Gender Affirming Surgery (GAS)
Provider Trainings & Consultation
Navigating the Assessment, Letter Writing, Streamlining, & Advanced GAS Discussions
Quick Find Services
Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS) Trainings
Intro to Gender Affirming Surgery Assessment (Pre-Recorded Learn & Grow)
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Key elements of conducting a GAS assessment while minimizing gatekeeping and supporting a client’s autonomy.
What to expect, both as the person seeking a letter and also for the providers offering this important service).
Precursor to addyson's highly requested Advanced GAS Training.
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Virtual, via Zoom.
Intermediate to Advanced Level GAS Training: Surgery Info, Aftercare, & Psychological Considerations (Pre-Recorded)
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Earn 4 CEs through CE21 in this pre-recorded training, available for a limited time.
A training for Behavioral & Mental Health providers (any psychological/mental health-focused provider who might be asked to write a behavioral/mental health letter of support for a trans person seeking affirming surgery).
Learn more about the most common procedures that you'll be asked to write letters for, understand psychological and other risks/complications that clients might worry about, as well as aftercare considerations.
Approach the assessment from a lens of gender & racial liberation, hear case examples, see sample templates for various procedures, and explore questions related to common challenges and barriers.
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Identify 1-2 key factors in navigating the assessment process generally, regardless of procedure or knowledge.
Describe an example distinguishing between appropriate discussions re: the surgical procedures, risks, etc. versus questions that are better for the surgical consultation.
Describe the importance of being aware of privilege and power dynamics given the historical oppression and gatekeeping for the trans community.
Discuss 2+ psychological worries/risks related to the surgery process & recovery.
Distinguish between phalloplasty versus metoidioplasty procedures.
Distinguish between double incision versus less-invasive chest procedures.
Discuss one way you might help clients to think outside of the binary box in terms of what they want their surgical outcomes to look like and feel like.
Discuss 2+ important considerations for each of the following surgical procedures: chest mastectomy, phalloplasty, and vaginoplasty.
Identify a key component of aftercare for optimal results with the following: For double mastectomy & for inverted vaginoplasty
Identify 2+ options to seek further consultation, training, and support when navigating the assessment process, writing letters, supporting clients considering surgery, and navigating various challenges.
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This program is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Psychological Association (NHPA) and Wholehearted Psych. NHPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. NHPA maintains responsibility for the program.
This program offers continuing education credits which are accepted by the State Board of Mental Health and the State Board of Psychologists for all N.H. licensees.*Registrants responsible for confirming individual state board CE requirements. NHPA CE Credits are approved through the APA for psychologists, as well as many other state boards, including but not limited to NH LICSW & LCMHC; VT LICSW, LCMHC, & LMFT; MA LICSW & LCSW; and CT LCSW & LPC.
4 CE Credits
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Economic Justice Tiered Rates:
$150-250, plus
limited scholarship spots ($75+)
More Information Below
Streamlining the GAS Assessment Process (Coming Soon)
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Reduce Gatekeeping.
Increase Access.
Streamline your GAS intake & referral process from the initial inquiry/consultation to the final faxed letter.
A Workshop for Providers who offer Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS) assessment & letter writing.
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Coming soon. Sign up to the interest list here.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
These trainings are offered by licensed psychologist and trans-competent clinician, Dr. addyson tucker. You are invited to review addyson’s economic justice rate model, group & workshop consent form, telehealth consent form, as well as 'touchstones' that guide values and participation guidelines for trainings & workshops here.
Dr. addyson tucker, PsyD. WholeHearted Psych
More Information: Intermediate - Advanced GAS Provider Training
Intermediate-Advanced GAS Provider Training
Gender Affirming Surgery Info, Aftercare, & Psychological Considerations Through a Lens of Liberation
An intermediate-to-advanced training for trans-affirming providers who may be asked to provide letters
Learn more about the common procedures that you'll be asked to write letters for, understand psychological and other risks/complications that clients might worry about, & aftercare considerations. Approach from a lens of gender & racial liberation, including case examples, sample templates, and questions related to common challenges and barriers.
Recorded in Dec 2022 – available until next live in 2024.
4 CEs with addyson via pre-recorded home study
Cost: $175 ($125 for members)
Learn more before committing to this intermediate-to-advanced training:
You can hear more about my approach to the assessment in this recent podcast interview on the Testing Psychologist (below).
Access an overview of the GAS process and important themes to reduce ‘gatekeeping’ in the Learn & Grow Webinar.
WHO:
For Behavioral & Mental Health providers (any psychological/mental health-focused provider who might be asked to write a behavioral/mental health letter of support for a trans person seeking affirming surgery). Regardless of training background, setting, degree status, licensure, and location (trainees welcome, also!)
WHAT:
Learn more about the most common procedures that you'll be asked to write letters for, understand psychological and other risks/complications that clients might worry about, as well as aftercare considerations. Approach the assessment from a lens of gender & racial liberation, hear case examples, see sample templates for various procedures, and explore questions related to common challenges and barriers. Also, addyson will briefly discuss changes with the newly released WPATH SOC version 8.
*RECOMMENDATION
If you do not have some minimum experience, training, and/or understanding of the surgery assessment process and letter writing, please consider viewing this free 45-min webinar with Sarah Eley via the Fenway Institute * to come, or register for the recording from addyson's prior Learn and Grow, an overview of the GAS process.
This training is for you if:
A) You work with the Two-Spirit, Trans, and Nonbinary (2STGNB) population and want to provide accessible access to medical care & surgery referrals. AND/OR You are interested in strengthening your competence for serving the 2STGNB community going forward.
