Gender Affirmative Therapy: Traditional Needs with James

Scenario

James Moore is nonbinary and has been going to therapy for about a month. They need help processing the social and professional challenges they face on a regular basis as a gender nonconforming person of color. Learners will conduct a therapy session focusing on the navigation of social and romantic issues, while also highlighting the way gender identity and expression is negotiated in those contexts (e.g., other people policing their gender). During the session, learners will practice identifying James’ concerns, therapy goals, and help them explore the pressures they feel about negotiating their gender identity in different social interactions.

Processing moments of discrimination with mental health providers can be challenging for transgender and nonbinary individuals. It can be common for therapists, counselors, and social workers to unknowingly use microaggressions that push clients away during sessions, leading to negative experiences in therapy.

To tackle these concerns, we designed this training with a diverse development team (i.e., Key Personnel, Expert Panels, Actors, Script Engineers, Focus Groups, and Community Partners), ensuring representation from individuals with diverse minorities identities, including transgender and nonbinary individuals and people of color. Our training is designed to empower providers, enhance their skills, and boost confidence in delivering gender-affirming culturally competent care. This ultimately fosters safe and trusting environments, enabling gender minorities to feel at ease and validated when sharing their experiences.

Teaching Objectives:

• Supporting a Client’s Sense of Self
• Identifying and Acknowledging Microaggressions, Discrimination & Binary-Gender Expectations
• Creating a Safe and Trusting Environment
• Validating a Client’s Identity and Experiences

Included in Training:

• A Training Guide with information on gender affirming care and working with clients in a respectful manner that positions them to achieve their best outcomes.
• A Simulated Conversation with a varied character to prepare learners for clients with different acceptance levels of the connection between their identity and systemic social pressures.
• Comprehensive Feedback during and after each play to help guide skill development.

This training was developed in collaboration with Towson University and with funding from The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) (Grant Number: #R44MD014112).

This training can be purchased as a part of the Gender Affirmative Therapy Training Suite. Please Contact Us for more information on pricing.