2020 Gender Odyssey

Gender dysphoria is widely understood as the persistent emotional, psychological or physical distress experienced by individual’s whose gender does not align with their sex-at-birth. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness outlines criteria that are too limited in scope. These create unrealistic expectations that medical and/or surgical intervention will result in the eradication of gender dysphoria. This workshop proposes to present gender dysphoria as an experience beyond a criteria checklist; demonstrate how dysphoria shows up across different developmental stages; and how this impacts the lives of transgender youth. Using case examples, this workshop will help attendees have an improved understanding of how gender dysphoria is impacting the developmental trajectories of these youth. We’ll explore the overlap of symptoms of gender dysphoria that often lead to diagnoses of ADHD, bipolar disorder, high functioning autism, and we’ll explore mechanisms to address gender dysphoria in transgender and non-binary individuals. Providers can improve care for youth if their understanding of gender dysphoria expands beyond the distress associated with the presence (or absence) of primary or secondary sex characteristics.