In the face of an unprecedented wave of legislative attacks targeting transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals—exemplified by the introduction of over 527 anti-transgender bills in 2024—there’s an urgent need to expand on the number of competent mental health practitioners equipped to support TNB communities.
Presently, many practitioners lack the necessary knowledge or experience to effectively address clinical issues specific to TNB populations. This deficiency often leads to increased stigma, discrimination, and the pathologization of TNB identities, or a disproportionate focus on gender identity as the primary presenting issue. Insufficient clinical skills and knowledge can result in TNB clients feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or prompt them to discontinue services altogether.
Tailored for clinical supervisors, this immersive workshop delves into the nuanced complexities of supporting practitioners in their work with TNB individuals. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and small group exercises, participants will explore gender-affirming, integrated supervision models.
Participants will engage in an in-depth exploration of the clinical challenges that TNB individuals face throughout their lifespan, gaining a nuanced understanding of these issues to better inform their clinical practice and supervision approaches.
We are also excited to share insights from our ongoing TNB youth pilot project conducted with student clinicians at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center. During the workshop, we will discuss common challenges and successes experienced by new counselors when working with TNB clients for the first time.
Throughout this training, participants will:
- Develop strategies to promote inclusivity, foster resilience, and provide comprehensive care for transgender clients at every stage of their journey
- Explore clinical issues unique to TNB individuals across the lifespan
- Learn about integrating gender-affirming care into supervision models
Dr. Rafe McCullough is an associate professor of professional mental health counseling at Lewis & Clark Graduate School He has specializations in both clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. His research and professional interests center on multicultural and social justice counseling and advocacy, addressing identity in counseling, critical disability perspectives in counseling, counseling with youth and families, and affirming practices for queer and trans individuals. Dr. McCullough is one of the authors of the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies, and has been active in serving the American Counseling Association and its divisions. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. McCullough is currently working with trans and nonbinary youth and adults and their families in his counseling practice. He has been involved in advocacy efforts with LGBTQ and transgender communities for over 25 years.
Dr. Cort Dorn-Medeiros is an associate professor in the Professional Mental Health Counseling – Specialization in Addiction program and current chair of the Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology department at Lewis & Clark Graduate School. His areas of research interest and clinical expertise include pedagogical approaches to counselor education, clinical mental health counseling, substance use disorders, process addictions, addiction within LGBTQIAA+ populations, integrated care, and working with mandated clients. He has provided numerous trainings and conference-based education sessions on topics related to LGBTQIAA+ populations over the past several years. Recent examples include trainings provided to the Multnomah County School-Based Mental Health Services, the Oregon School-Based Mental Health Summit, the Oregon Problem Gambling Services Summit, and the American Counseling Association and the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision annual conferences.
