1. Maureen Osborne, Ph. D.
Transgender Spectrum Conference
University of Missouri-St. Louis
November 6-7, 2015
Plenary address title:
Observations from two decades of active listening to the life stories of
transgender clients and their families: A gender therapist’s journey from
reluctant gatekeeper to fellow explorer of the gender frontier.
Description:
It can be argued that gender dysphoria would not exist if social constructs of gender
were not so restrictively binary and polarizing. But despite recent welcome
progress in transgender visibility, the fact remains that the lived experience of
gender incongruity is a source of confusion and suffering for most transgender
people and their loved ones. Entering into a trust-based therapy relationship where
exploring one’s unique identity is encouraged and potential solutions are offered is
literally life-saving for many people. This address will sample a range of transgender
stories as a backdrop for examining the evolution of current thinking about the
nature of gender identity and gender diversity.
Breakout workshop title:
Guilt, shame and fear: facing and challenging external stigma and internalized
transphobic thinking
Description: This breakout workshop will examine the emotional triad of guilt,
shame and fear that many transgender people experience in the context of a largely
transphobic society. We will talk about ways to manage these emotions without
abandoning consideration for loved ones as they adjust to new and often
unwelcome realities associated with your transgender journey. Interactive
participation will be encouraged.
Film screening: “Trans”
This award-winning 2012 feature-length documentary profiles the remarkable lives
of several different people from on the transgender spectrum. Following the film,
one of the participants in the film, Dr. Maureen Osborne, will host a brief Q and A
with the audience.