About the Course

Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS) is often desired by transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) people as part of their gender journeys. Medical transition offers psychotherapists a unique opportunity to support their TGNB clients. Outside of the letter writing process, therapists can be instrumental in helping clients with the 10 tasks (Cathers, 2017) needed to have a successful surgery. This course is designed to help psychotherapists assist TGNB clients seeking GAS with these 10 tasks to cover the entire process from determining medical needs to navigating insurance to post operative recovery. Therapists will learn about masculinizing and feminizing surgeries/procedures, including details about the pre-operative care, surgery and recovery. Therapists will learn to help clients have realistic expectations of their surgeries, including impacts of GAS on sexuality, reproduction, and mental health. We will cover WPATH SOC 8 as it applies to assessment or evaluation for surgery, assessing for informed consent, and letter writing. Therapists will learn how the same symptoms that interfere with capacity for consent may also interfere with perioperative care, post operative instructions, and long term follow up medical recommendations. Additionally, therapists will learn how to address negative transference that may arise with letter writing and to limit the impact on the working alliance. Therapists will learn how to help clients advocate for insurance coverage and which laws protect TGNB patients’ healthcare rights. Therapists will learn how to help clients prepare psychologically for GAS, including managing medical anxiety, fears about motivation for GAS, navigating ambivalence, addressing dependency needs, and building resilience in order to minimize pain. The course will utilize case vignettes to address complex issues that may arise during medical transition, including common psychological reactions to preparation, surgery, complications, and post-operative care.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course you will be able to:   1. Describe at least 4 gender confirming surgeries for transgender and non-binary people 2. Describe at least 3 psychological benefits for transgender and non-binary people who medically transition (when it is right for them) 3. Assist clients in determining and prioritizing surgery needs 4. Write a letter supporting gender affirming surgery utilizing World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care, 8th Edition 5. Describe at least 2 transference dynamics that can occur during the letter writing process 6. Advocate for insurance coverage for gender affirming care 7. Explicitly assess for capacity for informed consent for GAMST 8. Describe the 10 tasks clients must complete in order to have a successful surgery 9. Describe at least 3 ways in which psychotherapists can help clients prepare mentally for surgery 10. Describe at least 2 ways in which psychotherapists can help clients prepare physically for surgery 11. Describe how dependence needs can manifest during surgical recovery 12. Describe how building emotional resilience can minimize pain during surgical recovery

Meet Your Instructor

Cadyn Cathers, PsyD, MBA (he/him/his) has been teaching courses on human sexuality, psychotherapy with LGBTQIA+ communities, and psychodynamic theory for over 15 years. He is the founder and CEO of The Affirmative Couch, which provides online continuing education on clinical work with LGBTQIA+, CNM, and kink communities. He is a licensed psychologist in private practice at the Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, P.C., where he focuses on psychoanalytic psychotherapy with transgender and nonbinary patients. Additionally, he is adjunct faculty at Reiss-Davis Graduate School.

Additional Information

Intended Audience This course is meant for an intermediate to advanced audience of psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists and social workers working affirmatively with TGNB clients. Completion Requirements To get CE credit you must complete the entire webinar and complete the post test with at least 75% Refunds No refunds will be offered on the purchase of this course.  Accommodations We will work to accommodate reasonable accommodations requests. Requests can be emailed with  “accommodation request” within 48 hours of course purchase. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

APA Approved Sponsor

Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, P.C.  is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, P.C. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Course Curriculum

9 Chapters · 19 Lessons

  1. 1

    Course Overview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Abstract

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Learning Objectives

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      About the Presenter

  2. 2

    Introduction to Gender-Affirming Surgery

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview, Review of Terminology, and Hormones

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Day 1 Slide Deck

  3. 3

    Task 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      A review of surgical options

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Task 1 Knowledge Check

  4. 4

    Tasks 2 & 3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Supporting Clients with Choosing Surgeons & Obtaining Letters

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Sample WPATH - 8 Letter Template

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Task 2 & 3 Knowledge Check

  5. 5

    Tasks 4 & 5

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      The Therapist's Role in Preparing for Surgery

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Day2 Slide Deck

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Task 4 & 5 Knowledge Check

  6. 6

    Task 6-10

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Surgical and Post-Surgical Considerations

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Vignettes

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Task 6 & 7 Knowledge Check

  7. 7

    Vignettes: Bringing the 10 steps to life

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Observe group discussion & case studies

  8. 8

    Post-Test

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      GAMST Post-Test

  9. 9

    Post Course Survey

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Post Course Survey: The Therapist’s Role in Gender Affirming Surgery for Transgender and Nonbinary Clients

Ready to Make a Difference?

Enroll now to empower TGNB clients through 10 steps to a more successful surgical experience!

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