Psychodynamic Therapy with Transgender & Nonbinary Teenagers
Presenter: Melissa Dellens, MA
February 16, 2023
10:00am-1:00pm
3 CEs
Abstract
Working with teenagers and their families can be complicated by conflicts of coming out and making sense of diverse gender identities. Object relations theories can help contain and make meaning of family and individual stressors related to coming out and identity development. This lecture will introduce concepts used in psychodynamic psychotherapy and consider how they can be applied with an affirming lens. By exploring unconscious conflicts and impulses experienced by transgender teenagers, affirmative clinicians can help clients more deeply understand their experiences of gender dysphoria and euphoria. Through play and imagination, clinicians will develop an understanding of how early childhood histories can inform current struggles a teen is experiencing. Additionally, through understanding transference and countertransference dynamics, clinicians can help clients find more tolerance and joy in the experiences of growing into a transgender adult. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss vignettes to deepen their understanding of these concepts.
Learning Objectives
- Assess how past childhood experiences may unconsciously impact a teenager client’s current conflicts and struggles.
- Describe how concepts from psychoanalytic theories can be integrated into psychotherapy to explore gender dysphoria and gender euphoria.
- Explain how the use of understanding and interpreting transference and countertransference can help young clients make deeper meaning of their emotional experiences.
About The Presenter
Melissa Dellens (she/they) works with teens and young adults with intersectional identities as an associate marriage and family therapist in private practice. She offers her understanding of collective trauma, community stressors, and political advocacy through publications and education. Melissa earned her Master of Arts in Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles with an emphasis in Applied Community Psychology and completed the one year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate at the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies.
$49
Licensed therapists who work in nonprofits price is $45 (Use coupon code: psychodynamicteenNP at checkout)
Student/pre-licensed price is $39 (Use coupon code: psychodynamicteenPL at checkout)
You can also get access to this course and all other courses with our memberships.
Completion Requirements
Live Event
To get CE credit for the live event, you need to be present for the entire course.
You will be asked to sign in and out in the chat box in order to track attendance during breaks.
We will email you your certificate of attendance within 48 hours of the course.
This presentation will be recorded and available as a homestudy approximately two weeks after the live event.
Your active participation will contribute and enhance the learning of participants that complete the recorded homestudy version.
Home Study
You will need to take the post-test with at least a 80% score in order to receive your certificate for a home study course.
Additional Information
Instruction Level
This course is meant for an intermediate audience.
Who should Attend
Psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists and social workers.
Format
Live, virtual presentation with the opportunity for interaction with the presenter. This course will be available as a recorded homestudy approximately two weeks after the event.
Financial Support
The Affirmative Couch pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.
Conflict of Interest
There is no reported conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.
Contact Information
For any inquiries related to subject matter, problem resolution, corrections, grievances, or anything else, please contact us.
Accommodations
The Affirmative Couch will work to accommodate reasonable accommodations requests. Requests can be emailed with “accommodation request” in the subject line. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Continuing Education Approvals
The Affirmative Couch, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Affirmative Couch, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
$49
Licensed therapists who work in nonprofits price is $45 (Use coupon code: psychodynamicteenNP at checkout)
Student/pre-licensed price is $39 (Use coupon code: psychodynamicteenPL at checkout)
You can also get access to this course and all other courses with our memberships.
$49.00