Gio Iacono
Biographic Data
| ID | 4176532 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Gio Iacono |
| GIVEN NAMES | Gio |
| FAMILY NAME | Iacono |
| SIGNATURE | IACONO G |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Connecticut |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5285-7020 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Co-Designing a Socially Engaged Mindfulness Intervention for Social Work Students: A Participatory Research Note
Mindfulness practice has strong potential to enhance social work education: the practices enhance wellbeing and may also support capacity for social action (e.g., advocacy, community organizing). This research note centers our participatory approach—a best practice but underutilized in mindfulness research—in developing a socially engaged mindfulness (SEM) intervention for social workers. We detail our collaborative process with a Social Work Stu…
Bridging inner work and social change: Reimagining mindfulness research through the mindful tree of justice framework
offers a regenerative vision for mindfulness as a bridge between healing and action, personal restoration and structural change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Supporting Sexual and Gender Diverse Young People: Exploring the Potential Benefit of the Tuned In! Intervention
Towards a socially engaged mindfulness pedagogical approach to anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work education
This paper explores the potential of a socially engaged mindfulness (SEM) pedagogical approach in anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work education. The authors examine mindfulness steeped in a socially engaged and critical consciousness-raising context among social work graduate students in the US enrolled in a course on oppression. Qualitative data was gathered through feedback surveys across three years. Reflexive thematic analysis reveale…
LGBTQ + Affirmative CBT: A hierarchical linear model of longitudinal outcomes and mechanisms of change
AFFIRM was retrospectively registered as a clinical trial on March 24th, 2020 (identifier: NCT04318769)
Critical Hope and Resistance through Collective Poetic Inquiry: A Response to Federal Attacks on Queer and Trans Communities by Scholar-Advocates
In early 2025, the US federal government made sweeping and targeted attacks that affect queer, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive (QT and TGE) communities across the United States with the most harmful attacks directed at TGE youth and adults and those situated at marginalized sociostructural intersections. As scholars in an academic social work program who sit at the intersections of marginalized sociostructural locations, are allies/accompl…
The impact of age and sexual orientation on work-related changes and stress early in the pandemic
Fostering Critical Relational Teaching in Social Work Education: Reflections on Shifting Pedagogy to Address the Current College Mental Health Crisis
The U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis among college students as they return to classrooms from the COVID-19 pandemic. Social work students may be at an elevated mental health risk given their interest in the profession, often shaped by experiences of trauma and belonging to marginalized and excluded communities. This critical reflexive paper aims to draw on critical relational pedagogies, underscoring relationship-buildin…
Community-based participatory action research with LGBTQIA+ youth during the Covid-19 pandemic: Reflections from a collaborative autoethnography
We use a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) methodology to explore how our research team conducted community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and other sexually and gender diverse youth (LGBTQIA+) youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which required us to modify our original research approach. This paper describes the authors’ processes and provides critica…
My resistance melts away”: The role of mindfulness in supporting participatory researchers' efforts to share power with youth co‐researchers
Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is an approach widely utilized in various social science disciplines (e.g., community psychology, social work, public health), which requires researchers to share power with youth co‐researchers and to collaborate across identities to work equitably. Understanding what approaches and practices support YPAR adult facilitators' ability to share power is a vital area of knowledge that can support greater fr…
Exploring a self-compassion intervention with LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults
Introduction Sexual and gender minority young people (SGMY) experience mental health disparities and are overlooked in mental health practice and research. Self-compassion is a protective factor that promotes youth psychological well-being. This study examines SGMY perceptions of self-compassion and their experiences participating in self-compassion practices.Methods SGMY (n = 30) ages 16–29 participated in empirically supported self-compassion p…
Assessing the Fidelity of an Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention
Findings were integrated into clinical training and coaching. The fidelity process provides insights into the challenges of implementing social work interventions effectively with LGBTQ+ populations in community settings
Critical reflections and reflexivity on responding to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in a global pandemic
The global community has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. LGBTQ+ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc.) youth may face increased stressors amidst the pandemic given their significant mental and sexual health disparities, pervasive rejection — including quarantining in homes with heightened risk of abuse and victimization, and a lack of access to essential resources. Responsive supports are needed at t…
The health social work competency rating scale: Development of a tool for education and practice
Integrating contextual competency frameworks into health social work education and practice can bolster student training and staff supervision strategies. This article describes the iterative development of a Health Social Work Competency Rating Scale (HSWCRS), generated using a competency framework tested through simulation and an iterative research process with healthcare social workers. A modified Delphi method consisting of an e-mail question…
