Sallie Hunt, Lmft, Fapa and Thomas S. Satterwhite, MD

CAMFT’s 2015 Annual Conference “Bridging the Art and Science of Healing” May 14 – 17, 2015. San Francisco Airport Marriott

On Saturday, May 16, 2015 Sallie Hunt, LMFT, FAPA and Thomas S. Satterwhite, MD presented  S71 Assessment and Treatment of the Gender Dysphoric Patient

This introductory to advanced level workshop was designed as a brief overview of the history of gender dysphoria. Misconceptions were explored regarding the etiology of gender dysphoria which lead to ineffective theoretical paradigms that are abusive to the patient. At present, the medical paradigm is prevalent in research and quite likely the most efficacious treatment approach for the amelioration of gender dysphoria, which in and of itself is a very unique form of depression that is unresponsive to widely applied remedies for clinical depression, such as the SSRI’s and SRI’s. Therapists must use extreme caution while treating the gender dysphoric patient and follow the professional protocol of the International Standards of Care formerly known as the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care. Reviewed the “Ten Tasks of Mental Health Professionals” to achieve competency and promote the optimum outcome for dysphoric individuals. Also, during this presentation, sensitivity to the high ratio of suicide among this population was examined.