Building Trans-Affirming Practice

Join us or an opportunity to learn how to facilitate and foster a trans-affirming practice. We will hear from experts in London, ON who are carrying out trans-positive research and practice with their patients. Workshop leaders include:

- Dr. Greta Bauer, Principal Researcher Trans PULSE, Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University

Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is intended for medical students, professionals, social workers, and community care providers who are looking to learn more about how to make their practices more trans-affirming.

What is a trans-affirming practice?
A trans-affirming practice is one that moves beyond ‘acceptance’ of trans clients and instead works to actively affirm and validate the experience and identities of trans clients, as well as to create environments which are safe and affirmative. Trans-affirmative practice is directly correlated to improved health outcomes among trans populations.

Why is a trans-affirmative practice important?
The Trans community has very clearly stated what they believe to be best practice in the mental health care of potentially transgender children and youth: self-determination and support for the gender identity chosen by the patient. This is encapsulated by a trans-affirming practice, which can significantly improve the lives of trans clients.

The Trans PULSE project is a multi-year epidemiological study carried out by Western University. The project aimed to determine the extent to which social exclusion impacted the health of trans people in Southern Ontario. Researchers found that when Trans youth are supported in their gender identity, suicide rates go down and all other health-related outcomes improve.

Similarly, in February of this year, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry stated that promoting a specific preferred outcome should not be part of any treatment with children and adolescents and "lacks scientific credibility and clinical utility" (AACAP, 2018). The Canadian Psychological Association stated in 2015 that gender affirming models are associated with better mental health outcomes and that children are harmed by attempts to change their gender identity or gender expression (CPA, 2015).

What can I expect to learn from this workshop?
Participants can expect to leave this workshop equipped with empirical data and practical strategies to build trans-affirmative practice.
Participants will be able to answer the question: Why, as doctors, as researchers, as social workers, is this affirming care critical and timely, and how can we make a difference in our communities?