Hot Springs, Virginia

Going to the Virginia counseling associations annual convention at the Homestead resort was educational and quite a treat. I was able to attend a session on Friday, November 10 entitled “please don’t forget the T (in LGBTQ, that is!) : Understanding and collaboratively advocating for trans individuals.”   The session on Friday evening was presented by Longwood’s own Kathleen McCluskey and Valerie Stolicker entitled “Empowering clients in the face of an uncertain political climate”.  I was particularly interested in the discussion surrounding the town in which I call home,  Charlottesville, Virginia, and the various perspectives represented.  On Saturday morning I went to a session “Trans-affirmative counselor self-efficacy”.  The presenter, Cory Gerwe, was extremely knowledgeable about the topic.

I really appreciated the audience participation in each of the sessions and building  greater knowledge and understanding of important aspects of the career.  I look forward to future conventions, with the chance that one day I may present a topic myself.