Supporting Nonbinary and Genderqueer Parents: An Informative Workshop for Practitioners and Educators
Asynchronous Webinar
As parents, guardians, and caretakers of all genders have always existed, the fields of health and mental health care continue to struggle to adapt and provide the non-binaried systems of support these families need. As nonbinary parents and parents who are gender expansive become more visible in the media, they challenge conventional ideas of parenting styles, family dynamics, and support structures. This discussion will address nonbinary erasure, paralleling bi-erasure, which excludes the experiences of those who do not identify within the gender binary. We will explore how such erasure impacts people’s access to pregnancy-related care, medical services, mental health support, and community networks. Drs. Hepworth Clarke and Thomas will share their experiences navigating the Medical Industrial Complex (Mingus, Page, Berne), highlighting the ways their nonbinary identities were challenged during care. This session is designed for clinicians, social workers, and other direct service providers who want to expand their understanding of parenting and identity beyond the binary.
Presenters: Drs. Zelaika Hepworth Clarke, PhD, MSW, MEd, CSE, CST and Shanéa Thomas, EdD, LICSW, CSE
Learning Objectives:
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By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to define at least three key terms related to nonbinary and other expansive gender identities. (CKA C)
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By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to apply those terms appropriately within their professional or clinical practice. (CKA C, E)
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By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to identify two common clinical biases about nonbinary and gender-expansive parents and articulate one alternative framework for each. (CKA E)
AASECT Core Knowledge Areas (CKA): C – Gender identity and expression; E – Socio-cultural, familial, political factors in sexual values and behavior.
 This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 1 CE credit. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.
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Dr ShanĂ©a Thomas, EdD, LICSW, CSEyÂ
Dr. Shanéa Thomas (he/she/Dr.)is an award-winning educator, author, and editor with over 20 years of experience as a clinician, consultant, and thought leader at the intersection of health equity, organizational change, and inclusive education. A TEDx speaker and AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator.
Dr. Thomas' career spans higher education, clinical social work, and executive leadership, where he has designed national training programs, developed curricula, and guided organizations through equity-centered change. As a writer and editor, he specializes in transforming complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, from white papers and reports to articles, op-eds, and thought leadership content.
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drshaneathomas/
Instagram: @drshaneathomas, @drkchocolatnoir
Dr. Zelaika Hepworth Clarke Carnagie, PhD, MSW, MEd, CSE, CST
Dr. Zelaika Hepworth Clarke Carnagie (they/them, zie/zir) is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator, Certified Sex Therapist, loveologist, decolonial eroticologist, and consultant. The first Jamerican (Jamaican-American) to earn three degrees in Sexuality Studies from accredited U.S. universities, Dr. Hepworth Clarke holds a BA from NYU in Sexuality, Culture, and Oppression, an MEd, and a PhD in Human Sexuality from Widener University. They are an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and a graduate of the National Academy for African-Centered Social Work, the International School of Transnational Decolonial Black Feminism in Brazil, and the Decolonizing Knowledge and Power Summer School in Barcelona. As co-founder of the anti-racist decolonial sexuality studies program at Goddard College and co-creator of the Decolonial Sexual Attitude Restructuring (D-SAR), their work reimagines eroticism beyond colonial and capitalist frameworks. Through The Pluriversity LLC, they offer decolonial guidance, love education, and counseling centered on erotic sovereignty, sensual justice, and the liberation of marginalized communities.
