Validating and Including Bisexuality

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, […]

Read More

Asexuality: An Explainer

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 […]

Read More

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth during the Holidays

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 […]

Read More

What’s the Word?

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 […]

Read More

Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Jeraca Marsh, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program here we are  at the dawn of 2020, and I’ve officially hit my six month mark as an intern at Adolescent Counseling Services. I’m a second-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Alliant International University, and my time at ACS has played a critical role in […]

Read More

Ally: More Than a Label

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 […]

Read More

Pronouns and Why They Matter

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, […]

Read More

Pride Month (And Why It Matters)

Written By: Cassidy Todd, Clinical Intern at ACS , Outlet Program in june 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York, a new movement began in the US.  Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar known to openly accept and embrace people of all sexual orientations, gender identity and expression, and proceeded to initiate a three-day riot […]

Read More

When it’s Time to Exhale: Thoughts and Reflections on Coming Out in the 21st Century

Written By:  Ryan Fouts, LCSW, Outlet Program Director, ACS’ Outlet Program In honor of National Coming Out Day, celebrated annually on October 11th since 1988, here are some thoughts, reflections, and reminders about coming out in the 21st Century. 1. Coming out is a gift. It’s easy to see coming out as a scary, hard thing (because […]

Read More

Resources for LGBT Teens

An interview with TeenVogue Magazine and Steve Mehdelsohn of the Trevor Project According to the Trevor Project, a young person contemplates suicide every 95 minutes. Beyond that, LGB youth are four times as likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers, and LGBTQ youth are eight times more likely to attempt it if they’ve been thrown […]

Read More