The Gender Affirmative and Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (Gender ASSET) is an assessment tool developed by trans and genderqueer mental health professionals Becca Keo-Meier, MSW and Colt M. St. Amand, Ph.D. The Gender ASSET was designed for mental health providers to use in support of transgender clients preparing to undergo surgery as a part of their gender transition. This online course includes a Gender ASSET workbook along with on-demand training videos and sample letters.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) sets forth the Standards of Care (SOC). The 7th version of the SOC recommends transgender clients provide their surgeons with one to two letters from mental health providers before they are cleared for surgery. However, the majority of mental health providers have neither received adequate nor comprehensive training in providing this type of evaluation and are not familiar with the multiple surgical options available or the process of recovering from a major surgery.
Led by Dr. Colt M. St. Amand, this multi-part workshop is designed for mental health professionals who would like to receive training on evaluating and writing letters for transgender clients who desire to undergo gender affirming surgical procedures. The specific focus will be on assisting clients to be practically prepared for the process of surgery and recovery. This course is best suited for mental health providers who have some experience working with transgender clients.
Continuing Education (6 CEs)
We have partnered with the National Register to provide 6 continuing education credits for The Gender ASSET. The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The National Register maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
About Instructor
Dr. Colt M. St. Amand
Colt St. Amand, Ph.D., M.D., (he/they) is a licensed psychologist and family medicine physician who routinely provides training on gender affirmative treatment of transgender clients. He provides education on gender and sexuality as a lecturer in the Psychology Department of the University of Houston and an assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services at Baylor College of Medicine. In his part-time private practice, Dr. St. Amand provides therapy, consultation, and evaluation services to transgender clients as young as 4. His research focuses on examining the effects of testosterone on the mental health and quality of life of transgender men as well as the experiences of parents of transgender children. He completed his Ph.D. in Child/Family Clinical Psychology at the University of Houston and his MD at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
Learning Objectives
Gender Affirmative Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (ASSET)
- Discuss and critique the history of mental health evaluations for transgender clients seeking gender affirmative surgeries.
- Explain the purpose of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care criteria for surgeries related to gender transition.
- Identify and discuss multiple gender transition-related surgeries with clients.
- Use the Gender Affirmative Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (Gender ASSET) to conduct mental health assessments of transgender clients preparing to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
- Identify the application of the ethical concepts of autonomy and practice within one’s scope of competence in the development and use of the Gender ASSET with transgender clients.
- Use the Gender ASSET to provide education on the process of undergoing and recovering from specific surgical procedures to transgender clients.
- Identify and discuss multiple pre-operative preparation steps as well as post-operative recovery supplies for transgender-related surgeries.
- Prepare letters in support of transgender clients accessing surgery for insurance coverage and for coordination of care with surgeons.
Course curriculum
Course Completion 1-Year time limit
Instructional Level: Advanced
Course Content
Bonus material
Gender Affirmative Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (ASSET)
Workbook
The Gender Affirmative Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (Gender ASSET) to conduct mental health assessments of transgender clients preparing to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
CE Certification
Continuing Education (6 CEs) or Certification of Completion
Download Materials
There will be PDFs available with each section for you to keep for your references
Course Beneficiary
The Gender U and instructors agree to donate 10% of the profits from each course to a nonprofit organization. This course donates to the following profits to the organization below
GENDERBANDS
Genderbands was founded in March of 2015 as a way to fundraise for founding President Ian Giles’ top surgery. In June of 2015, the organization broadened its efforts and restructured into its current state. Genderbands is an international nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves the transgender, gender non-conforming, and other gender diverse communities. The organization is volunteer-lead and executes programming, services, and events on both a local and international scale. Genderbands operates primarily through the support from partnerships, direct sales, and the solicitation of donations.
ADA Statement
The Gender U provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. The typical accommodations provided for our courses is accessible course materials and closed captioning for videos, but please note this is not a comprehensive list as accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Since important course announcements will be communicated via email, you are required to have an active email address linked to The Gender U platform. Please make sure to check your email for any updates from about the online platform. The Gender U instructors and staff will check emails at least once per day and respond to email as soon as we can to make the course as accessible as possible. To request accommodations, please email the support team via support@thegenderu.com so we can provide the best learning experience possible.Ratings and Reviews
I really appreciated the entire training, especially the medical information about bottom surgeries, recovery from surgery, and letter writing. I wish it was updated, as I am taking this in 2023 after the SoC8 has come out (even though I am aware that doctors and insurance companies are still using the SoC7).
This course was amazing in it's focus on practical application. It is not a course that is a general education (although it does provide amazing overview of care for those who are transgender/nonbinary). It truly gets at how to use this information inside the therapy room. Which is a surprisingly unique trait in CEUs.
This course was super informative. Dr. Colt did a wonderful job explaining the importance of the therapist and the role they play in facilitating change, beyond writing letters for the gender affirming patients. I wish there was a part two to this course it was just that good. I highly recommend this course. Thank you Dr. Colt for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Very comprehensive overview for MH providers. Thank you.