Presentation by Maureen Johnston, LMFT (1.5 CEUs available)
Watch an interview with Maureen Johnston
Join us for our first post-covid in-person event at Michael's!
There is plenty of space for distancing, and we will follow all covid protocols including everyone signing a covid release and acknowledgement form. The luncheon buffet will open at 11:15, with the presentation starting at 12pm. We are also live streaming it for those who can't attend in person. A recording of this presentation will be available to all registrants for 3 months.
Across the nation more and more states are working to pass laws impacting already marginalized transgender individuals and their families, and erecting barriers to the necessary emotional and medical treatments of gender expansive youth.
At the same time, the number of people of all ages who are stepping forward as gender expansive continues to rise. For each person who identifies as transgender, non-binary, gender queer, gender fluid, gender nonconforming, etc., there is almost always an entire group of family members and friends, who are affected and asked to change the way they have perceived and known this person, sometimes for decades.
Even if you are not a gender specialist, don’t have any desire to become one, and never have a transgender client in your caseload, given the sheer number of folks who are transitioning, you are quite likely to have clients who love someone who is gender expansive. Therefore, it is critical that you know how to support them. Because, while sadly, the suicide rates for trans folk are incredibly high, we know one of the most effective ways to lower this rate is family support.
This workshop will provide you with concrete suggestions on how to support your clients with a trans loved one. You’ll learn about the Gender Affirmative Model and the Phases and Milestones of the Trans Family Gender Journey Model, and how to utilize these with your clients.
Some of the typical reactions of parents, partners, siblings, and others as they confront the multiple dimensions of transition will be discussed. The complexities of the intersection with race, culture, and religion will be examined. You will come away with a better understanding of the psychological processes of many family members as they work to provide the love and support necessary.
We will also explore the importance our own gender journey on our work.
Program Goals
The goal of this presentation is for participants to be able to provide more clinically appropriate treatment to the family members of gender expansive individuals. This presentation gives an overview of the complexities of the psychological, emotional, and logistical realities of gender identity transitions for the entire family.
Learning Objectives
- List the key elements of the Gender Affirmative Model
- Develop a working understanding of elements of the Trans Family Gender Journey Model
- Identify how aspects of one's own Gender Journey impact treatment
- Identify some of the impacts of the intersection of compounded marginalization of elements of identity
Maureen has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice since 1994. She began learning about the vastly under met needs of the gender expansive community in the South Bay while supervising interns at the Billy de Frank LGBTQ+ Center in the early 2000’s. She has been working with members of the Trans community for almost 20 years.
She hosted and co-facilitated ‘Group Nite!’ (a monthly set of support groups for gender expansive youth and their parents) for 6 years in San Jose´, and continues to lead online parent support groups. She recently began facilitating Play Therapy Groups for elementary age children in Los Gatos. Maureen also provides training and consultation to professionals interested in Gender Affirmative Therapy, and hosts a monthly consultation group online. https://www.maureenjohnston.com/about/
TARGET AUDIENCE: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC
If you miss any of the presentation, you will not be eligible for the CEUs. SCV-CAMFT is a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider (CEPA 052466). This course meets the qualifications of 1.5 continuing education credit for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and/or LCSWs.
The views expressed in presentations made at SCV-CAMFT membership meetings or other SCV-CAMFT events are those of the speaker and not, necessarily, of SCV-CAMFT. Presentations at SCV-CAMFT events do not constitute an endorsement of the vendor or speaker's views, products or services.
Event Policy Information
