Kristel Penn Presents “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider” Workshop at InterNEXT Expo

LAS VEGAS, NV – Grooby’s Kristel Penn will present their popular “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider” educational workshop this Friday as part of the InterNEXT Expo. 

“I’ve been doing this workshop for several years at our industry conferences and will continue to do so for as long as there is a need for it,” explained Penn. “Whether you already have a provider or are considering your options for mental health resources, this workshop is structured to empower performers to find a competent and affirming provider that fits their specific needs.” 

In addition to Penn’s responsibilities as Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director, they are an MFT (marriage and family therapist) trainee at the LGBTQ Center in Orange County wrapping up their MA in Psychology. Penn has presented educational workshops to both industry and non-industry professionals for over eight years at numerous conferences across the United States. In 2022, Penn teamed up with Domino Presley to offer group therapy and letter of support services through the ‘Jazmin Shibata Scholarship,’ a financial scholarship for trans sex workers founded by Presley herself. 

Penn is presenting “Finding a SWer Affirming Mental Health Provider (For Performers)” on Friday, January 6, from 1-2pm at the HERstory Stripchat Lounge: Meeting Room 5. 

The workshop description is as follows: 

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of finding a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker.  This workshop outlines the different types of mental health service providers and other important terminology, how to find a therapist and select a therapist, and client expectations and rights.

For more information, visit https://internext-expo.com/. 

Kristel Penn to Discuss 'Sad But Rad Club' on PromoHomoTV Tomorrow

CYBERSPACE - Grooby’s Kristel Penn will appear live on Nicholas Snow’s popular PromoHomoTV web series tomorrow at 11am PST to discuss her mental health project, Sad But Rad Club. 

“I signed up for TikTok on a whim at the beginning of the pandemic last year with no real goal in mind other than to be creative and silly,” explained Penn. “When a light-hearted mental health video of mine started gaining traction, I decided to pivot my account to focus specifically on ways I wanted to change the narrative many of us have about mental health. My goal is to destigmatize the healing process and help people feel validated for where they are in their individual journeys.” 

Penn’s video has amassed over 150,000 views since then, with nearly 889,000 total views on her videos and nearly 13,000 followers and counting. Penn uses Sad But Rad Club to discuss the struggles of mental health and wellness, mental health resources, sex work, and her own identity. 

This Wednesday at 11am PST, Penn will appear live on PromoHomoTV with host Nicholas Snow. The show is being live-streamed on both Facebook and YouTube. Visit this link for more information about the upcoming show: https://promohomo.tv/sadbutradclub/

To view on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/969560299753862/posts/3995771570466038/

To view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCG6AJwvrXU

ABOUT KRISTEL PENN

Kristel Penn is Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director and runs her own boutique marketing and PR firm, Ikigai Marketing. She served as Transformation Magazine’s Editor for two years and is on the Board of Directors for TAIF (Trans Adult Industry Foundation). She is also the Executive Producer of the Transgender Erotica Awards, a two-event celebrating the trans adult industry and hosted in Hollywood, CA. 

Penn is the 2017 XBIZ Industry Exec Brand Ambassador of the Year and the 2021 XBIZ Industry Exec Community Figure of the Year recipient. She uses her platform to discuss mental health, LGBTQ issues, and destigmatizing sex work. 

Sad But Rad Club was founded in 2020 by Penn, where she creates mental health content on TikTok and Patreon. Visit the official website here: https://sadbutradclub.com. 

Kristel Penn Hosting Free Model Wellness Workshop Today at YNOT Summit

LOS ANGELES, CA – Grooby’s Kristel Penn will be hosting a free workshop from 4-4:50pm PST today titled, “Model Wellness: How and Where to Get Help When You Need It” as part of the online YNOT Summit.

“The purpose of this free workshop is to help those in the adult industry, whether performers or producers, find competent and affirming mental health care services,” explains Penn. “A complaint I hear often from our community is folks wanting to see a therapist but feeling like the process is extremely confusing and stressful only to have them receive subpar care. This workshop considers how the unique intersectional identities of the adult industry community affect how seeking mental health care is navigated and how it also informs the type of care people might need.”

Penn is Grooby’s longtime Creative and Editorial Director. She is an outspoken adult community advocate and hosts educational workshops across the country to help destigmatize the adult industry and the consumption of porn. Previous speaking engagements include the Contemporary Relationships Conference, Catalyst Con, Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit, Kink’s educational series, YNOT Summit, and more.

“Model Wellness: How and Where to Get Help When You Need It” is a 50-minute educational workshop. Below is the workshop description:

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of trying to find a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker. In this 50-minute workshop, adult industry advocate and MA in Psychology student, Kristel Penn, shares the 411 of different mental health services and its pros/cons (e.g. the difference between therapy and life coaching, different types of providers), finding a sex worker affirming provider, interviewing and selecting a potential professional, and navigating the system with/without health insurance. 

Those interested in attending may register for free at YNOTSummit.com.

ABOUT GROOBY
Founded in 1996, Grooby is the leading producer of trans erotica. In addition to operating over 30 membership sites, the company produces nearly 50 DVDs a year and hosts the annual TEAs (Transgender Erotica Awards) held in Hollywood, CA. More information about the two-day event can be found at theTEAShow.com.

For more information, visit Grooby.com or follow them on Twitter at @GroobyDotcom.

Kristel Penn to Present Mental Health Workshop at YNOT Summit Tomorrow

CYBERSPACE - Grooby’s Kristel Penn will be presenting a free workshop tomorrow on navigating the mental health system as a performer as part of YNOT Summit’s online conference starting today. 

“Now more than ever, many of us are in need of mental health support due to the stress of the pandemic,” says Penn. “Whether you have insurance or not, you deserve access to competent and affirming therapy. People attending this workshop will learn how to find, interview, and choose a clinician that fits with their personal needs.” 

“Model Wellness: How to Get Help When You Need It” is presented by Grooby’s Marketing and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, and is scheduled for July 21, 2020, from 12-1250 pm PDT. The workshop description is as follows: 

Navigating the mental health system can be a labyrinth filled with confusing technical jargon, safety and privacy concerns, plus the fear of being judged and discriminated against because of your profession. Not to mention the extra task of trying to find a competent and affirming therapist who understands the unique concerns of being a sex worker. In this 50-minute workshop, adult industry advocate, and MA in Psychology student, Kristel Penn, shares the 411 of different mental health services and its pros/cons (e.g. the difference between therapy and life coaching, different types of providers), finding a sex worker affirming provider, interviewing and selecting a potential professional, and navigating the system with/without health insurance.

Source: https://www.ynotsummit.com/schedule/model-wellness-how-to-get-help-when-you-need-it/

For those interested in attending, please visit YNOTSummit.com to learn more.

Follow Kristel on Twitter or Instagram at @thekristelpenn. For more mental health resources, please visit AdultIndustryTherapy.com.