KS Stanley, PsyD, QTAP

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Today is Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the day that all enslaved people in the United States were freed in 1865. This day may bring up a range of emotions for people, along with uncertainty about how to celebrate.
Swipe through these slides to learn more about the day’s significance and what you can do to honor it.
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[Content by MHC’s research associates, Khyia Ward and Anna Marie Fennell (.existential.therapist)]

MHC does not provide medical advice; this content is for informational purposes only. Always consult your physician or other qualified health professional with any concerns.

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The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey was released on May 1st, and it once again proves that pride, acceptance, and affirmation are all key parts of su***de prevention in the LGBTQIA+ community. Check out the full survey at the link in our bio.

To our LGBTQIA+ friends, we need you here. There are people who love you and places that will accept you. You are never in this fight alone.

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Let’s talk about LGBTQ+ mental health this .

Everyone has mental health, but it can look different based on cultural factors and social group identities like s*xual and gender identity. In this Roadmap to LGBTQ+ mental health, we’re sharing tips for fostering mental well-being.

Visit the link in our bio to read the full Roadmap, and share to support the LGBTQ+ community.

🌈

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Emotion Regulation Toolkit 🧰

In the Toolkit:
🎡 The Feelings Wheel: A tool to help you identify and label emotions
🛑 STOPP: A DBT distress tolerance technique (Stop; Take a Breath; Perspective/Pull Back; Practice/Proceed)
💧Emotional Acceptance - this takes practice, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes
🧠 Various Mindfulness/Self-Soothing Techniques

Creating an emotion regulation toolkit is a great way to get easy access to self-regulating strategies that work for you!

What’s in your emotion regulation toolkit? ⤵️

Remember to save this post for when you may need it!

—
skills

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Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

This is your reminder that q***rness is not unnatural— in fact, it’s very much a part of nature.

Same-s*x behavior has been found in about 1,500 species, including penguins, lions, bottlenose dolphins, orcas, monkeys, and some lizards. 🐧🐋🐒🦎💖

Nature knows no heteros*xual or gender binaries.
The natural world often breaks binaries imposed by societal standards.

❓What’s your favorite example of q***r ecology? Did we miss one from our list? Let us know! 👇

🌿 Follow for more climate and culture content like this in your feed.

***recology

This is the face of someone who had gender affirming surgery on Monday! I had phase one of two procedures and the second phase in August. Gender affirming care saves lives!

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It’s that time of year! Here are some important reminders 💕🏳️‍⚧️🍉

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I always dread pride month because false allyship becomes even more visible. This year a bright light is being shone on that with corporations, and I’m grateful for that.

What can you do, personally, to show up for us in June? Swipe for some tips!

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Not sure who needs to hear this, but you are important, loved, accepted and valid. No matter your gender identity, s*xual or romantic attraction, whether you’re closeted, out, or still figuring it out, you deserve to be proud of you who are. Your authentic self is worthy of your love.

During this month of love and acceptance, let’s also never forget the human beings who are struggling for peace and freedom right now. Let’s let our compassion and support for them know no boundaries.

You are always welcome here. Happy Pride Month to you—and to all of us. 🫶🏾🧡🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

featured art:

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Happy pride homos🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Grateful to continue being a voice for DEI within a great organization :)

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Congratulations to the new HPA 2024-2025 Board of Directors! We are tremendously thankful for your dedication, time, and talents.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a critical time to advocate and educate about the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ young people. We are proud to release our 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, an important resource for increasing understanding, amplifying humanity, and ending anti-LGBTQ+ stigma.

This year, our research shed light on a startling reality — rates of su***de among LGBTQ+ young people are far too high, and they are exacerbated by bullying, limited access to care and community, and harmful anti-LGBTQ+ policies. 50% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the last year report not being able to get it, and 90% said that their wellbeing was negatively impacted due to recent politics.

With the backdrop of an increasingly hostile national media climate, an impending Presidential election, and debate about q***r and trans identity in state legislatures nationwide, we know that it’s a challenging time to exist as an LGBTQ+ young person in America. Yet, the possibility of a better future is tangible and real.

By sharing their lived experiences in research like this, LGBTQ+ young people are showing us the way forward. When we create affirming spaces where q***r and trans youth can freely be themselves, enact policies that protect them, and celebrate the community that serves them, we build a future that they can exist in. That future is possible — and data drives that difference.

Read the full 2024 National Survey at
🔗 trvr.org/survey-2024 📊

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Comment below if you have tried this method before👇

When people suffer from anxiety or a panic attack, therapists try to give certain grounding techniques to help them. Most of these are based on mindfulness.

A famous method that is often talked about is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. When anxiety is at its height, the person suffering could then try to calm themselves and take the attention away from the anxiety by focusing on certain things.

In today’s post I want to explain what these are. So, first a person should try and name 5 things they see around them, then 4 things they can feel (for example, I am feeling the couch that I am sitting on), 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell and finally 1 thing they can taste. If it is hard to taste something in the moment, then try to think of a taste familiar to you.

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Book Report: Sexual Science: The Victorian Construction of Womanhood by Dr. Cynthia Russett (Harvard University Press 1991)

1. Read the book to learn more (link in bio)
2. Follow my Goodreads for 900+ book recommendations (link in bio)

artists: 3) 13) .illustrates 14)
graphic design:

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DAY 7:

It’s and after a week of focusing on all that’s against us, we must remember that one of our greatest antidotes to political violence is remembering that we deserve our humanity, dignity, and joy.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote NO on all anti-trans legislation.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on fighting for the liberation of all genders.
3️⃣ ELEVATE trans-led initiatives centering joy and power like…

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4️⃣ PROTEST bigotry in all its forms, including transphobia.
5️⃣ TRANSFORM every space you enter.
6️⃣ EMPOWER all youth to live authentically and empathetically.

