In this workshop,participantswill examine the delicate balance between authenticity and safety in the lives of transgender teens and young adults. Mr. Krieger will clarify the distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation and help participants understand how transgender identity emerges in adolescence. Mr. Krieger will outline the components included in a comprehensive evaluation of a transgender youth’s mental health and gender identity. This presentation will include discussion of the challenges faced by transgender youth and their parents, and how helping professionals can best help them handle these challenges.
The focus of treatment is to help the youth and the family gain a clear understanding of the young person’s gender identity. This is a necessary precursor to consideration of any medical interventions for gender transition.
The last part of the day will be dedicated to strategizing about the specific challenges clinicians may face in working with this population. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns related to working with transgender youth and their families.
Learning objectives
At the end of this conference, participants will be able to:
Recognize the issues of authenticity and safety when they arise in the treatment of transgender youth and their parents.
Outline transgender identity development in adolescence.
List the components of a comprehensive evaluation of a transgender youth.
Apply at least two strategies for helping parents address their fears and concerns.
Explain the steps parents and youth can take to clarify their gender identity.
Summarize an understanding of LGBT students’ rights and how to advocate for transgender students.
Discuss the challenges clinicians face in working with this population.
Irwin Krieger, LCSW, is a clinical social worker who has provided psychotherapy in a private practice setting for LGBT individuals, couples and families for over 30 years. A graduate of Yale with an MSW from UConn, he was also on the mental health team at AIDS Project New Haven from 2004 to 2015. Irwin has worked extensively with transgender teens and adults and their families. He was a 2013 recipient of the New Haven Pride Center’s Dorothy Award, for his service to the LGBT community in New Haven.
With the goal of expanding the base of knowledgeable providers for transgender individuals and their families, Irwin provides training for mental health and health care professionals, as well as school personnel. He has presented at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Symposium in Atlanta, the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, the Maine Academy of Family Physicians, Yale University, Quinnipiac University, the University of Connecticut and the University of Hartford. Irwin was the keynote speaker at the GSA Summit at Eastern CT State University in the fall of 2011 and at the GeMS Conferences at Children’s Hospital in Boston in the fall of 2013 and the spring of 2015. From 2012 to 2016 he was a consultant for the Transgender Care Team at Yale Health Plan. Irwin Krieger is the author of Helping Your Transgender Teen: A Guide for Parents.
For additional information see www.IKriegerTraining.com
