Available now
LGBTQ+ Affirming Care in Clinical Practice
4-hour self-study CE course
Clear questions, no tricks. Scout points out the key concepts so you can pass and get back to your clients.
CE hours
4
Format
Self-study (reading)
Post-test
15 questions, 70% to pass
Price
$9
About this course
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual and gender minority clients come to every kind of practice. This course teaches the minority stress model (Meyer; Hatzenbuehler), affirming intake and practice basics, clinical themes across the lifespan, counseling work with transgender and nonbinary clients within counseling scope, and family acceptance research.
The critical appraisal section applies the same evidence standards to every side of current debates, including youth gender medicine, which is discussed only so clinicians understand what clients and families hear. The course does not advise for or against any medical intervention.
The core content applies in every state. State law appears only in one labeled section, which uses California as an example and explains the 2026 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Chiles v. Salazar. Reviewed October 17, 2026.
Learning objectives
A sample of what you will be able to do after completing this course:
- Use current terms for sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex assigned at birth accurately, including names and pronouns.
- Describe distal and proximal minority stressors and explain the psychological mediation framework.
- Apply affirming changes to intake and avoid assuming that identity is the presenting problem.
- Identify common clinical themes for sexual minority clients across the lifespan, including bisexual clients.
- Describe the counselor's scope in work with transgender and nonbinary clients, including the separate domains of transition.
- Summarize the research on family rejection and youth outcomes.
- Summarize the evidence for minority stress and affirmative interventions and its limits.
- Describe the debate about youth gender medicine using the same evidence standards for each side.
- Explain how Chiles v. Salazar changed the legal landscape and why clinicians must check current state law.
- Apply ethics standards on nondiscrimination, competence, self-determination, and informed consent in integrated cases.
Who this course is for
Target audience: licensed mental health clinicians and registered associates in California, Oregon (LPC and LMFT), Texas, and Washington, including LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LPC, LMHC, LEP, AMFT, ASW, and APCC.
Course schedule
Self-study. Self-paced reading with a post-test. No fixed calendar dates. Allow about 4 hours of CE time.
Provider approval period for John Oliver Ycaro, CAMFT CEPA Provider #10072759: June 15, 2026 through June 1, 2027 (renew as required to keep offering CE).
Instructor
John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC (also the course developer and CE provider). About 10 years of clinical experience in community mental health and private practice. Expertise relevant to this course: outpatient clinical work with individuals, couples, and families in community mental health and private practice.
Under CAMFT CEPA rules, the named instructor meets instructor qualifications by current related licensure and a related master’s degree (and related practice experience). A current CV is kept in the provider’s CE records.
How it works
- Enroll through the secure Payhip checkout. You get the course right away.
- Read the self-study text at your own pace.
- Take the online post-test (70% to pass; retakes free) and confirm you did the work yourself.
- Complete a short course evaluation (required for CE credit).
- Receive your certificate by email within 1 business day after you pass and complete the evaluation.
Completion records are kept for at least 4 years.
Price
$9
Pay securely on Payhip. CE credit is awarded after you complete the reading, pass the post-test at 70% or higher, and complete the evaluation.
CE information
Course meets the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
John Oliver Ycaro is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. John Oliver Ycaro maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
- CAMFT Provider #: 10072759
- Instructor: John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC
- Format: Self-study (reading), with an online post-test
- CE hours: 4
- Passing score: 70%
- Certificate: Emailed within 1 business day after you pass the post-test and complete the evaluation, as a PDF you can print or save
- Cost: $9
Licensed outside California? Offered by a CAMFT CEPA-approved provider (#10072759). Washington, Texas, and Oregon do not pre-approve CE providers; this course is designed to meet their general CE rules (WAC 246-809-610; 22 TAC 681.140 and 801.261; OAR 833-080-0041). In Oregon, this applies to LPCs and LMFTs only. Oregon LPC and LMFT licensees: designed to meet the OBLPCT cultural competency requirement (OAR 833-080-0011(8); definition at OAR 943-090-0010(3)). The board does not pre-approve courses. Check with your board.
Provider mailing address: 200 San Mateo Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Policies
Refunds / cancellation
You can get a full refund within 3 days of purchase as long as you haven't started the post-test. After you start the post-test, or after 3 days, we’re not able to offer a refund.
Accommodations
If you need a disability accommodation (for example a screen-reader-friendly file, larger print, or extra time on the post-test), email oliverycaro@losgatosmentalhealthclinic.com. We respond within 5 business days. There is no charge for accommodations.
Grievances
If you have a concern about the course, email oliverycaro@losgatosmentalhealthclinic.com. You will get a written response within 14 days. If it is not resolved, you can contact CAMFT at cepa@camft.org.
Activities not for CE credit
CE credit is awarded after you complete the reading, pass the post-test at 70% or higher, and complete the evaluation.
About the instructor and provider
John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC, is in private practice in California and has about 10 years of experience in community mental health and private practice.
Disclosure: John Oliver Ycaro is the instructor, course developer, and CE provider and earns income from course sales.