Doneley Meris, MA, CT, Center CARE, Mental Health and Social Services Department, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center; HIV Arts Network, 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011, 212-620-7310, doneley@gaycenter.org

This experiential presentation will highlight interactive strategies for LGBT clinicians and their allies to identify important issues for men around sexuality, including: the spectrum of sexual orientation, fears and prejudices about exploring sexuality and unconventional sexual practices, and how substance use recovery can be enhanced through sexual exploration dialogues. Based on an ongoing workshop series conducted in the shelter-homeless coalition systems of New York City, this presentation will equip participants to address societal barriers that ties males' sexualities to their struggles with recovery. It will focus on how males negative sense of self may pose relapse triggers and ways to empower men to move beyond and sustain and enhance their recovery.

Learning Objectives:

• To identify the unique sexuality, mental health and substance relapse prevention challenges faced by gay, bisexual and questioning men.
• To provide a framework for mental health, substance abuse and public health clinicians to acknowledge the barriers that gay, bisexual and questioning men in homeless-shelter sytems encounter when accessing mental health and social services.
• To provide an inclusive mental health service intervention model targeted primarily to gay, bisexual and questioning men in shelter systems.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.