Gestalt workshop: working with transgender and non-binary adolescents – Krzysztof Kościółek and Michal Kupis
Workshop Description:
We are born into a world that imposes labels on us from the moment we come into the world. The first of these is “girl” or “boy.” We are told who we are, who we should be. We grow up with patches imposed on us, not always wondering if they fit us. It often happens that we are comfortable with them and it would never cross our minds that it could be otherwise. However, what should we do when we notice signals that the child does not identify with its gender assigned at birth?
The topic of transgenderism in children and adolescents is not an easy one. There is a lot of misinformation circulating on the Internet, which can sometimes be stigmatizing, hurtful and cause a lot of concern. They may evoke a desire to understand and help, or a sense of confusion and frustration. What can we do to help a young person without feeling that we are “hurting” him? How to be a support in teenagers’ search for their own identity ?
Come learn how to support transgender and non-binary teenagers.
Scope of the workshop Working with transgender and non-binary adolescents:
- Basic concepts of transgender topics;
- Psychosexual development with special emphasis on gender identity development
- Functioning of people belonging to minority groups
- Knowledge of the concept of minority stress and its impact on the lives and functioning of people
- Diversity of gender identities
- Gender identity in the socio-cultural dimension
- Nonbinarity and the use of neozymes
- Inclusive language and how to use it
- Coming Out and its significance for mental health
- Gender incompatibility in children and adolescents from the perspective of DSM IV / ICD10; DSM V / ICD 11
- The possibility of exploring gender identity as a “diagnostic” element
- Nonbinarity on the autism spectrum
- The impact of stereotypes and prejudices on the situation of transgender people
- Stages of the gender reconciliation process
- Gender correction process in social, medical and legal aspects
- Therapeutic competence to work with transgender adolescents
- Specifics of psychotherapy and other forms of psychological assistance in working with transgender adolescents
- Conversion interactions and their impact on mental health
- Problems experienced by transgender adolescents in an inter- and intrapsychic context;
- Psychological and sexological help and support;
After the training:
- You will understand what gender identity is and learn about its diversity
- You will understand the effects of stigma and minority stress and its impact on mental health.
- Understand the importance of identity labels
- You will learn the impact of the described mechanisms on the attitudes of those offering psychological help to transgender people
- You will increase knowledge that will help you better understand the life situation and psychological needs of transgender teenagers
- You will learn the standards for professional outreach work with transgender people
- You will learn how to support transgender teenagers at school and in the office
- You will gain knowledge about the specifics of the process of helping transgender teenagers
Workshop leader Working with transgender and non-binary adolescents:
Krzysztof Kościółek (he, his)
Supervisor, certified psychotherapist, group trainer, sexologist, teacher of the psychotherapy profession, founder of the Spaces Psychotherapy Center.
He is certified by the European Association for Gestalt Therapy. He prepares future psychotherapists for the profession at the Gestalt Institute in Krakow and the School of Gestalt Psychotherapy in Lodz.
He specializes in working with LGBTQ+ people, both those who have just discovered their identity (sexual as well as gender) and are having difficulty accepting it, and those who are experiencing problems in relationships or the sexual sphere. He works with transgender and non-binary people experiencing rejection from family and friends or facing other problems requiring psychotherapy. He takes a respectful approach to the free expression of gender, sexual and relational diversity.
Michal Kupis (he, his)
Psychologist. He works with people on the autism spectrum on a daily basis. He has been providing LGBTQ+ and transgender awareness training since middle school, educating students, faculty and peers. Conducted a training course entitled. “Inclusive language and basic knowledge of transgenderism” for the Lodz Gestalt School. He runs a Support Group for Transgender and Non-Binary People organized by the Equality Factory in Lodz.