NEW COVER ART! We have a new logo and you’ll be seeing that reflecting more in our visuals! Also, I apologize if there was a delay with the episodes uploading this week– we ran into some podcast hosting issues, but hopefully they are now fully resolved. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Linda teaches us about gender development and identity with children and young teens. With the recent rollbacks in Health Care Rights, new rules have erased explicit nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community, and health care providers are being sent the message that they can deny care. Linda, Co-Director of the Gender & Sexuality Development Clinic and a family services specialist, not only gives us an overview of gender development and identity, but also discusses the important elements of supporting the LGBTQ community through direct client care as well as through systemic advocacy.  Linda shares helpful tips on openly discussing sexuality and gender with all children to support development in an open and safe space. Linda gives specific resources for therapists to utilize so that we can say updated with policy changes that may affect our clients. She also runs a wonderful training program that supports mental health providers in offering affirmative therapy & becoming a stronger advocate for Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Gender Expansive, and Non-Binary (TGNCNB) people.

Linda A. Hawkins, PhD, MSEd, LPC, is at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic (GSD Clinic) offers psychosocial and medical support for gender variant, gender-expansive and transgender children and youth up to age 21 and their families. Linda has co-authored several studies and been granted numerous awards for her work and research.

CHOP Gender Clinic: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/gender-and-sexuality-development-clinic

Denver Gender Clinic: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/gender-diversity-center/

NCTE: https://transequality.org/

Linda’s Training Program: https://www.widener.edu/academics/graduate-studies/affirmative-therapy-transgender-communities

Gender Spectrum (organization & conference): https://genderspectrum.org/

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