Understanding the Intersection of Problem Gambling & 2SLGBTQIA+ Populations
This program examines problem gambling as a complex public health issue through an intersectional and culturally grounded lens, with a specific focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ populations. While gambling-related harm is widely recognized, the experiences of Two-Spirit, transgender, nonbinary, and other sexual and gender minority individuals remain underrepresented in research, prevention, and treatment efforts. This program addresses that gap by exploring how heteronormative frameworks have contributed to systemic inequities in care and unmet clinical needs.
Participants will explore the strong connections between problem gambling, mental health disorders, and substance use, with particular attention to the disproportionately high rates of co-occurring conditions among 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. The program situates gambling behaviors within broader social contexts, including minority stress, discrimination, social isolation, and historical marginalization—especially for Two-Spirit individuals whose identities have been shaped by colonial disruption.
Number of CE(s): 1.5
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, and systemic context that contribute to increased mental health and problem gambling harms among 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
- Explain the Minority Stress Model and its relevance to clinical conceptualization and care for sexual and gender minority clients
- Develop strategies to foster resilience through gender affirming interventions and inclusive documentation and language.
Agenda:
- Foundations and Context
- Intersections of Identity and Problem Gambling
- Clinical Approaches and Interventions
- Case Study and Application
Facilitator Bio:
Shaun/Sienna Bries, LICSW, MSW-ITR, MA PGS II, EMDRIA Approved CIT, EMDR Certified Therapist, A-CRA Certified Clinician: is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and EMDRIA Certified Clinician practicing in Massachusetts, providing individual, family, and group therapy for adolescents and adults. They are formally trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Model, Psychological First Aid (PFA), Post-Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM), and Sensory Motor Arousal and Regulation Treatment (SMART). Shaun/Sienna is a two-spirited individual who earned their Master of Social Work in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. In addition to their clinical work, they are an independent researcher trained in Participatory Action Research (PAR), with a focus on joining or developing projects aimed at decolonizing trauma work.
Continuing Education:
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
- MA Technical Assistance Center for Problem Gambling Treatment is authorized by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to sponsor, conduct or approve continuing education programs for alcohol and drug counselors/assistants (LADCs).
Understanding the Intersection of Problem Gambling & 2SLGBTQIA+ Populations
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