422 | In Light of Recent Developments: A Cautious and Exploratory Approach for Gender Atypical and Dysphoric Clients

Gender-affirming care for individuals who believe they might be transgender is widely adopted by mental health professional associations in the United States; however, no universal consensus exists on a standard of care for such clients. Several European countries have moved away from the affirming approach, due to various research projects such as the Cass Report, opting for more cautious methods that use psychotherapy as the initial response to gender dysphoria. Furthermore, with the new administration’s Executive Orders on sexuality, this has given rise to confusion for psychologists and licensed mental health professionals on how to treat individuals with gender dysphoria. In this workshop, participants will explore how to navigate this complex and relatively recent phenomenon, and the foundational principles behind gender ideology and queer theory, which underpin gender-affirming care. Participants will critique the philosophical and worldview foundations and assumptions of both gender ideology and queer theory while identifying core concepts and goals of these movements. Additionally, participants will discuss research supporting more cautious and less invasive approaches to treating gender atypical and dysphoric clients. An identity development, exploratory model for mental health practice will be offered as an ethical alternative to gender-affirming care, with ethical justifications for its use.