Gender Identity: From Pathology to Celebration

Anyone interested? It’s open to all…

The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia and The Women’s Therapy Center is offering a 1/2-day workshop about Gender Identity: From Pathology to Celebration, on March 13th at Arch Street Meeting House. The presenter Alison Gerig leads  the WTC and is a graduate of the Institute.

We hope you’ll join us for a thought provoking dialogue on how to work with gender from Gestalt, feminist, and non-pathological perspectives.

Alison is a licensed clinical social worker with 10-years experience working with gender identity and sexuality. She spent many years helping to build the transgender health program at the Mazzoni Center. Currently, she provides individual, couples, and group therapy to the transgender and  queer communities in Philadelphia.

We encourage pre-registration, as the room has a maximum capacity.

See below for complete flyer details and registration information. We hope you will join us.

OVERVIEW:
Historically, the mental health field has pathologized the notion of gender non-conformity. Most clinicians lack adequate training and familiarity around how to approach gender variance and are left feeling confused and cautious when these issues emerge in session. This results in clients feeling unsupported and even shamed around their experience.

Co-sponsored by GTIP and the Women’s Therapy Center, this two-part workshop will explore how to approach gender identity from a non-pathological, non-shaming perspective. Part one of the workshop will introduce terminology and definitions regarding gender identity and how feminist and queer-based theories can be applied to working with gender in a therapeutic context. Using Gestalt therapy principles, skills and interventions will be introduced through case presentation. Resources for families will be provided as well. The second portion of the workshop will discuss clinical issues that emerge such as disclosure, partners, body awareness, transphobia, dating, legal issues, and family. Ways to manage our own agendas and biases as they emerge in the work will also be discussed.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
•    Anyone working with clients exploring their gender identity in a counseling setting
•    Those wanting to learn or deepen their understanding of how to use Gestalt therapy theory when working with gender identity
•    Participants are welcome from diverse social service backgrounds
•    Anyone interested in understanding gender identity and transitioning experiences from non pathological and non binary frameworks

CEUS:          4
DATE:          Friday, March 13, 2009
HOURS:       9:00 am  –  1:00 pm
TUITION:      $45; $40 GTIP members and associates; students
LOCATION:   Arch St. Meeting House, 320 Arch St., Free Parking

PROGRAM LEADER:
ALISON GERIG, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with 10-years experience working with gender identity and sexuality. She has been a psychotherapist in New York and Philadelphia and worked at the Mazzoni Center for seven years as the Director of Health Services, helping to build the transgender health program. Alison provides individual, couples, and group therapy to the transgender and queer communities in Philadelphia and is also the Executive Director of the Women’s Therapy Center, a nonprofit serving low-income, self-identified women in the Philadelphia region. She attended GTIP from 2005-2008.

CEUs (4):
This session is co-sponsored by Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research for a maximum of 4 credit hours. Bryn Mawr College GSSWSR, as a CSWE accredited School of Social Work, is a pre-approved provider of continuing education for Social Workers in PA and many other states.

GTIP is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists. GTIP maintains responsibility for the program. The Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology requires Psychology workshop participants to furnish their license number to receive a certificate of attendance.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Refund, less $20 fee, will be issued with cancellation notice by calling 610.668.5177 by Wednesday, February 18, after which, cost is non-refundable, but can be applied to a future GTIP offering.

GENDER IDENTITY REGISTRATION

Fill out & mail this REGISTRATION FORM with a check made payable to:
Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia
GESTALT THERAPY INSTITUTE OF PHILADELPHIA – P. O. Box 961 – Bryn Mawr, PA  19010-0961
Name:
Daytime Phone:
Address:
City:
State:        .
Zip:
Email:
Check here to receive directions:
Highest Degree:
Psychologist’s License Number:

To receive CEU certification, circle one:      LSW        LCSW        PSY        LMFT        LPC        GENERIC

Completed evaluation prior to departure is required to receive CEU credits.
Psychologists, please note your license number is required to receive C EU credits.

Check fee enclosed:
______      $45

______      $40 GTIP members and associates; students

Questions?  Call 610.668.5177 or e-mail: adminGTIP@gmail.com

Gender Identity is co-sponsored by the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia and the Women’s Therapy Center

—
Laura Henrich
GTIP Administrator
o: 610.668.5177
h: 610.664.8731
c: 484-467-4315
PO Box 961
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-0961