New Video Format!

Postponed from March, 2020

Presenters:  Susan P. Landon, LMFT and Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW

This generation of youth is profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. Many of us have little training or experience working with these children, teens or their families. These presenters have many years of experience working to understand and help us understand the challenges faced by transgendered and non-binary people and their families. Come join us to learn from them.

Dates: July 13th, 20th and 27th, 2020

Time:  12 noon – 2 pm

CE Units: 6.0

Note:  This training meets for two hours each of the Mondays listed above.  In order to obtain the CE units you will need to attend all three of the sessions from start to end.

Location: Sessions will be via a secure video platform.  Email links and instructions will be sent to your email address after you register.

LOGISTICS (Sign in/out, evaluations and certificates)

You will be asked to sign in and out of the event using the Chat feature of the webinar platform (SecureVideo).  With a completed sign-in/sign-out, certificates will be emailed to the address you provide when you register.  In addition, you will find a course evaluation in the materials that will be emailed to you when you register.  This is a Word document which you can fill in and save.  Please do so and return it by email to cdcooper@IFGD.care.

Cost:  Regular registration:  $320
Early Bird registration (paid with registration to Effective and Compassionate Clinical Work for Gender-expansive Children, Teens and Families – part 1): $295
Student and pre-licensed therapist registration: $195

Course Level:  This training would be most useful for beginning to intermediate practitioners in this area.  No previous work with transgender, gender-fluid or gender non-binary clients is required.  You must have attended the first part of this course (Feb-March, 2020) in order to sign up for this.

Course Type: This course is modeled as a training seminar.  Ms. Landon and Mr. Olson-Kennedy will share their theoretical and clinical knowledge, and some time for questions will be reserved.

Registration: Please click on the registration button below to go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After taking this course the participant will be able to

1. Briefly describe hormone blockers and cross-sex hormones
2. Define Gender Noise
3. List at least two possible behavior challenges facing transyouth reaching adolescence.
4. Describe at least one way transyouth plan for the future
5. Describe at least two resilience factors that can support transyouth
6. Describe two ways in which community can support transyouth

PRESENTERS

Susan Landon (LMFT 23019) has been in clinical practice in Santa Monica, CA since 1987 where she provides counseling to individuals, couples, children, and families.  She received her BA (1981) and a MA in Counseling Psychology (1984) from Goddard College in Los Angeles.  Her  specialty over the last 10 years has been working with gender non-conforming children and adolescents. In addition, she is the Director of the Child and Adolescent Program at the Los Angeles Gender Center and is on the Advisory Board of Transforming Family.  Transforming Family is a 501(c)3 sponsored by L.A. Children’s Hospital and the L.A. Gender Center.  This program provides a monthly playgroup for young gender diverse children, a tween group, a rap group for teenagers, a sibling group, and a parent support group.

Ms. Landon is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).  She has attended and presented at numerous conferences and seminars focused on gender expansive youth.

Aydin Olson-Kennedy (LCSW 82313)  earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, with an emphasis on Social Work, Sociology and Multi-Cultural and Gender Studies, and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Chico. He currently is the Director of the L.A. Gender  Center, has offices in South Pasadena and Studio City and has provided training on gender issues to numerous schools and other organizations.

Aydin is a transgender man who transitioned in 2007. Since then, he has dedicated himself to learning and growing to gain a better understanding of how gender dysphoria impacts people, parents, families, and communities and the role mental health can play in helping people heal from the trauma of gender dysphoria.

He states:

Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis that describes the distress or discomfort associated with the incongruence between one’s assigned sex and gender identity.  What the diagnosis does not represent, and is often poorly understood, is the experience of dysphoria.   Physical or social role dysphoria, and what I call “gender dysphoria noise” can lead to anxiety, depression, and isolation.

For more information about the presenters you can go to the the LA Gender Center website.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Monday, July 13th (Ms. Landon)

12:00 – 12:30  – Review of key learning points and organization for classes 4, 5, and 6

12:30 – 1:00  –  Challenges facing non-binary and trans youth during middle school, including the role of “gender noise”

1:00 – 1:55 – Working with parents of middle school youth

• Assessing the family system
• Parent psycho-education regarding gender expression, gender identity, sex assigned at birth, and sexual orientation
• Parent psycho-education regarding the range of decisions to be made regarding puberty
• Talking to parents about hormone blockers and cross-sex hormones

1:55 – 2:00  –  Review and orientation for next week

Monday, July 20th (Ms. Landon)

12:00 – 1:30  –  Examination of adolescence developmental challenges

• Challenges for all teens
• Challenges specific to trans and non-binary youth

1:30 – 1:55 – Promoting resiliency: how do trans youth prepare for the future

1:55 – 2:00 – Review and orientation for next week

Monday, July 23rd (Mr. Olson-Kennedy)

12:00 – 12:30 –  More on trans youth and resiliency

12:30 – 1:30 –  Lifespan perspective: how is gender dysphoria experienced across the life span? What do we know about the role of medical choices?

1:30 – 2:00 – What is the role of community? What additional training is recommended for advanced learning objectives?

2:00 – Goodbyes and evaluations

CE Approvals

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

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts APA approval for CE activities for  MFTs, LCSWs, LPPCs and/or LEPs.

Outside of California, please check with your licensing board to see whether APA approval is accepted for CE credit in your state.  Please call Dr. Cooper if you have further questions (626-744-9472).

Payment and  Cancellation Policy For information about payment, cancellations and refunds, please click on the registration button above or go to the Institute for Girls’ Development website or contact Paige Hobey, Director of Community Education and Outreach at the Institute for Girls’ Development , at 626-585-8075 ext. 121 or PHobey@IFGD.care.

Accommodations and Other Questions  For accommodations, requests and other questions about the program content please contact Paige Hobey, Director of Community Education and Outreach at the Institute for Girls’ Development , at 626-585-8075 ext. 121 or PHobey@IFGD.care.