Special thanks to and !

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Affirmation of the Day: when I return to myself, I set myself free. 🧡 Tag or share with someone who would appreciate a moment of calm!

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This weekend our team is celebrating International Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV)! Trans people have been an important part of our social fabric since time immemorial. Unfortunately, most of the depictions of Trans people that the average American consumes come from biased and transphobic media. This year alone, there have been 479 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed in the so-called United States. Our Trans relatives deserve better. Beyond visibility what is needed is an end to transphobia. We know that transphobia is deeply rooted in multiple systems of oppression. Trans people are currently at high risk for homelessness and poverty. Visibility does not ensure safety for trans people but accomplices do! This is a great day to think about actions you can take today towards ensuring a future for Trans people. Tell us in the comments how you make this world a safer place for Trans people.

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Trans Day of Visibility reminders & notes. Mainly: trans visibility is not enough and not the goal. Trans rights and trans liberation are.

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Today is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), an annual celebration honoring the strength, resilience, and diversity of the trans community. Founded in 2009 to promote visibility and empower trans individuals, TDOV is crucial now more than ever amidst political attacks against our trans siblings. Use today as a reminder to stand in solidarity with the trans folks and advocate for their equality, rights, and acceptance.

***r ***an ***ans *xual

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DAY 6:

Let’s talk about how sports bans aren’t just used to target trans athletes, but also, particularly Black women, other women of color, and inters*x folks.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote NO on sports bans for trans athletes.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on sports bans target the expansiveness of gender, s*x, and womanhood.
3️⃣ ELEVATE trans-led youth and athletic initiatives like…

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💥 Trans Athlete by
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Special thanks to and !

Here’s one with better quality. So much for my selfie skills!

Me and Mandy from working a table at Trot for Trans Visibility … We didn’t trot 🤣

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If you’ve ever wondered where to get started as an ally, then this guide is for you! Take a look at our Straight for Equality resource, “Guide to Being a Straight Ally.” It’ll give you the tools you need to be more supportive of the LGBTQ+ people in your life, and help you figure out your place in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

To learn more, visit our

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DAY 5:

Let’s talk about the original conservative ploy to target trans people, bathroom bans. These restrictions don’t just affect access to bathrooms or locker rooms but are also an attempt to remove trans folks from everyday life.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote NO on bathroom and public facility bans.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on LGBTQ+ experience and how public accommodations access has been wielded for political violence historically.
3️⃣ ELEVATE trans-led access and safety organizations like…

💥 .ar
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Special thanks to and !

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DAY 4:

Let’s talk about how nearly half of the U.S. has introduced bills to restrict the education of the history, liberation movements, and oppression of groups in the margins AND/OR bills that would forcibly OUT LGBTQ+ students before they may be ready.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote NO on curriculum bans and forced outing bills.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on LGBTQ+ experiences and history.
3️⃣ ELEVATE educational, cultural, and media organizations like…

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AND SUPPORT YOUTH MOBILIZATIONS LIKE…
💥 ***ryouthassemble
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Special thanks to and !

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DAY 3:

Let’s talk about how gender-affirming care is more than just surgery and how it is under attack when trans folks opt for it, even though cis folks are the largest consumers of care that could fall under this category.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote no on bans for gender-affirming care.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on the importance of gender-affirming care which is supported by major organizations like , , , and !
3️⃣ ELEVATE gender-affirming care funds, crowd shares, and trans-led health organizations like…

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Special thanks to and !

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DAY 2:

Let’s talk about how drag bans are being used to target trans expression and cultural production. Most of the discussion has focused on how cisgender drag performers will be impacted, but these types of bills will also have widespread impacts on trans artists, creatives, and performers.

1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote no on all bans restricting q***r and trans expression.
2️⃣ EDUCATE others on the policing of q***r and trans expression and cultural spaces.
3️⃣ ELEVATE drag events, including story hours. But even more, ELEVATE trans-led cultural organizations like…

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💥 .transcend
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Special thanks to and !

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We’re baaaaaack, and there’s so much to fight for and unpack for the third annual of Visibility and Action.

This week, is focused on helping all our people define and understand this era of anti-trans political violence.

Share widely, stay tuned, and learn more via the link in bio.

Oh, and never forget that ! 💥

Special thanks to + !

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There are over 400 bills pending in state legislatures across the country. They would effectively ban health care for trans minors, ban trans women and girls from sports, ban trans people from restrooms, and ban schools and school staff from educating about history.

Visibility alone won’t save us, and we can’t do this without our cis allies. So please step up, speak out, and recruit your friends and family to join the fight for trans liberation this week and always✊️✊️✊️

Image description: A black background with a square white text box. There are squiggly rainbows in each corner; one is trans pride, the other nonbinary pride.

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Have you done something you regret when you’re emotional?

I know I have. We all have. That’s why learning to *respond* instead of be reactive is such an important life skill.

Responding intentionally instead of reacting emotionally to a trigger allows you to maintain control over your actions and responses.

✨Take a moment to pause and breathe before responding. This helps to create a mental space between the trigger and your response. Then, ask yourself why you’re feeling this way and what outcome you want to achieve.

✨Decide on the most appropriate response based on your reflection. Consider the impact of your words and actions on yourself and others.

✨Be open to hearing the perspectives of others involved in the situation. Actively listen to their point of view without interrupting or judging. Focus on finding constructive solutions to the issue at hand rather than dwelling on the problem.

This skill gives you the opportunity to consider the situation rationally, choose the most appropriate course of action, and potentially avoid escalating conflicts or making decisions you may later regret.

I help people learn more about their emotions and how to regulate them. Follow along to learn more .guide