What’s Your Gender? Gender Affirmative Model for Working with Transgender and Gender Expansive Children and Youth 
– Presented by Diane Ehrensaft, PhD [CLASS]

This course will present the gender affirmative model for treating transgender and gender expansive children and youth and their families, based on the premise that variations in gender equal health, not pathology, and the role of mental health is to 1) explore gender and its meanings to the child or youth; 2) affirm an authentic gender self; 3) build gender resilience; 4) facilitate family, institutional, and social supports.

Content will include the need to re-learn gender; description of the gender web; the role of the family in gender development; the psycho-social terrain for gender expansive children and youth; recognition of the wide diversity of gender and the difference between gender identity and gender expressions; controversy about mental health gender diagnoses for children and youth;  interventions for children and youth, including gender assessments; gender social transitions; puberty blockers, masculinizing/feminizing hormones; and building family supports. Clinical tools that rely on non-binary gender principles will be presented, along with case material of children in their various hues of gender. 

Learning Goals and Objectives:

• Differentiate between gender identity and gender expressions and implications for treatment
• Assess whether a youth is demonstrating gender stress or distress or dysphoria
• Delineate the three major therapeutic models for treating gender-nonconforming youth and their families
• Apply a non-pathologizing developmental model of gender variations in youth to clinical work
• Demonstrate increased capacity to explore the psychodynamics of parenting a gender-nonconforming youth
• Implement a treatment plan with a therapeutic goal of increasing gender health
• Identify co-existing psychological problems or issues that may accompany gender nonconformity
• Recognize the significance of collaborative interdisciplinary team work in promoting gender health

Diane Ehrensaft, PhD, is a developmental and clinical psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Director of Mental Health and founding member of the Child and Adolescent Gender Center, a partnership between the University of California San Francisco and community agencies to provide comprehensive interdisciplinary services and advocacy to gender nonconforming/ transgender children and youth and their families.  She is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco and the chief psychological at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Child and Adolescent Gender Center Clinic. Dr. Ehrensaft has a clinical practice in Oakland, California, where she sees adults, children, and adolescents in individual psychotherapy, both long- and short-term. Her areas of specialization include: gender nonconforming and transgender children; families using assisted reproductive technology; divorce issues; children with developmental issues or neurodiversity; parenting.

COST: 

Non Members:
$75 early registration up to 10 days prior to class, $85 after 

CIP Members:
$50 early registration up to 10 days prior to class, $60 after  

CEs: 4 CEs for LMFTs, LCSWs, and Psychologists.  

Community Institute for Psychotherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Community Institute for Psychotherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Cancellations must be received in writing 10 business days prior to the seminar or class for a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee.

Accommodation for Special Needs: Accommodations will be made wherever possible to accommodate those with disabilities.  Please let us know of any disabilities upon registration, to ensure that proper accommodations are put in place prior to workshop/training.

Grievance Procedure: CIP will respond to complaints in a reasonable, ethical and timely manner, when submitted by program attendees in writing to the Chair of CIP’s Professional Development Committee.

Anti-Discrimination Policy: CIP shall not discriminate against any individual or group with respect to any service, program or activity based on gender, race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age or other prohibited basis. CIP does not require attendees to adhere to any particular religion or creed in order to participate in training. CIP will not promote or advocate for a single modality of treatment that is discriminatory or likely to harm clients based on current accepted standards or practice.

*There is no conflict of interest or commercial support related to this CE program.