2026 NEFESH Summer Online Conference
July 14-15, 2026 · Online Event
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Working with Queer/Questioning Teens and Adults in Religious Communities

Wednesday, October 7th, 2026   10:00 AM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Dr. Tzippora Jennifer Wallach
$59.99 USD

LGBTQIA+ and questioning adolescents and adults living in religious communities may experience complex intersections among sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, family relationships, and community expectations. Mental health professionals need culturally responsive approaches that respect both religious identity and LGBTQIA+ or questioning experiences without assuming that these identities are necessarily incompatible.

This three-hour live interactive workshop examines clinical work with LGBTQIA+ and questioning teens and adults from religious communities. Participants will review relevant terminology, available prevalence estimates and their limitations, and selected perspectives within Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities. The workshop will explore how religious beliefs, cultural expectations, family relationships, and community structures may influence identity development, internal congruence, emotional wellbeing, and treatment goals.

Through de-identified clinical case vignettes, guided discussion, and applied exercises, participants will examine potential tensions and areas of integration between religious and LGBTQIA+ identities. Participants will develop culturally responsive assessment questions and clinical strategies for helping clients clarify their values, explore identity-related concerns, communicate with family and community members, identify supportive resources, and make self-directed decisions.

 

About the Presenter

Dr. Wallach is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified school psychologist providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She specialize in treating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, eating disorders, personality disorders, self-injury, and life transitions across the lifespan. Her clinical approach is evidence-based and integrative, with advanced training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), couples therapy, and emerging specialization in sex therapy. She is Gottman Level Two trained for couples work and is currently pursuing certification through American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). In addition to her clinical work, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and as an Executive Board member of Nefesh International. She is also the founder of the Adult DBT Program at Bikur Cholim of Rockland County and previously served as Director of Counseling and Guidance Services at Bruriah High School. She earned her doctorate in combined Clinical and School psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She completed intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy at the Adolescent DBT Program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and advanced training with leading experts in the field. She later obtained certification in DBT for Children (DBT-C) in 2022.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and correctly use at least four terms related to sexual orientation, gender identity, questioning experiences, and religious identity in clinical practice.
  2. Identify at least three ways that religious beliefs, cultural expectations, family relationships, and community systems may influence the experiences and treatment needs of LGBTQIA+ and questioning clients.
  3. Apply at least two culturally responsive clinical interventions to a case vignette involving the intersection of religious and LGBTQIA+ or questioning identities.

Agenda:

10:00–10:10 AM — Introduction and Workshop Framework

  • Presenter introduction and review of learning objectives
  • Establishing respectful language and expectations for discussing sensitive religious and identity-related issues
  • Opening reflection on the intersection of religion, culture, and LGBTQIA+ identity

10:10–10:35 AM — LGBTQIA+ and Questioning Terminology

  • Definitions related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and questioning experiences
  • Distinguishing identity, behavior, attraction, and self-description
  • Using respectful and clinically appropriate language
  • Avoiding assumptions when assessing clients

10:35–11:00 AM — Religious and Cultural Contexts

  • Available prevalence estimates and limitations in the current data
  • Selected Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives concerning LGBTQIA+ identities
  • Differences within and among religious communities
  • How religious beliefs, family expectations, and community norms may influence clients’ experiences

11:00–11:10 AM — Break

11:10–11:40 AM — Identity, Religiosity, and Internal Congruence

  • Exploring the intersection of religious and LGBTQIA+ or questioning identities
  • Potential areas of conflict, coexistence, and integration
  • The influence of family, community belonging, and religious commitment
  • Supporting exploration without directing clients toward a predetermined outcome

11:40 AM–12:25 PM — De-Identified Clinical Case Vignettes

  • Presentation and analysis of cases involving teens and adults from religious communities
  • Identifying religious, cultural, developmental, family, and clinical considerations
  • Developing culturally responsive assessment questions
  • Exploring treatment goals, ethical considerations, and potential interventions
  • Guided participant discussion

12:25–12:50 PM — Clinical and Community-Support Strategies

  • Helping clients clarify personal values and treatment goals
  • Supporting communication with family and community members
  • Identifying affirming and culturally compatible sources of support
  • Addressing isolation and strengthening community connection
  • Applying culturally responsive interventions to clinical scenarios

12:50–1:00 PM — Integration, Assessment, and Questions

  • Participant reflection on applying cultural humility in practice
  • Review of major clinical principles
  • Questions and answers
  • Assessment of learning objectives and closing remarks

  

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • This program meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. AASECT Core Knowledge Areas: B, C, D. May be used for Sex Therapy Area ST1.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.