The Safe Zone Project is a diversity training program that was adapted by the C.W. Post Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program to increase the doctoral students’ sensitivity, awareness and knowledge of important issues that concern lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. In an effort to provide clinical doctoral students with training that will help foster LGBT-affirmative attitudes and engender LGBT-sensitive psychologists, the C.W. Post Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program provides a Safe Zone training that is mandatory for all entering students enrolled in the program. By bearing some of the responsibility of training individuals to competently and ethically work with LGBT individuals and related issues, the Safe Zone Project is an integral part of the program’s effort to respond to the American Psychological Association’s call to clinical training programs for the promotion of knowledge and training in human diversity. Although the Safe Zone Project does not provide comprehensive clinical training for treating those with LGBT-specific problems, or sexual and gender identity/orientation issues, the training does prepare a new generation of students to be more informed, sensitive, and ultimately better clinicians to the LGBT community. The Safe Zone Project offers the opportunity for a dialogue about diversity and endorses the program’s provision of an atmosphere that respects all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, ethnic background, age, ability, and gender.
The Safe Zone Project is comprised of three training sessions, two that occur during the fall semester, and the third during the spring. Attendance at both sessions is mandatory for all entering students. For more information
