marginalized identities have additional stressors that many might notice but do not discuss. These marginalized identities include being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, being […]

Embracing Trans Joy: The Impact of Being True to Yourself and Finding Euphoria in Holistic Well-being

in Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Nonbinary / Trans Joy / Transgender by Adolescent Counseling Services November 20, 2024November 19, 2024 0 comments

Written By: Andrea Antonio, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program WHAT IS TRANS JOY?Trans joy is a radiant celebration of authenticity and profound happiness that arises from living as one’s true, genuine self, liberated from the constraints and expectations imposed by society. It transcends the conventional narratives that often focus solely on the adversities faced […]

Validating and Including Bisexuality

in Bisexuality / Discrimination / LGBTQ Issues / Relationships / Sexuality by Adolescent Counseling Services October 16, 2024October 15, 2024 0 comments

Written By: Kennedy Rothenbuescher, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program IN LIFEwe want to make sure that everyone feels included, but what happens when both the LGBTQ+ community and the heterosexual community exclude people who are bisexual? Individuals who are bisexual tend to be outcasted from the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the heterosexual community, […]

Asexuality: An Explainer

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Mental Health / Relationships / Sexuality / Society Norms by Adolescent Counseling Services February 17, 2021January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Tucker Chopp, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program what is asexuality? Broadly speaking, it refers to folks who do not experience sexual attraction to others. “Asexual” or “Ace” is often used as an umbrella term to refer to people who consider themselves to be included in the asexual community. A lack of sexual […]

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth during the Holidays

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Family Bullying / Intern / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Mental Health / Parenting / Teen self-esteem by Adolescent Counseling Services December 23, 2020January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Nat Bricker, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program for many individuals, the winter holidays can bring a variety of different emotions, from overall positivity and joy, to significant stress. The emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ youth during the holidays is particularly impacted by family dynamics and levels of family acceptance. It is important for […]

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth through Political Uncertainty

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Anxiety / Intern / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights / LGBTQ youth of color / Mental Health / Mental Health / Self care / Stress / Stress Management by Adolescent Counseling Services November 18, 2020January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Nat Bricker, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program THE RECENT ELECTIONS in November 2020 were accompanied by significant stressors for many people. These stressors were particularly salient for individuals holding minoritized identities whose rights hang in the balance. In particular, there have been a number of recent anti-LGBTQ+ policies enacted and proposed, so, […]

What’s the Word?

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / Pride Month / Sexuality / Society Norms by Adolescent Counseling Services June 17, 2020January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Rey Boone, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program why is language important? Sharp (2015) emphasized the importance of language in the connection of people worldwide and how it ties them to their history and roots; this author also highlights how certain languages are in danger of dying out permanently and the connections being […]

Ally: More Than a Label

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights by Adolescent Counseling Services December 11, 2019January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Rey Boone, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program “ally” is a word in the LGBTQ+ community that is commonly used to mean a non-queer (straight/cisgender) person who sympathizes with the queer cause and is willing to stick their neck out if necessary. This person typically has gay, lesbian, or transgender friends or family […]

Pronouns and Why They Matter

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / Transgender by Adolescent Counseling Services November 6, 2019January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Brittani DeCloedt, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program PRONOUNS: AN EXPLAINER Pronouns are used in everyday language in reference to people and things. In the English language, the pronouns used most frequently are: I, you, she, her, he, him, they, and it. “I”, “you”, “they”, and “it” would be considered gender neutral, […]