Navigating Mental Health at the Intersections: LGBTQ+ Perspectives in Today's Political Climate

Join us for an illuminating discussion led by LGBTQ-competent mental health specialists, Amy Ellowitz, RCSWI and Nicholas Makris, MS, RMHCI. This timely presentation will explore the complex interplay between mental health challenges and identity within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in our current sociopolitical environment.

This presentation aims to equip mental health professionals, community advocates, and allies with deeper understanding and actionable approaches to support LGBTQ+ individuals across diverse backgrounds during these challenging times.

Our speakers will address four key mental health concerns—PTSD, depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria—through an intersectional lens that acknowledges how multiple aspects of identity (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, immigration status, and age) compound these experiences. The presentation will specifically examine how recent legislative efforts targeting LGBTQ+ rights have intensified mental health challenges for many community members.

The talk will include:

• Current research on minority stress theory and its applications to intersectional LGBTQ+ experiences
• Clinical considerations for supporting transgender and gender-diverse clients navigating gender dysphoria in hostile political environments
• Community-based resilience strategies that acknowledge cultural differences within LGBTQ+ populations
• Practical tools for mental health professionals to create affirming spaces that honor clients' full identities

Friday, September 19 |  11:00am- 2:00pm 

Members: Free to attend/$15 with CEU |  Non-Members: $45

2 CEU's available

About the Presenters:

Amy Ellowitz, Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern

Amy is a trauma-informed therapist and former clinical administrator who specializes in guiding individuals through life's most challenging transitions. Drawing from her own transformative "lifequakes"—including early childhood loss and divorce—Amy has curated innovative healing practices that integrate narrative, dialogic, and resilience-based approaches within a family systems framework. A published author and course creator, she supports diverse clients—from transitioning adolescents and adults, to couples and families who are experiencing high-conflict divorce, to retirees seeking meaningful encore careers. Beyond her clinical work, Amy has a distinguished history of public service, having served as Chair of Fort Lauderdale's Education Advisory Board and as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem for nearly a decade. She embodies her core belief that authentic healing occurs when we rewrite our narratives and transform challenges into opportunities for growth and positive community impact.

Nicholas Makris, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

Sponsored by: Marla Berger counseling