The ethics presentation I wrote about last month at the East Tennessee State University Social Work Professional Development Conference was amazing. In a room of over 300 people, there was laughter and tears and learning, and those components are at the center of my most memorable experiences.

My favorite part came at the end of the day when I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion where trans and non-binary community members shared the good, the bad, and the ugly of their experiences accessing mental health services. I’ve attended a good number of panels of trans folks sharing their experiences and moderated a few before. Maybe I’ll share more thoughts later about what I think makes those discussions successful for the panelists as well as for the audience, but for now, I just want to bask in my gratitude for how those on the panel showed up with such vulnerability and authenticity and how the audience held that vulnerability with such presence and compassion.

In honor of Black History Month, I want to share a few of my favorite books by Black authors. Some of these are classics that have shaped my thinking for many years and some I discovered more recently. Each of these books and authors have impacted my life and my work in a significant way.

I’m working on a presentation for the East Tennessee State University Social Work Professional Development Conference next month called Ethical, Trauma-Informed Practice with Transgender & Non-Binary Clients and this quote from The Politics of Trauma by Staci K. Haines has been my guide:

“If we do not understand and integrate the shaping power of institutions, social norms, economic systems, oppression, and privilege alongside the profound influences of family and community, we will not fully understand trauma or how to heal from it. We will not understand how to prevent it.”

You may have noticed that I’m more consistent with my blogs at the beginning of the year and things start to taper off around the summer. That’s because I really love writing and (mostly) love sharing my writing, so focusing my energy there is usually an intention that finds its way into whatever my new year’s practice is.

One of my favorite quotes, one that I share with my clients regularly, is this quote from Rumi that was a constant companion during my yoga teacher training years ago:

“Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come.”

Check out my FREE webinar on How to Support Your Transgender, Non-Binary or Gender-Questioning Partner!
Is your partner considering gender transition, in that process, or questioning their gender? Having a partner transition can be isolating and confusing. It can also be amazing and transformative! Over the years working with folks embarking on gender transition, it’s been clear to me how important support for partners can be to trans and non-binary folks themselves and to the success of their relationship(s).

Connecting with other partners who are also going through a similar experience, with the guidance of a trans-affirming gender therapist (that's me!), can offer much needed space for processing the experience and increasing knowledge of gender, sexuality, and transition. It also lightens the emotional load for the transitioning individual who might be feeling a lot of pressure to explain things they aren't super sure about themselves.