Wendy Bamatter - Supporting Sexual Minority Youth

Children, adolescents, and young adults who identify as sexual minorities (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer) are at increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. One of the major factors contributing to this increased risk pertains to the discrimination and invalidation to which SMY are exposed in their daily lives. Fortunately, there is substantial research evidence documenting the pronounced protective role that family and social support can have on buffering the impact of minority stressors, such as discrimination, on mental health outcomes. In this presentation, attendees receive a brief overview of risk and protective factors among SMY. The remainder of the webinar is focused on identifying concrete actions that parents, caregivers, and other supportive figures can take to best support SMY. Principles and interventions from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) will be weaved in throughout the presentation.
Wendy P. Bamatter, PhD, (she/her/hers), is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents and young adults. She is the Program Director at McLean Hospital’s 3East Cambridge Residence. In addition to working with individuals struggling with pervasive emotion dysregulation and high-risk behaviors, Dr. Bamatter is also committed to providing affirming care to LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families