Efficacy of affirmative cognitive behavioural group therapy for sexual and gender minority adolescents and young adults in community settings in Ontario, Canada
Results demonstrate efficacy for the community-based implementation of an affirmative clinical intervention designed for SGMY to address depression and foster coping with universal and minority stressors
Affirm Online: Utilising an Affirmative Cognitive–Behavioural Digital Intervention to Improve Mental Health, Access, and Engagement among LGBTQA+ Youth and Young Adults
Digital mental health interventions may enable access to care for LGBTQA+ youth and young adults that face significant threats to their wellbeing. This study describes the preliminary efficacy of AFFIRM Online, an eight-session manualised affirmative cognitive behavioural group intervention delivered synchronously. Participants (M age = 21.17; SD = 4.52) had a range of sexual (e.g., queer, lesbian, pansexual) and gender (e.g., non-binary, transge…
The role of facilitator training in intervention delivery: Preparing clinicians to deliver Affirmative group cognitive behavioral therapy to sexual and gender minority youth
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) promotes sexual and mental health risk reduction. Tailored affirmative approaches, where facilitators validate participants’ lived experiences, can bolster CBT’s potential to improve coping and mood, especially for sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Specialized training better prepares clinicians to deliver affirmative CBT and contributes to implementation fidelity. This paper describes a standardized faci…
A Call for Self-Compassion in Social Work Education
Many social work students approach the end of their formal training unprepared to utilize self-care approaches to prevent burnout. Providing students more comprehensive self-care training can help address this issue. One approach to fostering self-care and addressing stress and burnout in social work students is the attitude and practice of self-compassion (SC; i.e., compassion directed inward). Training in SC can be helpful, as it has been shown…
Epistemic Injustice: Towards Uncovering Knowledge of Bisexual Realities in Social Work Research
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals experience health risks, with bisexuals experiencing higher levels of health risk compared to heterosexuals, gays and lesbians. These disparities are often attributed to stressors related to minority status. While similarities among LGBTQ experiences exist, it is plausible that bisexuals experience unique forms of marginalization, which may help explain the documented health dispar…
A Call for Self-Compassion in Social Work Education
Many social work students approach the end of their formal training unprepared to utilize self-care approaches to prevent burnout. Providing students more comprehensive self-care training can help address this issue. One approach to fostering self-care and addressing stress and burnout in social work students is the attitude and practice of self-compassion (SC; i.e., compassion directed inward). Training in SC can be helpful, as it has been shown…
The role of facilitator training in intervention delivery: Preparing clinicians to deliver Affirmative group cognitive behavioral therapy to sexual and gender minority youth
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) promotes sexual and mental health risk reduction. Tailored affirmative approaches, where facilitators validate participants’ lived experiences, can bolster CBT’s potential to improve coping and mood, especially for sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Specialized training better prepares clinicians to deliver affirmative CBT and contributes to implementation fidelity. This paper describes a standardized faci…
A Call for Self-Compassion in Social Work Education
Many social work students approach the end of their formal training unprepared to utilize self-care approaches to prevent burnout. Providing students more comprehensive self-care training can help address this issue. One approach to fostering self-care and addressing stress and burnout in social work students is the attitude and practice of self-compassion (SC; i.e., compassion directed inward). Training in SC can be helpful, as it has been shown…
Epistemic Injustice: Towards Uncovering Knowledge of Bisexual Realities in Social Work Research
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals experience health risks, with bisexuals experiencing higher levels of health risk compared to heterosexuals, gays and lesbians. These disparities are often attributed to stressors related to minority status. While similarities among LGBTQ experiences exist, it is plausible that bisexuals experience unique forms of marginalization, which may help explain the documented health dispar…
The role of facilitator training in intervention delivery: Preparing clinicians to deliver Affirmative group cognitive behavioral therapy to sexual and gender minority youth
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) promotes sexual and mental health risk reduction. Tailored affirmative approaches, where facilitators validate participants’ lived experiences, can bolster CBT’s potential to improve coping and mood, especially for sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Specialized training better prepares clinicians to deliver affirmative CBT and contributes to implementation fidelity. This paper describes a standardized faci…
Critical reflections and reflexivity on responding to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in a global pandemic
The global community has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. LGBTQ+ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc.) youth may face increased stressors amidst the pandemic given their significant mental and sexual health disparities, pervasive rejection — including quarantining in homes with heightened risk of abuse and victimization, and a lack of access to essential resources. Responsive supports are needed at t…
The health social work competency rating scale: Development of a tool for education and practice
Integrating contextual competency frameworks into health social work education and practice can bolster student training and staff supervision strategies. This article describes the iterative development of a Health Social Work Competency Rating Scale (HSWCRS), generated using a competency framework tested through simulation and an iterative research process with healthcare social workers. A modified Delphi method consisting of an e-mail question…
