Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Gender Euphoria

1. Webinar
2. Starts Jul 26 at 12:00 PM EDT
3. 90-day access

Transgender discussions often focus heavily on gender dysphoria - negative experiences causing emotional distress. This sometimes comes at the cost of exploring a more positive side - gender congruence and euphoria. Recent studies show these aren't just opposites of dysphoria, but distinct positive constructs involving joy and delight. We'll explore dysphoria/dysmorphia, then examine tools to help clients thrive.

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Course Description

In current discussions on transgender and non-binary experience, much energy focuses on gender dysphoria—a construct where negative episodes, bodily/personal traits, or outside interactions trigger emotional distress. There's a wide variety of experiences that can cause gender dysphoria and dysmorphia, many of which therapists and helping professionals may not have encountered in their training.

However, there's another side to this discussion for gender diverse individuals: gender congruence and gender euphoria. While gender euphoria has been viewed as simply the opposite of gender dysphoria, recent studies suggest that gender euphoria and congruence are distinct constructs in their own right. These separate but related concepts highlight that joy, hope, and delight can be part of the conversation. Gender journeys don't have to center on suffering, which has long underpinned discussions around trans experience.

Let's move from shadow into light on these matters. We'll explore the language of trans and non-binary experience, then examine gender dysphoria and dysmorphia across populations. Finally, we'll discuss tools like the Transgender Congruence Scale and the recently developed Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) to understand how clients might thrive and celebrate positive moments, rather than focusing solely on pain in sessions and beyond.

What you'll learn

Over the course of this course, students will:

1. Learn an array of common terms used to describe sex, gender, and transition
2. Examine the Transgender Congruence Scale and how it might apply to work with clients
3. Engage with the Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) and see how they can use it as a tool in sessions to support clients
4. Debunk common myths and misconceptions concerning transgender and gender non-binary experiences
5. Explore different ways gender dysphoria and gender dysmorphia manifest for clients a therapist or helping professional might work with
6. Gain strategies to help clients explore moving from focusing exclusively on gender dysphoria to highlighting and building their experiences of gender euphoria

Meet Your Instructor

Lee Harrington

Sexuality and Spirituality Educator, Author, and Artist

Lee Harrington (he/they) is an internationally known sexuality, gender, relationships, and personal authenticity educator. He brings a combination of playful engagement and thoughtful academic dialogue to a broad audience, having taught over one thousand classes, presentations, and keynotes worldwide. An award-winning author and editor on gender, sexual, and sacred experience, his books include “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Journeys,” “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” and “Playing Well With Others: Your Guide to Discovering, Exploring and Negotiating the Kink, Leather and BDSM Communities” (with Mollena Williams), among many other titles. He has been blogging online since 1998 and has been teaching since 2001. You can check out Lee’s adventures, as well as his podcast, tour schedule, free essays, videos, and more, at PassionAndSoul.com.

Audience

This course is designed for:

1. Mental health and physical health professionals, healers, and helpers including but not limited to: psychotherapists, clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, peer specialists, recovery support specialists, housing specialists, nurses, nurse practitioners, wellness support workers, coaches, holistic practitioners
2. Students in mental health and/or gender, sexuality and relationship diversity studies

This course is organized for professionals to learn how to support their clients, rather than individuals who are on these journeys themselves. Consider this the space/educator where you can ask the questions you are concerned to ask your clients.

What You'll Get

1. 2 hour live webinar
2. Access to the recording for 30 days
3. Engaging discussion with community of professionals and advocates during the course
4. A reference and resource list to aid ongoing learning and exploration on the course topics
5. 2 CEUs (for Florida licensed mental health professionals)

Continuing Education (CEUs)

This course provides 2 CEUs for licensed mental health professionals in the state of Florida. Participants must provide license number and complete course evaluation for credit.

Equity Pricing Structure

Standard Rate

$75 for a 2 hour webinar. 2 optional CEs available for Florida licensed mental health professionals (LMHC, LMFT, LCSW)

Equity Rate

$50 by self-selection. Intended for individuals who have historically experienced marginalization due to their identities or lived experiences. This rate is also intended for students, peer supporters, and agency workers and others. Choose this rate if you feel it would be more equitable for you to do so. Use code EQUITY at check out.

If you are unable to afford this rate due to hardship, please reach out to hello@serenayeager.com for scholarship options.