B) You've been trained on the basics of providing surgery assessments and/or letter writing. OR You are willing to seek an overview of the basics prior to attending. OR You feel confident providing basic assessments and hope to expand or get a refresher.
C) You want to know a bit more about the most common procedures, risks, and aftercare considerations. AND/OR You want to further reflect on gender & racial liberation in the assessment process, as it relates to gatekeeping, binary assumptions, trans-negativity, and the impact of oppressive systems. AND/OR You want to maintain your experience, skills, and knowledge as trans care shifts over time.
D) You'd like to be in a training space that will not shame you for what you don't know while also challenging you to expand your competence. AND/OR You have a hard time finding 2STGNB trainings that take the content to a more intermediate or advanced level. AND/OR Other trans surgery trainings you've attended have felt too 'medical' for you to figure out what is most helpful to know as a behavioral/mental health provider.
COST:
Between $125-175, economic justice sliding scale + limited scholarship spots. My fee structure is based on an economic justice, tiered scale that considers your social location in terms of privilege/access to resources. **Please consider the difference between making a sacrifice to pay for registration, versus whether paying would create economic hardship for you. Secure payment via stripe.
*Limited scholarship spots are available, more when others help to sponsor spots. [Pay what you can, ranging from $75-125; These spots are often utilized by those in communities that would not be able to afford to attend otherwise, e.g., trainees, providers in community mental health or nonprofits, those experiencing marginalization, etc. If you still cannot afford those rates, please reach out to me directly prior to completing your form.]
REFUNDS:
Refunds may be requested up to one week prior to the start of the training, unless discussed otherwise. After that, addyson may or may not be able to offer an alternative option for using the amount paid (e.g., depending on capacity and schedule, may be able to apply the amount toward a 1:1 consultation).
CO-SPONSORSHIP:
This program is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Psychological Association (NHPA) and Wholehearted Psych. NHPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. These credits are also accepted by the State Board of Mental Health Practice and the State Board of Psychologists for all New Hampshire licensees. NHPA maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
The CE certificate fee is a separate $25 charge. This training is approved for 4 CE hours for those who complete a post-training evaluation. For those register to attend live, you MUST attend the whole training in full. Note: Most state boards accept CEs offered through APA. Registrants responsible for confirming individual state board CE requirements. NHPA has an explicit agreement for approval of CEs in the following states/professions: Psychologists in NH, VT, MA, & CT; LCSW in MA, CT; LICSW in NH, VT, MA; LPC in CT; LMFT in VT; & LCMHC in NH, VT.
Trans-Affirming Provider Consult Group
Liberation-Focused, Trans-Affirming MH Provider Consult Group
Virtual Professional Development, Connection, & Consultation through a Liberation Lens (Currently In-Session)
For intermediate-to-advanced* trans-affirming mental health providers who work with the 2STGNB community.
Spring 2024: First Friday of the month, January to June. 11-1 PM EDT / 8-10 AM PST. Currently in-process, stay tuned for the next group.
Cost: $80-150 monthly based on Economic Justice Model, limited discounts and Pay What You Can spots available
Proposed Topics
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-Shaming versus being shamed
-Understanding your own shame reactions of moving toward, away, against during moments of vulnerability
-Imposter syndrome in queer & trans community, as well as in clinician spaces & nuanced power dynamics
-Not “nonbinary enough,” questioning the self, the pain of dysphoria
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-Anti-Blackness & anti-racism - differences in safety/disclosure/coming out for B.I.POC, sexuality & gender not totally separate
-Deep dive into gatekeeping, internalized ‘isms’, language, depathologizing gender dysphoria & diagnosis, WPATH criteria breakdown & updates to SOC8 + DSM-5-TR
-BMI, body image, & diet culture at intersection of dysphoria
-Neurodivergence - Autism, ADHD (+HSP)
-White Supremacy versus Whiteness versus White-Bodied
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-Specifics of various procedures, e.g., Peritoneal Pull-Through vaginoplasty
-A deeper dive into Psychological Considerations
-Changes to WPATH standards Version 8 versus 7
-Supporting letters for “cosmetic” procedures & appeal letters
-Conversations about BMI & weight in surgery prep
-Navigating surgical & medical settings with predominantly cis, straight, white surgeons
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-Charging based on what you need to create a sustainable & thriving business, not what told/ believe you’re worth (e.g., “we don’t do this for the money…”)
-Create an economic justice model of care & sliding tier model that allows for equity pricing
-Identifying, preventing, & moving through burnout vs. exploitation vs. compassion fatigue vs. moral injury
*Intermediate-to-Advanced Level: Providers are encouraged to have trans 101 experience and competence, as well as an understanding of power and oppression as it intersects with their clients and their own privileged and targeted identities related to race, gender, and body
GAS Assessment Podcast
The Testing Psychologist Podcast
GAS Assessments with Dr. addyson tucker and Dr. Jeremy Sharp
In October 2022, addyson had a great conversation with Dr. Jeremy Sharp from The Testing Psychologist podcast. They discussed important considerations for the assessment process when it comes to supporting trans and nonbinary people, particularly when referring folks for gender-affirming surgery (GAS). This included a brief overview of the history of providing surgery referral letters, as well as a general overview of the assessment process for providers who aren't yet experienced in this area. Finally, addyson shared multiple resources for further learning and improving our inclusion and service accessibility for people of all genders.
More Provider Events and Offerings
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