S1E6 “Bi Panic Attack” with AJ Bustle, LCMHC

Overview

AJ is a bisexual woman with a passion for helping people. She recently finished her Master’s in Mental Health. She is from a rural area and was the only openly queer person in her program. She continues to advocate for access and cultural competence in her field. I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes!

In this episode, AJ and I discuss the challenges and experiences of pursuing a career in mental health counseling, particularly in rural areas. AJ shares her journey in pursuing her Master’s degree, highlighting the importance of mental health care and the need for counselors who understand diverse communities. We talk about the critical need for social work and mental health support within the queer community and the challenges they face accessing care. This drives home the importance of advocacy, affirming care, and the need for destigmatization of sexual health education. AJ shared aspires to create a supportive environment for queer individuals in rural areas and establish community resources to foster mental health awareness.

Download the full zine and find all resources relating to this episode at Queerolina.org/helplines

 

Keywords

 

social work, mental health, queer identity, counseling education, healthcare discrimination, advocacy, sexual health, LGBTQ+ resources, destigmatization, community support

 

Topics

• There is a significant need for social work in the queer community.
• Navigating mental health as a queer individual is unnecessarily challenging.
• Counseling education often lacks adequate training on LGBTQ+ issues.
• Discrimination in healthcare can severely impact mental health outcomes.
• Advocacy is crucial for improving healthcare access for queer individuals.
• Affirming care makes a significant difference in patient outcomes.
• Future social workers should focus on inclusivity in their practice.
• Destigmatizing sexual health education is essential for all communities.
• Community resources and self-advocacy are important to finding appropriate mental health care.