Affirming and Effective Work with Trans and Nonbinary Adolescents and Young Adults

Mental health clinicians and other youth workers across diverse settings and specialties are increasingly called upon to provide competent and sensitive care to trans* adolescents and young adults. In an era where young people have more freedom to determine and express diverse gender identities, our society has seen a marked increase in the proportion of out trans youth, while interpersonal bias, structural hostility, and lack of affirmation continue to put these young people at high risk for psychological distress and in need of adequate support and mental healthcare. And yet, many clinicians and other youth workers have not received focused training on the unique experiences and needs of trans adolescents and young adults, nor the specific challenges and opportunities in working with this group. This course aims to address the gap between current need and existing education/training, with a grounding mission of contributing to a world in which trans youth have unbridled access to joy and thriving.

Over five focused but engaging days, we will delve into what is known about trans young people’s mental health – reviewing the research and clinical literature, listening to trans people’s stories, and sharing case examples; we will apply multiple models to better understand the holistic picture of trans youths’ psychological distress and wellbeing. We will then focus on clinical approaches, moving from broad strategies and considerations to specific interventions that both address the harm and risk these young people face and build upon existing strengths to foster resilience and joy. This course will also include specific attention to how clinicians can work effectively with clients’ micro- and even macro-systems (e.g., family, school, faith group, sociopolitical climate), as these are key facets of young people’s world and have an incredible impact on trans youths’ wellbeing.

*The term trans is used here as an adjective that is inclusive of all whose gender differs markedly from the sex label they were assigned at birth, including nonbinary youth, trans girls/women, and trans boys/men.