How Much Distress Is Enough?
Workshop Description
When assessing the level of their child’s dysphoria and need for intervention (everything from understanding their child’s gender dysphoria to transition), parents are often told to “watch for signs of distress.” If the child is showing no signs of distress, and is allowed to dress/play/interact in a way that feels authentic, then there’s no need to intervene yet…right? What if intervening and acknowledging a child’s authentic gender is the compassionate, natural thing to do before the child enters a period of moderate to severe distress? In this workshop, we will be discussing the connection between distress/gender dysphoria and being transgender, and how parents can evaluate how they approach the process of recognition and intervention in response to their child, with or without overt signs of distress.
Conference Track
Family
Primary Contact
Workshop Presenters
Darlene Tando
Presenter Bio
Darlene Tando, LCSW, has a private practice in San Diego and has been working with transgender youth and adults since 2006. She writes a blog (www.DarleneTandoGenderBlog.com) about the many facets of gender and gender transition. Darlene is a proponent of the Informed Consent model and believes the individual is the “expert” on one’s own gender identity. Her role is to make the journey easier. Darlene recently authored the book The Conscious Parent’s Guide to Gender Identity: A Mindful Approach to Embracing Your Child’s Authentic Self.
Aydin Olson-Kennedy, MSW, Los Angles Gender Center
Presenter Bio
Aydin Olson-Kennedy, MSW, is the executive director of the Los Angeles Gender Center where he provides therapy for gender-nonconforming and transgender youth, adults, and their families. He has spoken internationally on the importance of an informed-consent model of care, identifying and acknowledging domains of privilege and broadening clinicians and families understanding of gender dysphoria and its impact on the psychosocial well-being of gender-nonconforming and transgender individuals.