Working with Gender in Session: A Clinical Framework
Wednesday, June 10th from 12p-1p EST (9a-10a PST)
You know the terminology. You've done the ally work. But when a client sits across from you and says "I think I might be trans" … do you know what to say next??
This 60-minute live training teaches you what to actually do in session: how to open a conversation about gender (without leading), a four-step framework for working with dysphoria, and the difference between dysphoria and minority stress (because they need different interventions). You'll leave with scripts you can use tomorrow.
For clinicians (at any level) who are LGBTQ+ informed but new to working with gender.
Session cost includes live training, Q&A, and 3 handouts:
‘In-Session Scripts,’
‘The 4-step Framework,’
‘Dysphoria v Minority Stress’
By the end of this 60-minute training, participants will be able to:
Identify three core clinical roles of the therapist when working with gender in session: facilitating self-discovery, providing affirming support, and reducing distress.
Distinguish between gender dysphoria and minority stress based on the source, presentation, and intervention required for each.
Apply a four-step framework (affirm and validate, explore identity, alleviate distress, support medical transition if desired) to address gender dysphoria within an individual therapy session.
Demonstrate at least three affirming language patterns — including mirroring, normalizing, and reframing — for use with trans and nonbinary clients.
Describe common in-session missteps when working with gender, including projecting narratives, requiring a coming-out story, and asking clients to educate the clinician.
Meet the Instructor
Nik Ruthless (he/they) is a licensed clinician in North Carolina and California (LCMHC, LPCC) and the founder of Fathom Counseling, a hybrid private practice serving trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adults across both states. Nik has been delivering gender-affirming care education to clinicians and university partners since 2020, including a 4-hour staff training at Appalachian State University last fall!
Nik's day-to-day clinical work is exactly what this training is about: sitting with clients exploring gender for the first time, working through dysphoria and minority stress, writing WPATH-aligned letters for HRT and surgery, and coordinating care with the medical providers who are fighting to keep care accessible.
This training is a response the questions Nik gets most often: it’s practical, clinically grounded, and focused on what to actually do once a client trusts you with this part of themselves.
Training Registration Agreement
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This training does not currently offer NBCC, state board, or other continuing education credit. Attendees who complete the full 60-minute training will receive a Certificate of Attendance documenting their participation. Whether this training meets your individual licensing board's requirements for continuing education is your responsibility to determine.
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A Certificate of Attendance will be issued to participants who attend the full 60 minutes of the live training. Attendance will be verified through the Google Meet attendance report and a brief check-in at the start and end of the session. Partial attendance does not qualify for a certificate.
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The registration fee is $45, payable at the time of registration. Refunds are available as follows:
Full refund if cancellation is requested at least 48 hours before the training start time
No refund for cancellations within 48 hours of the training or for no-shows
If Fathom Counseling cancels or reschedules the training, registrants will receive a full refund or the option to transfer registration to a rescheduled date.
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This training is a professional educational space. By registering, you agree to the following confidentiality expectations:
Case examples discussed during the training are composite, de-identified, and used solely for educational purposes
Any clinical material that attendees share during Q&A or discussion is to be kept confidential by all other attendees
The attendee list will not be shared, sold, or distributed
Attendees may not record, screenshot, or otherwise capture training content without prior written permission
The training may be recorded by the presenter but will be edited before distribution to remove any attendee information and participation segments.
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This training provides general clinical education. It does not constitute clinical consultation, supervision, or legal advice. The content reflects current professional knowledge in gender-affirming care but should not be applied to specific clinical situations without independent professional judgment. Fathom Counseling, PLLC and Nik Ruthless, LCMHC are not responsible for clinical decisions made by attendees based on training content.
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Live captions will be enabled during the training. If you require additional accommodations (ASL interpretation, materials in alternate formats, or other accessibility needs), please contact us at nik@fathomcounseling.com at least 7 days before the training so we can make appropriate arrangements.
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This training centers the clinical care of trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients. By registering, you agree to engage respectfully with the content, the presenter, and other attendees. Fathom Counseling reserves the right to remove any attendee whose conduct is disruptive, discriminatory, or contrary to the affirming purpose of this training. No refund will be issued in such cases.
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If you have concerns about the training content, delivery, or registration process, please contact Nik Ruthless, LCMHC at nik@fathomcounseling.com within 30 days of the training. Concerns will be acknowledged within 5 business days.
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The email address and information you provide during registration will be used to send training materials, reminders, and the Certificate of Attendance. Your information will not be sold or shared with third parties. With your separate, optional consent, you may also receive future training announcements from Fathom Counseling.