Understanding the MHP's Role: Puberty Blockers and Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
Changes in WPATH Standards of Care
Reviewing the pertinent topics for mental health providers in the latest Standards of Care (SOC8)
CE’s Available ($30) with Full Access.
The Gender Health Training Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
Gender Health Training Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Course Summary
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health recently published the new Standards of Care (SOC8) for the treatment of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Given the global concern regarding gender affirming medical care for TGD people, especially for youth and the concerns around TGD people’s capacity to consent, the SOC8 guidelines regarding gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for TGD people, makes this a very important chapter for mental health providers to understand when referring and advocating for GAHTs for their clients. There are some significant changes from previous versions that mental health providers who work with gender diverse people need to be aware of.
This webinar will help anyone who works with gender diverse clients across the lifespan understand the the role and impact of GAHTs, when medically necessary, as a part of their care. These new standards may significantly change how we practice and especially what is expected of us as mental health providers when evaluating both youth and adult for gender affirming medical care. If you work with gender diverse people or their families it is important to understand these changes and how they may impact your work.
We’re going to talk about…
• SoC8 expectations for mental health providers working with gender diverse people seeking gender affirming hormone therapy
• Guidelines regarding referrals for gender affirming hormone therapy with gender diverse people across the lifespan
• The role of Mental Health Providers in the preparation for and throughout the course of gender affirming hormone therapy
• What mental health care providers need to know about puberty blockers, hormones, and embodiment goals for adolescents and adults.
Learning Objectives
• Describe the approach to the administration of gender affirming hormone therapy as a function of the developmental stage of gender diverse adolescent and adult patients.
• Describe the common co-occurring mental health disparities affecting gender diverse people and the impact of gender affirming hormone therapy on mental health outcomes
• Explain the role of mental health providers as a part of a multi-disciplinary team in the evaluation of medical necessity for gender affirming hormone therapy
• Explain the importance of a gender affirming hormone therapy in the service of authentic embodiment goals for gender diverse patients.
Why is this important?
This Webinar will help mental health providers who work with transgender/gender diverse people and those who assess them for gender affirming care navigate the latest changes in the WPATH Standards of Care, version 8 and know how to implement them in your practice and evaluations. It will also help any provider working with adolescents and adults seeking gender affirming hormone therapy understand the approach to treatment, what to explore in an assessment, and what needs to be addressed when referring gender diverse youth for puberty suppression or adolescents and adults for gender affirming hormone therapy even in complex cases or when co-occurring mental health symptoms are present.
The overall goal of the Standards of Care guidelines is to provide clinical guidance for health professionals to assist transgender and gender diverse people with safe and effective pathways to achieve lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves, and to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment.
Version 8 of the standards of care is a broad expansion of the guidelines, since quite a lot has changed in the world of gender affirming care in the past 11 years since SOC7 was unveiled. For mental health providers who work with transgender and gender diverse children, especially those who are evaluating them for social transition, it is important to understand the latest changes.
Upgrade and Get Full Access to
the Community Q&A Forum and 2 CEs
If you want CE credits, you'll need to upgrade to Full Access ($30).
You must pass the Post-Training Test to get a Certificate.
Once you finish the Evaluation and Test, the option for the Certificate download will be available in your dashboard.
Course Curriculum
For those who don’t know me, I am a licensed psychologist in Northern California, a member of the transgender community, and a WPATH certified mentor who is dedicated to helping therapists provide gender affirmative care to transgender, nonbinary, gender-expansive (trans) clients and their families across the life span, and build gender-affirming practices while navigating the quickly changing world of transgender health so that your clients and their families can build stronger connections, live with authenticity, and receive the care they need.
I have no commercial disclosures or conflicts of interest to report.
The Gender Health Training Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
Gender Health Training Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Full Access (2 CEs)
$30.00
CE's INCLUDED
- Video (Webinar Recording)
- Webinar Slides
- Post-webinar Quiz (required to get CE's)
- Evaluation (required to get CE's)
- Certificate (2 CE's)
- Community Discussion
