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

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

Description of Event:

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

Date of Event: June 12, 2026

Time of Event: 10AM-4:30PM EST

Location: Worcester, MA and Online Synchronous

Sexuality Education (SE) Training: 

SE4. Theory and methods of approaches to sexuality education with specific populations (e.g., youth, older adults, couples, ethnic/ cultural/ faith-based populations, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities).

Sexuality Counseling (SC) Training: 

SC2. Theory and methods of sexuality counseling approaches to specific populations (e.g., youth, older adult, couples, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, ethnic/ cultural/ faith-based populations).
SC5. Ethical issues in sexuality counseling.

Presenter/Speaker: Jeremy Darling, LMHC, CST

Company/Organization Sponsor: Darling Mental Health

Contact Name: Taylor Harmon

Contact Email: taylor@darlingmentalhealth.com

Event Website: https://darlingmentalhealth.com/continuing-education/the-gender-affirming-therapist/

AASECT Approved CEs: 5