Efficacy of affirmative cognitive behavioural group therapy for sexual and gender minority adolescents and young adults in community settings in Ontario, Canada
Results demonstrate efficacy for the community-based implementation of an affirmative clinical intervention designed for SGMY to address depression and foster coping with universal and minority stressors
Affirm Online: Utilising an Affirmative Cognitive–Behavioural Digital Intervention to Improve Mental Health, Access, and Engagement among LGBTQA+ Youth and Young Adults
Digital mental health interventions may enable access to care for LGBTQA+ youth and young adults that face significant threats to their wellbeing. This study describes the preliminary efficacy of AFFIRM Online, an eight-session manualised affirmative cognitive behavioural group intervention delivered synchronously. Participants (M age = 21.17; SD = 4.52) had a range of sexual (e.g., queer, lesbian, pansexual) and gender (e.g., non-binary, transge…
Assessing the Fidelity of an Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention
Findings were integrated into clinical training and coaching. The fidelity process provides insights into the challenges of implementing social work interventions effectively with LGBTQ+ populations in community settings
Exploring a self-compassion intervention with LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults
Introduction Sexual and gender minority young people (SGMY) experience mental health disparities and are overlooked in mental health practice and research. Self-compassion is a protective factor that promotes youth psychological well-being. This study examines SGMY perceptions of self-compassion and their experiences participating in self-compassion practices.Methods SGMY (n = 30) ages 16–29 participated in empirically supported self-compassion p…
Community-based participatory action research with LGBTQIA+ youth during the Covid-19 pandemic: Reflections from a collaborative autoethnography
We use a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) methodology to explore how our research team conducted community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and other sexually and gender diverse youth (LGBTQIA+) youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which required us to modify our original research approach. This paper describes the authors’ processes and provides critica…
My resistance melts away”: The role of mindfulness in supporting participatory researchers' efforts to share power with youth co‐researchers
Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is an approach widely utilized in various social science disciplines (e.g., community psychology, social work, public health), which requires researchers to share power with youth co‐researchers and to collaborate across identities to work equitably. Understanding what approaches and practices support YPAR adult facilitators' ability to share power is a vital area of knowledge that can support greater fr…
Supporting Sexual and Gender Diverse Young People: Exploring the Potential Benefit of the Tuned In! Intervention
Towards a socially engaged mindfulness pedagogical approach to anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work education
This paper explores the potential of a socially engaged mindfulness (SEM) pedagogical approach in anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work education. The authors examine mindfulness steeped in a socially engaged and critical consciousness-raising context among social work graduate students in the US enrolled in a course on oppression. Qualitative data was gathered through feedback surveys across three years. Reflexive thematic analysis reveale…
LGBTQ + Affirmative CBT: A hierarchical linear model of longitudinal outcomes and mechanisms of change
AFFIRM was retrospectively registered as a clinical trial on March 24th, 2020 (identifier: NCT04318769)
Critical Hope and Resistance through Collective Poetic Inquiry: A Response to Federal Attacks on Queer and Trans Communities by Scholar-Advocates
In early 2025, the US federal government made sweeping and targeted attacks that affect queer, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive (QT and TGE) communities across the United States with the most harmful attacks directed at TGE youth and adults and those situated at marginalized sociostructural intersections. As scholars in an academic social work program who sit at the intersections of marginalized sociostructural locations, are allies/accompl…
The impact of age and sexual orientation on work-related changes and stress early in the pandemic
Fostering Critical Relational Teaching in Social Work Education: Reflections on Shifting Pedagogy to Address the Current College Mental Health Crisis
The U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis among college students as they return to classrooms from the COVID-19 pandemic. Social work students may be at an elevated mental health risk given their interest in the profession, often shaped by experiences of trauma and belonging to marginalized and excluded communities. This critical reflexive paper aims to draw on critical relational pedagogies, underscoring relationship-buildin…
Co-Designing a Socially Engaged Mindfulness Intervention for Social Work Students: A Participatory Research Note
Mindfulness practice has strong potential to enhance social work education: the practices enhance wellbeing and may also support capacity for social action (e.g., advocacy, community organizing). This research note centers our participatory approach—a best practice but underutilized in mindfulness research—in developing a socially engaged mindfulness (SEM) intervention for social workers. We detail our collaborative process with a Social Work Stu…
Bridging inner work and social change: Reimagining mindfulness research through the mindful tree of justice framework
offers a regenerative vision for mindfulness as a bridge between healing and action, personal restoration and structural change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Psychology (15 works) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Clinical Psychology (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (7 works) · Political science (7 works) · Psychotherapist (7 works) · Sexual orientation (7 works) · Medicine (6 works)