Medical Providers
Physicians are uniquely positioned to influence the degree to which a family supports their gender variant child. The modeling of acceptance in the physician’s demeanor, words, forms, and health care convey a sense of normalcy and safety for the family, perhaps for the first time.
Primary care physicians may rarely encounter significantly gender variant or transgender children, but when they do it is imperative to know how to address the specific needs of these patients and their families. Finding current clinical information can be a challenge, despite the high-risk health concerns for this population both in childhood and adolescence.
Research clearly demonstrates that family support and acceptance are the most critical elements of long-term health and well being for these children. Thus, the child’s gender identity and expression must be seen within the family system. Many of these children and families experience significant levels of isolation, rejection, and stigmatization due to societal ignorance around issues of gender diversity. This can be seriously compounded by ethnic and religious overlays.
Medical Provider Trainings
Pediatricians, Family Practice doctors and Endocrinologists need the most up-to-date information and data on childhood gender identity and variance and appropriate health care and concerns. We provide tailored trainings for all members of the practice- from physicians and nurse practitioners, to other support and phone staff. Trainings are available in a range of formats. Topics include:
- A gender inclusive clinic or practice
- Gender identity development
- Differentiating between gender variance, transgender, and lesbian or gay children and youth
- Counseling families on issues of gender
- When to refer
- Elements of sensitive care for families with gender non-conforming children and teens
- Effects of parental acceptance or rejection of children's gender non-conforming behavior
- Methods to increase family support and reduce negative health and mental health outcomes
- Overview of puberty blockade and cross hormones
- Religious, cultural and ethnic considerations impacting families and a child's gender expression
To schedule a Medical Provider Training, email info@genderspectrum.org or call 510-567-3977.
Medical Provider Consultations
In addition to our in-person trainings, we provide consultation to physicians, either by phone or in person. In these consultations we offer a perspective based on having worked with hundreds of families raising gender variant and transgender children and youth. This level of experience often provides a fuller context for the presentation of the cases you encounter. Medical providers working with gender variant children and youth frequently have few if any colleagues with whom they can seek support or guidance. Given complex dynamics of each individual case, consultation can remove the feeling of working in a vacuum.
To schedule a Medical Provider Consultation, email info@genderspectrum.org or call 510-567-3977.
