Description
Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk (ASSET) is an eight-week affirmative, school-based group counseling intervention created specifically to promote the resilience of sexual and gender minority youth. ​During the first session, discussion topics were selected by the group to capture the experiences and promote active engagement by all SMY. Topics within the 8 weeks often consist of identity development, coming out, assertiveness, stereotypes and discrimination, stress management, sexual health, family relationships and dating.

Each ASSET session consisted of five primary sections:
  1. Warm up
  2. Exploring “hot topics” or time-sensitive issues in the students’ lives
  3. Exploring thematic and relevant topics
  4. Exploring and practicing healthy decision making
  5. Group reflection and facilitator summary

Themes
Four themes guide the ASSET intervention: 
  1. (Session 1-2): Who am I? What are my strengths? 
  2. (Sessions 3-4): Where am I going and what’s in my way? 
  3. (Sessions 5-6): What causes me stress and what can I do about it?
  4. ​​(Sessions 7-8): How will I remember my brilliance?

Results

Publications

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