Safe and Inclusive Mental Health: Insights on Belonging and Equity for the LGBTQ+ Community
As an LGBTQ+ individual, have you ever felt that your identity made it difficult or impossible to get the mental health care you really need? That’s what Stephen’s guest, Iris E. Fernández Valdés, discusses on today’s episode of the Get a G.R.I.P. With Coach Elix podcast.
In this episode, Certified Health & Wellness Coach Iris explores inclusive mental health and insights on belonging for the LGBTQ+ community.
About Guest Iris E. Fernández Valdés
Iris E. Fernández Valdés is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach (CHWC) from Wellcoaches Coaching Academy and the co-founder at Abetter. She has also served as an Emotional Wellbeing Coach at Wave, a telehealth service that enables people to access mental health care from home.
As a trans woman, Iris knows the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community better than most. The challenges she faced during her transition greatly impacted her mental health and worldview. These challenges are what shaped her into the staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights that she is today.
Protecting the Freedom for LGBTQ+ Individuals To Truly Be Themselves
On this episode, co-host Steven F. Macek met with guest Iris E. Fernández Valdés to discuss some of the most significant mental health challenges that LGBTQ+ face today. Iris acknowledges that the recent presidential election has sparked feelings of fear and anxiety in the diverse LGBTQ+ community. They wonder and worry how this new administration might impact their rights and even their safety.
Iris also discusses the need for psychological safety for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace and at home. She highlights the importance of a safe, supportive network and coping mechanisms that can help, empowering LGBTQ+ individuals to face everyday challenges.
Addressing Systemic Barriers to Care for the LGBTQ+ Community
One of Coach Iris’s largest concerns is the fact that many LGBTQ+ people face serious barriers to inclusive mental health care. They would like to speak with a therapist, perhaps about coming out or transitioning, but worry that they might face judgment or ridicule. This prevents LGBTQ+ people from getting the accessible support they truly need.
In the episode, Iris talks about how mental health care providers can promote equity and justice in their practices. She also shares examples of initiatives that can help providers foster a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ clients, allowing them to create a respectful, welcoming space where clients feel safe to be their true selves.
Connecting With Iris E. Fernández Valdés
Lift Your Spirit With the G.R.I.P. Method
G.R.I.P. stands for "Greatness Requires Intention & Purpose." People who have followed this method can attest to the veracity of the title. This strategy helps people identify their goals and execute them with clear intentions through planning, purpose, and integrity.
It is a roadmap that guides you through struggles and hardships, with the final destination being the life you want to lead or the changes you wish to make. The G.R.I.P. Method offers a plan to go from fear to freedom and helps you break away from where past attempts did not work.
