Amid recent confusion and misinformation regarding youth gender-affirming care, this presentation offers a research-based foundation to help clinicians feel more confident in supporting clients exploring their gender identity. I will provide a brief history of gender-affirming care to contextualize current practices, followed by an overview of mental health guidelines, existing legal protections, and the practical implications for clinicians working in this field.

I will address common questions regarding gender-affirming care and offer a personal perspective on current debates in the field.

Dr. Lorena Brenner is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and has recently completed her doctorate in Psychodynamic Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) at the Reiss-Davis Graduate Institute in Los Angeles. She has 20 years of clinical experience working with adults, children, and families with complex mental health issues. Lorena spent several years working for Children’s Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry in San Diego, as well as various school districts in San Diego County, before starting her private practice in Del Mar. Lorena specializes in maternal mental health, mood disorders, relational trauma, and complex family mental health issues. Since 2018, Lorena has been working with the LGBTQIA+ community and trans-identified folks. Lorena has an international background and believes in a gender-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and social justice approach to mental health.