The purpose of this advanced clinical training is to support attendees continued development of the knowledge, skills, awareness, and advocacy skills necessary to provide culturally-responsive care to transgender and gender-expansive youth, and young adults. This workshop will utilize the advocacy counseling paradigm (Green et al., 2008) to support helping professionals to cultivate competencies in the following areas:

·  Affirming and supporting youth in multiple settings and environments (e.g. home, school, work, community), to include the creation of client-centered gender support plans

·  Identifying non-affirming institutional policies, and advocating for positive systems-wide change

·  Assisting transgender and gender-expansive youth to develop self-advocacy skills critical for navigating oppressive systems, bullying, and ambivalent and rejecting behaviors from loved ones

·  Pragmatic strategies for helping clients manage anxiety associated with gender dysphoria

·  Psychoeducation regarding gender-affirming medical interventions, to include: Foundational knowledge about options available and their effects, the role of the helping professional…