Occupational Therapy's Role in Gender Affirming Care

OT JEDI

In this episode on the OT JEDI Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Sarah Vines, who shares her incredible work supporting individuals after top surgery. Sarah discusses best practices for gender-affirming care, the critical role of mental health in the process, and how occupational therapy can make a difference in the lives of transgender clients.
Resources
WPATH Standards 8: https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/SOC%20v7/SOC%20V7_English.pdf

A Clinician's Guide to Gender-Affirming Care: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684030521/a-clinicians-guide-to-gender-affirming-care/

An introductory resource created by Dr. Sarah Vines is available on COTAD's site: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/606b6cc4347e673687921b0e/t/64f0d99a66448a49ac21e769/1693505950408/COTAD+Practicum+Project+%284%29.pdf

ACLU Legislative updates: https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024

HRC state legislative map: https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map

Trevor Project 2024 stats: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/

References

De Brouwer, I., Elaut, E., Becker-Hebly, I., Heylens, G., Nieder, T. O., van de Grift, T. C., & Kreukels, B. P. C. (2021). Aftercare needs following gender-affirming surgeries: Findings from the ENIGI multicenter European follow-up study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 18(11), 1921–1932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.08.005

Kcomt, L., Gorey, K. M., Barrett, B. J., & McCabe, S. E. (2020). Healthcare avoidance due to anticipated discrimination among transgender people: A call to create trans-affirmative environments. SSM - Population Health, 11, 100608–100608. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100608

Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., Tanis, J. J., & Min, D. (2011). Transgender discrimination survey. National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: Washington, DC, USA.

Mikulak, M., Ryan, S., Ma, R., Martin, S., Stewart, J., Davidson, S., & Stepney, M. (2021). Health professionals' identified barriers to trans health care: a qualitative interview study. British Journal of General Practice, 71(713), e941–e947. https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0179

Rosol, M., Rogers, K., Borsh, R., Pavlinec, R., Russell, M., & Russell, A. N. (2022). Occupational therapy students’ perceived preparedness to work with transgender clients. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060302

Stroumsa, D. (2014). The state of transgender health care: Policy, law, and medical frameworks. American Journal of Public Health, 104(3). https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.30178

Swenson, R., Alldred, P., & Nicholls, L. (2022). Doing gender and being gendered through occupation: Transgender and non-binary experiences. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 85(6), 446-452. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226211034422