For professionals
Within our regular activities, LORI informs, sensitizes and educates variety of professionals (teachers and school staff, mental health professionals, police...) by organising and conducting one-day or several days trainings, public events and campaigns, providing useful information and developing materials and tools that professionals can use independently in their further work.
A special focus is put on informing, educating and sensitizing therapists and counsellors in the field of mental health. Since counselling and therapy work with LGBTIQ+ persons requires specific knowledge, skills and sensibilities, it is important that these professionals have adequate knowledge and information, which often is not easy to find.
Although the situation in Croatia improves in time, there is still a problem with professionals' lack of knowledge on the specific needs of LGBTIQ+ persons. Many professionals are not educated on working with LGBTIQ+ clients and do not have enough knowledge about the experiences, needs and challenges they face daily. Formal education covers this area insignificantly, educations and trainings that deal with specific needs of LGBTIQ+ people are often unavailable in Croatia, as is related literature.
Therefore, LORI continuously works on informing, educating and developing materials and tools that professionals can use as support in their work.
Educational materials and tools:
- WHAT? – Through exercises, reflections, a quiz, theoretical framework and video materials, the platform offers specific knowledge on LGBTIQ+ terminology, coming out, transgender and gender diverse persons, human rights and systems of oppression, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, interphobia and other relevant topics. The platform allows learning in one's own rhythm and speed, and after mastering each of the modules it is possible to download a certificate. The platform is available in following languages: English, Croatian, Czech, Bulgarian and Hungarian, and consists of six general and four specific modules.
- WHO? – The platform is primarily created for school counsellors, crisis hotline operators, social workers, clinical psychologists, but is also open to other people interested in getting more knowledge in this field.
- HOW? – The use of the platform is free, and the registration process is very simple: it is required to put in a username, e-mail address and a password.