Welcome to therapy first
Psychotherapy as first-line treatment for gender dysphoria
We’re here to help.
The purest form of listening is to listen without memory or desire.
Wilfred Bion
Therapy First is a U.S. based non-profit organization and international professional association of mental health providers dedicated to offering developmentally informed psychotherapy as the first-line treatment for youth gender dysphoria.
Our mission is to advance the field of mental health in this area and to raise the standard of care for children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing gender dysphoria by supporting and training clinicians, conducting research, and offering public education on mental health and psychotherapy.
Start here
Therapy First exists because we see a great need arising from the current oversimplification and politicalization of gender dysphoria in the field of mental health.
Therapists
Join a professional association of mental health providers who view psychosocial support and a whole person approach as the appropriate front-line treatment for gender-related concerns.
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Clients & Families
If you or someone you care about is suffering from gender-related distress, we offer compassionate and evidence-based resources and can help connect you to a mental health provider.
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Transition-Related Grief
We offer resources and information for those who experience grief related to medical transition, including therapists experienced in working with people who choose to detransition.
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Join Therapy First
Therapy First’s professional association is open to licensed mental health providers. Once you become a member, you’ll join a community of over 300 professionals worldwide who actively support one another in exchanging ideas and sharing resources.
You’ll also gain access to weekly peer supervision groups, get discounts to Therapy First webinars and trainings, and have the opportunity to list your practice on a public directory of psychotherapists.
Featured webinars
Therapy First provides a range of trainings for mental health clinicians working with young people who are questioning their identity.
Friday June 27th
at 4pm EDT
Join experienced pediatrician Dr. Julia Mason for an engaging and informative exploration of the adolescent brain. This webinar will delve into the fascinating—and sometimes perplexing—process of neurological development during adolescence. As young brains mature at different rates across various regions, it's not uncommon for teenagers to exhibit behavior that appears inconsistent, unpredictable, or downright baffling. While science may not have all the answers, Dr. Mason will offer valuable insights into the uneven trajectory of brain development and how it influences mood, decision-making, risk-taking, and emotional regulation in adolescents. Whether you're a parent, educator, or healthcare professional, this session will equip you with foundational knowledge to better understand and respond to the complexities of adolescent behavior - with a little more clarity (and maybe a bit less head-scratching).
Learning Objectives:
- Understand changes in neuronal density through childhood and adolescence.
- Learn why "use it or lose it" applies to more than physical skills.
- Explore why adolescent decisions can vary wildly depending on the situation.
- Appreciate the different schedules of frontal cortex development in autistic, ADHD and neurotypical individuals.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Julia Mason is a board-certified pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois (MS in Nutritional Science, MD). She completed residency training in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Mason has a busy pediatrics practice; in the past several years she's encountered increasing numbers of gender dysphoric adolescents, most with neurodevelopmental challenges or psychiatric comorbidities. Dr. Mason contributes to KevinMD on the topic of gender dysphoria.
Therapy First has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7505. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Therapy First is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This webinar provide 1.5 hours of CE credits.
Download Therapy First’s free Clinical Guide for Therapists Working with Gender Questioning Youth. Developed by a team of clinicians with expertise working with gender dysphoric youth and their families, our clinical guide offers mental health providers an introduction to working with this growing population based on the latest research and a solid understanding of psychotherapeutic best practice.
Find a Therapist
We help prospective clients connect with therapists who agree with the tenets of Therapy First’s membership statement.
You can find out more about individual practices by clicking in and viewing their profile.
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