August 2022
Austin AMFT CEU Event

Friday, August 12th

9:30 am - 1 pm

(Breakout Room Small Groups for Networking - First 15 minutes)

________________________________________________

3 Ethics CEUs | Approved for LMFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, & Psychologists

If you would like to receive CEUs, you must pay the registration fee and complete the evaluation form after the event. Your CEU certificate will then be emailed to you.

________________________________________________

This event will be recorded and accessible through our website afterward. You must be a current Austin AMFT member to access. This recording will not be available to non-members.

TOPIC

PRESENTER

PRESENTATION SUMMARY

Nothing is scarier to transgender and gender diverse individuals seeking care than sitting down with a therapist who hasn’t done their own work around gender and is poorly informed about the issues facing their community. The experience of gender diversity is complex, and there’s a long history of mental health professionals missing the clinical nuances of working with this community and doing their own work when it comes to understanding gender more fully. Fortunately, we can break the cycle through the proposal of a new framework for therapists to understand this journey and the exploration of some of the most common—and difficult—questions cisgender therapists have about working with trans clients. Along the way, you’ll confront your own thinking about gender and increase your understanding of the issues facing the trans and gender diverse community today.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Initiate the beginnings of challenging your own internal beliefs systems regarding gender and gender diversity through the proposal of a new framework in which to further increase your competency in working with trans and gender diverse clients

• Identify 3-5 emotional and behavioral responses that are common as a result of gender fragility

• Articulate 3-5 ways in which trans and gender diverse people experience gender fragility in their day to day lives or in the therapy room

• Identify 5-7 skills, beliefs, or knowledge necessary to work with the trans and gender diverse community

• Gain an understanding of the Gender Affirmative Model and the benefits and necessity of this approach

BIOGRAPHY

I am a Latinx, neurodiverse, queer, nonbinary trans man (more specifically, bigender), and therapist. I am also fat positive, sex positive, neurodiversity affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, poly, ethical non monogamy, and kink affirming and am allied with those engaged in sex work. I also strongly believe in harm reduction. I studied at the University of Texas at San Antonio for both undergrad and grad school, graduating with honors from the honors college with a BA in Psychology as well as a BA in Criminal Justice in 2006 and a MA in Counseling in 2010. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Board Approved Supervisor (LPC-S) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with experience providing individual, group, family, and couple’s therapy. I have worked in a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, mobile crisis outreach teams, and community mental health agencies, as well as non-profit organizations. I have also worked as a utilization reviewer for a PHP/IOP program and as a utilization manager at a health insurance company. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

As a member of several marginalized groups, I both understand and appreciate what it means to struggle. In my work with clients, my goal is to help those who don't have a voice find theirs and help those who would otherwise not seek therapy for a fear of judgment. I currently provide both individual and group therapy to adults. I specialize in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly the transgender and gender diverse community. I have experience in a wide variety of mental health concerns but some of my most favorite are general life transitions, issues of identity, mood disorders, neurodivergence, anxiety disorders, PTSD & trauma, and grief and loss. Although working with clients is my primary passion, providing consultation and education to other clinicians on gender is a real close second. I am passionate about facilitating the gender journey of therapists of all genders who would like to gain a more nuanced understanding of this work to more affirmatively and competently serve my community. I also run a weekly therapy podcast, NextQuest Podcast (available on all major podcast providers!), however am currently taking a break from recording new episodes in favor of work on other projects. In my free time, I thoroughly enjoy saltwater fishing, being the keeper of many spreadsheets, and a dog dad to my two loving pups, Batty and Zion.

This presentation is designed to be useful for all levels of training and experience.

Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page for help.