Just a Boy/Just a Girl
Workshop Description
My child will not talk about anything transgender. She just wants to be a girl. Integrating transgender experience into core self is an important element of development for transgender youth, and can be incredibly difficult when transgender identities are not celebrated in their social environments. This integration seems to be more challenging for those who are transitioning early in life. This workshop will present strategies for helping youth to include their transgender selves into their identities. Case examples will be presented for assistance in illuminating the pros and cons of the “just a boy, just a girl” phenomenon. We will discuss the importance of parent and caregiver language that celebrates being transgender and encourages youth to embrace this part of their experience.
Conference Track
Family
Primary Contact
Workshop Presenters
Susan P Landon, LMFT
Presenter Bio
As director of the Child and Adolescent Program at the Los Angeles Gender Center, Susan Landon, LMFT, has been providing counseling for individuals, couples, children, and families in Santa Monica, California, for the past 30 years. She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Susan speaks around the country about mental health therapy with gender-nonconforming children and adolescents, as well as facilitating a large parent and youth support group in Los Angeles.
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.