In the mental health profession, there remains a dire lack of knowledge on gender and sexual variance, a shortfall that limits access to reliable and affirming mental health services for many LGBTQQIA+ folks. Through trainings and/or consultations for other mental health professionals, Cass strives to make the therapy world a safer place for queer people by imparting understanding of gender and sexual variance with a non-pathologizing lens.

In his trainings, Cass utilizes both his professional experience as well as his personal experience as a transgender and queer man. A lifelong educator, he enjoys being in front of large groups to  share what he knows and is passionate about. In addition to offering general trainings on LGBTQQIA+ people and specific trainings on the transgender community, he can also provide case consultations related to gender and sexuality.

Experience:

Cass’s teaching experience is extensive. He spent four years as a middle and high school teacher and has been providing various types of trainings since he was a middle schooler, himself.

As the program manager for the Transgender Center of the Rockies, he provided trainings for non-profits and university organizations. He also led trainings at the 2019 Colorado Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit. These trainings covered substance use, mental health topics, and sexual health for the transgender community.

As an intern at Rainbow Alley, an LGBTQ youth community center in Denver, he gave numerous LGBTQ 101 trainings to mental health facilities, schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

At the University of Michigan Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, Cass was part of a team that provided Peer Educator trainings, meaning he educated student organizations and groups of incoming freshmen on consent, safe sex, intimate partner violence and sexual violence  .

Cass believes that with every individual who seeks to enhance their understanding of what it means to be LGBTQQIA+, the world becomes a little safer for this community.