Trauma Responsive and Affirming Practices to Reduce Suicide among Trans and Gender Expansive Youth
When: Tuesday, March 4 - 12:00 PM
Duration: 1 hours 30 minutes
Location: Zoom
Event Details:
Trans and gender expansive (TGE) have alarming rates of suicidality compared to their cisgender peers. As such there is an urgent need to address factors that impact suicidality and well-being among TGE young people. This webinar will be focused on deepening provider understanding of the unique sources of stress among TGE youth that impact psychological well-being, including suicidality. In addition to exploring gender minority stressors at the interpersonal, social, and cultural levels, this webinar will offer an in-depth exploration of key experiences pivotal to TGE well-being including gender dysphoria, gender affirmation, and gender euphoria. These experiences will be explored through a trauma informed lens with attention to the importance of safe and affirming therapeutic contexts. Relevant targets for intervention will be introduced and participants will be provided the opportunity to learn and practice trauma responsive strategies for fostering affirmation, hope, and resilience among TGE young people.
After attending this offering, participants will be able to:
- Identify at least two trans and gender expansive (TGE) specific sources of stress that impact mental health
- Apply the minority stress model to health disparities such as suicide among TGE youth
- Describe the way that gender affirming experiences and gender euphoria can impact hope among TGE youth
- Recognize the applicability of affirmative practice tenets to trauma informed and trauma responsive interventions
- Apply trauma responsive strategies in a gender affirming manner with clients to foster hope and experiences of affirmation
Please note: This offering will be helpful to those who have foundational knowledge about the transgender community. We encourage you to watch Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth and Their Families, a 3-module course available on our learning management system (LMS) to help strengthen your knowledge base.
About the Presenter:
Ashley Austin, PhD, LCSW is a Professor of Social Work and Distinguished Professor for the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice in Barry University’s School of Social Work. She is actively involved in conducting research devoted to promoting the health and well-being of transgender and gender diverse children, teens, and adults. In addition, Dr. Austin is engaged in direct clinical practice, as well as training and clinical consultation aimed at advancing affirmative care for TGD populations. Her recent work has been focused on developing knowledge about experiences of gender dysphoria and gender euphoria to inform affirmative practice models.
As a trauma informed researcher and practitioner, Dr. Austin is committed to research aimed at advancing LGBTQ+ affirmative practice. She is the first author of multiple publications promoting behavioral health equity for LGBTQ+ children, youth, and adults. In partnership, Dr. Austin and Dr. Shelley Craig from the University of Toronto, developed AFFIRM and AFFIRM Caregiver, evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ clients. AFFIRM interventions are being delivered to LGBTQ+ populations across the globe. In collaboration with SSW students, faculty, and members of the TNB community Dr. Austin has been engaged in participant-driven research centering the voices and experiences of TNB people.
Finally, Dr. Austin is a trauma responsive licensed clinical social worker and EMDR therapist devoted to providing affirmative interventions to TNB clients and their family members. Her clinical practice is increasingly driven by the science behind trauma and trauma recovery. As such, in addition to cognitive approaches, she integrates a wide range of mind-body healing strategies supported by neuroscience such as mindfulness, meditation, self-compassion, breath work, somatics, imagery, and expressive arts to support TNB clients of all ages.