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Gender-Affirming Care in a Time of Legislative Backlash: What Therapists Need to Know

Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button.

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Episode Summary: Across the U.S., gender-affirming care is under increasing legislative attack, threatening the well-being of transgender and nonbinary individuals. As clinicians, advocates, and allies, how do we navigate these challenges while staying grounded in compassion, evidence-based practice, and values-driven action?

In this episode of The Affirming Minds Podcast, host Shaina Siber explores:

  • The current wave of anti-trans legislation and how it impacts healthcare, legal protections, and daily life for gender-diverse individuals.
  • The mental health consequences of these policies, including increased distress, barriers to care, and heightened discrimination.
  • How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) can help clinicians and advocates respond effectively, reduce suffering, and build resilience.
  • Strategies for debunking misinformation, engaging in productive conversations, and taking action to support gender-affirming care.

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Key Takeaways:

  • What’s happening at the legislative level? A breakdown of current policies restricting gender-affirming care and legal protections.
  • How does this impact mental health? Understanding the distress caused by restrictive policies and ways to support affected individuals.
  • How can clinicians and allies respond? Using ACT and CFT to approach this issue with compassion, advocacy, and psychological flexibility.
  • How can we challenge misinformation? Effective strategies for countering anti-trans narratives and engaging with skeptics in meaningful ways.

Human Rights Campaign – Facing the Future Together: https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/Facing-the-Future-FAQ-111524-FNL.pdf

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Who Should Listen:

  • Mental health professionals working with gender-diverse clients
  • Advocates & policymakers interested in protecting trans rights
  • Educators, parents, and allies seeking accurate information on gender-affirming care
  • Anyone impacted by or concerned about anti-trans legislation
  • If you are in support of current legislation but are open to hearing why advocates feel strongly about protecting gender-affirming care
  • If you love or care for someone who identifies as transgender or nonbinary—even if you don’t fully understand it

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Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. There are no other conflicts of interest to disclose.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional.

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Organizations Funding Transgender Research & Initiatives:

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Organizations:

  • Transgender Law Center: Works to change laws and policies to ensure safety and freedom from discrimination. https://transgenderlawcenter.org/
  • Sylvia Rivera Law Project: Ensures people can self-determine their gender identity and expression. https://srlp.org/
  • Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF): Aims to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people. https://transgenderlegal.org/
  • LGBTQ Task Force: Works to create more inclusive spaces for transgender people in advocacy organizations. https://thetaskforce.org/
  • PFLAG: The largest family and ally organization for LGBTQ+ individuals, their parents, families, and allies. https://pflag.org/

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Helplines:

  • The Trevor Project's 24/7 Lifeline: Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. Call 866-488-7386 or visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
  • Trans Lifeline: Offers peer support and crisis hotline services run by and for trans people. Call 877-565-8860 or visit https://translifeline.org/
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7. Call 800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

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Reports:

  1. National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): The National Center for Transgender Equality is a leading social justice advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights and understanding of transgender individuals. They work to change policies and society to increase acceptance and equality for transgender people.
    1. Website: https://transequality.org/
  2. Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch is an international organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues worldwide, including those affecting transgender individuals. They document abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity and advocate for laws and policies that protect everyone's dignity.
    1. LGBT Rights Overview: https://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights
  3. National Transgender Discrimination Survey: The National Transgender Discrimination Survey is a comprehensive report detailing the discrimination faced by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across various aspects of life, including employment, housing, healthcare, and education. The survey provides critical statistics and insights into the challenges this community faces.
    1. Full Report: https://transequality.org/issues/national-transgender-discrimination-survey

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  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Briefing paper: Plastic surgery for teenagers. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/briefing-papers/briefing-paper-plastic-surgery-for-teenagers
  • Axelrod, T. (2020, November 16). More than 80,000 sexual abuse claims filed against Boy Scouts. The Hill. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/526140-more-than-80000-sexual-abuse-claims-filed-against-boy-scouts/
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