The Gender Affirming Therapist: Ethics, discernments, medical interventions, & managing expectations

Develop comprehensive skills associated to providing gender affirming care as a mental health professional.

This training is foundational for evaluating provider bias and developing comprehensive insight to meet the needs of gender diverse individuals and transgender persons seeking therapeutic support/evaluation for readiness to transition. Review theories and lenses regarding gender in modern society; binary and expansive concepts of gender identity/expression, and examination of the intersection of gender and sexuality; current guidelines for each transitional stage and steps to screen individuals through varying levels of development both before and after the age of majority. Topics include: social transitioning, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgical treatments (top, bottom, & FFS), and managing expectations during these processes.

Course objectives:

• Learn key concepts about gender as a spectrum of expression that includes non-binary identities and ways that gender expansive language is intersex inclusive
• Understand the model of interpretation that explains why the LGBTQIA+ community is at higher risk of suicide, particularly trans people of color
• Learn about multi-layered therapeutic models and frameworks to support youth who are struggling with their gender identity.
• Identify and explore multiple steps of transitioning that involve medical provider guidance in the use of hormones and surgeries to address gender dysphoria and distress regarding a transgender person’s body and gender expression
• Identify clear insight on what are positive indicators and counter-indicators of a transgender person’s readiness and clinical preparedness to take a transitional step

This course will be offered in person and online (synchronous), includes a 1-hour lunch break, and will require pre-registration.

Info & Policies

To receive Continuing Education credits an evaluation must be completed and submitted at the end of the course.