Unlike ordinary mistakes and errors that result in injury, and different from the painful but mundane interpersonal betrayals of trust in everyday life, moral injury captures the experience of institutional manipulation of beliefs and behaviors to coerce individuals into actions they ultimately find morally objectionable. As the harms of the gender affirming model for youth […]

The way a therapist thinks about a phenomenon such as gender dysphoria and transition informs how they will respond clinically. The belief that gender dysphoria is caused by a mismatch between one’s sex and internal sense of being male or female informs treatment approaches that emphasize social and medical transition as ways to reduce dysphoria […]

Exercise, diet, and sleep greatly impact brain health and, therefore, mood and functioning. In this webinar, several physiological mechanisms by which lifestyle behaviors can affect mental health will be discussed. For example, exercise increases dopamine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor; diet impacts glutamate, inflammation, and advanced glycation end products; and sleep directly affects glial cells. The […]

In July 2024, the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published a paper by Joanne Sinai, a Canadian psychiatrist, and Peter Sim, a retired lawyer, that reviewed the current mental health landscape for gender dysphoria. The paper argued that psychodynamic psychotherapy should be made available as a first-line treatment for gender […]

In this webinar, we explore the evolution of the concept of gender and gender identity, its treatment over the decades, and current controversies. We will examine the historical cohorts and treatment protocols of gender dysphoria. These will include the treatment protocols of the 80s and 90s (Canadian protocol), the subsequent protocols of the late 90s […]

This webinar will sketch some of the ideological antecedents of Queer Theory and its radical (re)conceptualization of gender, which many therapists and psychologists may not be aware of. In doing so, it will focus primarily on the postmodern critique of language and two of its most influential figures: Jacques Derrida and Michele Foucault, both of […]

As new executive orders in the United States aim to restrict access to transition-related medical interventions for youth under age 19, many gender dysphoric young people are experiencing fear, confusion, and uncertainty. This panel will explore concerns, discuss strategies for meaningful connection and support, and provide guidance for therapists, parents, educators, and school officials on […]

This webinar offers valuable insights for mental health professionals and researchers on understanding and supporting individuals adversely impacted by medical transition - a unique and growing population worldwide. Led by Sophie Frost, a psychotherapist and founder of The Primrose Practice, the webinar will draw from her experience facilitating a peer support group over 2 years […]

Join us for a conversation exploring the international landscape of youth gender dysphoria, focusing on the mental health field’s evolving approaches, ethical dilemmas, and treatment controversies. Amid growing global scrutiny of medical interventions like puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for youth, this webinar tackles the critical questions facing clinicians today. Given the remarkably weak evidence […]

Few psychotherapists receive formal training in lesbian and gay history and identity development, creating significant gaps in the knowledge they need to competently identify, serve, and support clients who are -- or may be – same-sex attracted. Given consistent empirical confirmation that the majority of clients with childhood cross-sex identification or gender anxiety will see […]