Everyone deserves a therapist who is uniquely qualified to help with their therapy needs. Unfortunately, many clinicians self-identify as specializing in LGBTQIA+ issues but lack that necessary advanced training and certifications to truly be able to help clients.
That’s why, here at Stellar Pro we verify clinicians’ advanced training and expertise to match you with a qualified professional. While there are many gender diversity specialties and certifications out there, we wanted to highlight some of the more common ones you’ll see on Stellar. If you’re a clinician wanting to learn more about working with LGBTQ+ clients, these certifications are a great place to start.
WPATH GEI Certification
What is WPATH GEI Certification?
WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) offers their GEI (Global Education Institute) Certified Training Courses: Best Practices in Transgender Medical and Mental Health Care to clinicians looking to implement the WPATH Standards of Care into clinical practice. While it may seem that this course is only for WPATH members who are pursuing WPATH GEI SOC8 (Standards of Care 8) Certification, this certification is open to all.
What topics does the WPATH GEI Certification in Best Practices in Transgender Medical and Mental Health Care cover?
The foundation of this course covers 15 hours of foundations in transgender health. This includes:
– Gender development
– Mental health considerations
– Policy and ethical issues
– Primary care & preventative health
– Puberty blockers
– Hormonal Replacement Therapy
– Surgical overviews
If you are interested in pursuing their advanced course you will have the opportunity to learn about advanced medical treatment or advanced mental health. You will also have the opportunity to attend one of three workshops: advanced child and adolescent, ethics, or planning and documenting workshop.
Let’s dive more into these advanced courses & workshops.
Advanced Courses of WPATH GEI Certification in Best Practices in Transgender Medical and Mental Health Care
There are two advanced courses offered by WPATH as part of this certification: advanced medical treatment and advanced mental health.
Advanced Workshops of WPATH GEI Certification in Best Practices in Transgender Medical and Mental Health Care
Advanced Child and Adolescent Workshop
This intensive workshop provides “information on assessment, hormones and fertility, sexual health for adolescents, and working with parents and families.“
Advanced Ethics Workshop
This course discusses “ethics and moral principles, ethics in surgery and interdisciplinary care, ethics in child & adolescent care, ethical dilemmas, anticipated concerns and barriers to care” in an ever-evolving and robust fashion.
Advanced Planning and Documenting
This advanced workshop “reviews the eligibility criteria for hormones and surgery, offers an introduction to letter and report writing, and discusses the framework for preparing for surgery.”
If you’d like to learn more about these courses please see the official WPATH website, here.
If I already work with transgender individuals, how does this benefit me?
Having additional certifications to backup your knowledge is always a plus! Obtaining a recent certification (or renewing) is a way to learn up-to-date terminology and knowledge.
If you are a clinician looking to obtain WPATH GEI Certification, GEI has put together a helpful FAQ here.
Transgender Care Therapy Certification
What is Transgender Care Therapy Certification?
Created by the International Transgender Certification Association (ITCA) this organization aims to provide credentials, “standards of practice, professional identity, and self-regulation for service providers of the Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming and Non-Binary Community.” By obtaining the Transgender Care Therapy Certification you will be able to expand your therapy practice.
If I already work with transgender individuals, how does this benefit me?
Having additional certifications to backup your knowledge is always a plus! By obtaining your Transgender Care Therapy Certification you will be provided with up-to-date information on hormone therapy, surgeries, legal issues, and terminology.
If you are a clinician looking to obtain your Transgender Care Therapy Certification, please see their official website which provides a helpful FAQ and enrollment information.
The Affirmative Couch – Various Certifications
The Affirmative Couch offers a wide variety of certifications related to gender diversity. Some of these certifications include:
– WPATH Standards of Care 8 – Mental Health & Adolescents
– From Gender Dysphoria or Gender Euphoria
– Clinical Approaches to Centering Trans Sexual Pleasure
– Psychodynamic Therapy with Transgender & Nonbinary Teenagers
– Fundamentals of LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy
– Affirmative Care of LGBTQ+ Older Adults
These are far from all of the certifications offered by The Affirmative Couch as they are always updating their live events and certifications. One added benefit of The Affirmative Couch is many of their certifications are pre-recorded which means you do not have to wait until a specific time period to obtain these certifications.
To learn more about these and other certifications visit their website.
If I already work with gender diverse individuals, how do these certifications benefit me?
Maintaining the most up-to-date knowledge is important for professionals who work with gender diverse clients. By learning new therapeutic techniques, you can continue to help your clients live their best and authentic lives.
Other certifications
There are many certifications out there for professionals looking to obtain certifications in gender diversity. Each certification offers a little something different making it easy to find one that suits your needs as a professional.
While we have highlighted three above we also want to acknowledge some of the others professionals can obtain. If you’d like to know more about these, visit their respective links below.
Lewis & Clark Graduate School – Gender Diversity Certificate Program
This certificate program offers comprehensive graduate continuing education coursework that specifically focuses on comprehending the breadth of gender diversity, addressing intersectional challenges, and recognizing the importance of educators and professionals in youth-serving roles becoming allies and advocates against harmful gender stereotypes.
It is the first program of its kind in the country, designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to actively participate in educational settings, school boards, and communities.The program covers various aspects, including curriculum evaluation and development, policy implementation, and engaging in social justice advocacy pertaining to gender diversity among children and youth.
This program is limited to 20 individuals and lasts 9 months. By participating in this program, individuals will develop an enhanced awareness and understanding of the impact of natural human gender diversity on their lives and the lives of others. Ultimately, they will be better equipped to serve as agents of change and advocates for promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.
The Queer Therapist: Advanced Certificate | Working with Trans and Gender Diverse Clients
This certificate program covers many topics during the two days of training. These topics include:
– Introduction to sex, gender, and gender dysphoria
– Key therapeutic themes in relation to trans and gender diverse clients
– Cultural competence and best practice – WPATH
– Neurodiversity
– Working with intersex clients
– Gender diversity in the workplace
The certification also covers topics related to the historical, socio-medical context, and legal-medical context for trans and gender diverse clients in the UK.
If you are only able to participate in one day of the course, there is an option for the Foundation Certificate. Completing this course will also offer a discount on the second day of the Advanced Course (as of May 2023).
Some other certifications from other institutions include:
– The University of Minnesota – Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Certificate
– University of Maryland School of Public Health – SGDLC Training Program
– Teachers College: Columbia University – Sexuality, Women, and Gender Advanced Certificate
Conclusion
There are many certifications out there for professionals looking to obtain certifications in gender diversity. Each certification offers a little something different making it easy to find one that suits your needs as a professional.
Do you have a certification in gender diversity that we didn’t include here? Let us know and we’ll make sure to add it so others can learn about your certification.