Partner Project: Sexual Health and Well-Being of Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Non-Binary Individuals
Status: NOW RECRUITING! CLICK TO PARTICIPATE
Graduate Student Investigator: Oliver Cheek (University of Windsor, supervised by Dr. A. Dana Ménard)
2SLGBTQ+ and allied researchers from the University of Windsor, McGill University, and the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia are looking for 2S/TNB (two-spirit, transgenger, non-binary) participants to fill out a 30-40 minute survey online on early childhood experienced and adult sexual health and well-being.
If you are:
- 18+
- Canadian
- and 2S-TNB
You are Eligible to participate!
Each participant will be awarded a 10-dollar gift card from Tim Horton's.
If you would like to participate, please click here to participate.
For questions, please contact Oliver Cheek, graduate student investigator at cheeko [at] uwindsor.ca (subject: 2S%2FTNB%20sexual%20health%20and%20well-being%20study)
This study is funded by the Social Science and Health Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and has been approved by the University of Windsor and McGill University Research Ethics Boards.
Current Project: Couples in the Time of COVID
Status: Recruitment closed
Principal Investigator: Heather B. MacIntosh
With this current project, funded by FAVAC, our goal is to give access to couple therapy specifically tailored to address the unique needs of couples who have experienced trauma, filling an important gap in services. Survivors of trauma and victims of crime require specialized services that include a trauma lens now more than ever, as prolonged exposure to the stress of the pandemic can have damaging impacts. For this study, we included specific recruitment to those in rural and remote areas as well as to underserviced members of equity-seeking groups including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ persons in couple relationships.
The pandemic has increased the risk and occurrence of family and intimate partner violence, and interventions must be provided to address the specific needs of trauma survivors where risks of revictimization are present. DCDCT provides interventions that target couple wellbeing and help manage impacts of trauma; this, in turn, will help buffer the stressful effects of the pandemic for victims of crime and trauma survivors, who are potentially more vulnerable to significant consequences.
The 10-week program will respond to the specific needs linked to a history of trauma and victimization, honing in on psychoeducation and emotional regulation. Treatment will focus on supporting couples in managing conflict and the spillover effects of stress, increasing emotional support and intimacy, finding ways to manage impacts of social isolation, and reducing the risk of escalating conflict. Click HERE for more on Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma.
Throughout the project, we aim to incorporate feedback from participants, therapists and interns into the program in order to create a resource that will truly be honed to reach and respond to couples' needs. Once the groups are completed, we will be sharing findings and supporting materials with community and mental health service providers, ensuring that a program is made available to meet the specific needs of this population, not just during the pandemic, but after as well. This trauma-informed online group couple program would benefit many couples who may have difficult or no access at all (due to geographic and/or structural/ systemic barriers) to appropriate services not only during the pandemic and its aftermath but beyond.
