Treating Traumatic Invalidation among Transgender and Gender Diverse People: A Call to Action

Description

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people are at particularly high risk of experiencing traumatic invalidation, which is defined as extreme or repetitive invalidation of a person’s significant experiences, characteristics, and reactions (Linehan, 2015). Now more than ever, TGD people are experiencing extreme invalidation at interpersonal (e.g., verbal harassment), institutional (e.g., being denied health care), and systemic levels (e.g., executive orders denying the existence of TGD identities). These types of invalidating experiences increase risk for mental health problems, such as PTSD, suicidality, emotion dysregulation, and depression, all of which disproportionately impact TGD people. In this webinar, we will provide examples of traumatic invalidation related to TGD identities and discuss how to tailor the DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol for PTSD to the needs of TGD clients. Case examples will be used to illustrate common issues that arise when delivering DBT PE to TGD clients, including how to help clients cope with ongoing invalidation in their lives. Finally, we will discuss strategies therapists can use to maximize their own ability to sustain this life-saving work, particularly when working in organizations that adopt anti-transgender policies.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Define the concept of traumatic invalidation based on gender identity and expression.
2. Identify strategies for assessing and treating traumatic invalidation among transgender and gender diverse people.
3. Apply strategies to help therapists maximize sustainability to provide DBT PE to TGD clients.

Who Should Attend

This introductory webinar is intended for mental health professionals and trainees with an interest in trauma treatment.

Instructors

Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP (she/her) is a Psychologist and Coordinator of the DBT Program at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. Dr. Harned has previously worked as the Research Director of Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington (2006-2018), Director of Research and Development for Behavioral Tech, LLC (2014-2017), and Director of Behavioral Tech Research, Inc. (2013-2016). Dr. Harned’s research focuses on the development and evaluation of the DBT Prolonged Exposure protocol for PTSD as well as methods of disseminating and implementing this and other evidence-based treatments into clinical practice. She regularly provides training and consultation nationally and internationally in DBT and DBT PE and has published numerous articles and book chapters on these treatments. She is a certified DBT therapist, a certified PE therapist and supervisor, is board certified in Behavioral and Cognitive therapy, and is licensed as a psychologist in the state of Washington.

Colleen Sloan, PhD (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist and serves as Director of the Clinical Psychology Internship Training Program at VA Boston Health Care System. She provides direct clinical care through the Women’s Trauma Recovery Team and Interdisciplinary Transgender Treatment Team at VA Boston. Dr. Sloan is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. She is involved both locally and nationally in education, training, and consultation in LGBTQ+ health. Dr. Sloan has expertise in treatment for trauma-related problems and emotion dysregulation including DBT and DBT PE.  Her research interests involve LGBTQ+ health inequities and the utilization and modification of evidence-based psychotherapies, particularly DBT and trauma-focused treatments, when working with LGBTQ+ clients. 

Cost

Webinar Registration (Pay What You Can):

The suggested fee is $45, but we are using a pay what you can model starting at $0 to make the webinar accessible to as many people as possible. All proceeds will be donated to Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project to support suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ+ people.  

The registration fee covers attendance at the live webinar, electronic copies of the materials, and 2 months of access to the webinar recording.  Any fees that are paid will be non-refundable.

Continuing Education Credits (optional for those who attend the live webinar):

The fee is $10 for 1.5 Continuing Education credits offered by Triangle Area Psychology clinic Continuing Education (TAP CE). CE credits must be registered and paid for separately via TAP’s CE website. CE credits are only available if you attend the live webinar. No CEs are available for viewing the webinar recording.

Continuing Education Information

Continuing Education (CE) credits are being offered for this workshop by Triangle Area Psychology clinic Continuing Education (TAP CE: https://tapclinicnc.com/tapce/) as described below.

1.5 CE credits are being offered for this webinar for those who attend the live event in full. TAP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. TAP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Participants who miss more than 15 minutes of the training will not be eligible for CEs - partial CE credits will not be given. Participants are required to sign in online at the beginning and conclusion of the course and participate fully in the course, Q&A and any assessments given by the presenters. Questions about the CE credits for this event can be directed to tapce@tapclinicnc.com.