Ethical Issues in Treating LGBTQ Patients and Controversies in Treating Transgender Children and Adolescents

Presented by Jack Drescher, MD

This will be held as a VIRTUAL ZOOM EVENT

Sunday, December 11, 2022
9:00am - 12:30pm

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Jack Drescher, MD

Jack Drescher, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City.

Dr. Drescher is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and a Faculty Member at Columbia’s Division of Gender, Sexuality, and Health. He is a Senior Psychoanalytic Consultant at Columbia’s Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research and Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. He is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the William Alanson White Institute.

Dr. Drescher served as Section Editor of the Gender Dysphoria Chapter in the DSM-5 Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) process (2022 publication). He served on APA’s DSM-5 Workgroup on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders and served on the World Health Organization’s Working Group on the Classification of Sexual Disorders and Sexual Health that revised sex and gender diagnoses in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). He served on the Honorary Scientific Committee revising the 2nd edition of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2).

Dr. Drescher is Author of Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man (Routledge) and Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health. He has edited and co-edited more than a score of books dealing with gender, sexuality and the health and mental health of LGBT communities. He has authored and co-authored numerous professional articles and book chapters as well. His publications have been translated into Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Finnish and German.

Overview:

Ethical Issues

The American Psychiatric Association’s Principles of Medical Ethics emphasize competence, respect and up-to-date knowledge as a basis for appropriate professional behavior toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patients. This presentation first reviews historical psychiatric attitudes towards LGBTQ patients that could be construed, at best, as patronizing and, at worst, overtly hostile. In modern clinical practice, as opposed to trying to “cure” homosexuality or “transsexualism,” LGBTQ patients are helped to live their lives according to their own natures and desires. This presentation outlines some common clinical questions raised by LGBTQ patients—what is known and not known about the origins of homosexuality and transgender expression, sexual orientation conversion efforts (SOCE), therapist self-disclosure, how therapists should address LGBTQ patients, and controversies surrounding treatment of transgender children—as well as ethical issues raised in these clinical encounters. 

Controversies

The treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (DSM-5) or Gender Incongruence (ICD-11) has evoked both clinical and cultural controversies. This presentation begins by defining terms specific to this patient population, followed by a history of how transgender individuals came to be a subject of mental health interest. It then reviews both clinical and social controversies surrounding diagnosing and treating minors with GD/GI. Recent political, legislative and judicial events surrounding the treatment of transgender minors are discussed. 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this presentation, attendees will

1. Be cognizant of issues specific to the treatment of LGBTQ patients

2. Be prepared to answer the kind of questions LGBTQ patients frequently ask of clinicians;

3. Recognize important ethical principles salient to the treatment of LGBTQ patients.

4. Identify three current, differing treatment approaches for children with Gender Dysphoria in Childhood

5. Describe the controversies in the wider culture regarding the treatment of gender dysphoric children and adolescents and how they affect clinical practice and research

6. Prepare for appropriate treatments, consultations and referrals of children and adolescents with Gender Dysphoria

7. Critique and revise binary thinking about gender and gender identity

8. Compare diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5 gender diagnoses with those of ICD-11

Target Audience:  Suitable for Psychologists, Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Nurses, Graduate Students, Marriage and Family Therapists.

Level of Sophistication: This is an introductory level post-graduate continuing education program suitable for all levels of training.

ADA accommodations available upon request (Required at least 14 days prior to course start date).

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  For Counselors: CPPNJ has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing  Education Provider,     ACEP   No.   6863. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CPPNJ is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

 For Psychologists:  CPPNJ is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education  for psychologists.  CPPNJ maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

For NY Psychologists: Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of New Jersey is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0165. 

 For NJ Social Workers: This program is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work, which provides leadership and support to clinical social workers in all practice settings.  The New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work provides outstanding continuing education programs and opportunities for collegial contact. www.njscsw.org

COST: Members $75/$90 pre-registration by December 1; CPPNJ Candidates: $45; Students with ID: $15; Non-Members $120/$135 pre-registration by December 1.

Cancellations made prior to three days (72 hours) before the event will receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee.   Cancellations made less than 72 hours before the event will be given a refund of half of the registration fees.  Refunds will NOT be granted for cancellation requests made on the day of the event.