Transgender Awareness Workshop

The aim of this interactive workshop is to enable participants to gain a practical understanding of best practices for working with trans people and their families. The main objective is to enable participants to understand the basic transgender and non-binary terminology and to feel more comfortable when working with trans people and their families.

The training is suitable for managers and people leaders in corporate settings, universities, equality, diversity & inclusion teams, health professionals. 

Members of The Psychological Society of Ireland and The Addiction Counsellors of Ireland can receive learning credits/CPD points on completion of this workshop.

 

“This was one of the best workshops I’ve done in a long time.  Our trainer Vanessa should give lessons to workshop instructors on how to keep workshops engaging throughout. The content was so interesting, balanced, and well put together that the time flew past. Vanessa provided an open and safe environment for questions and probes. Her compassion for all those involved in the transgender journey (the person themselves, their family, community, and professionals around them) was so refreshing and inspiring to listen to. This workshop should be mandatory for all people working in healthcare (or maybe just all people!).” 

Dr. James Sheerin, Clinical Psychologist, CBT Solutions

April 2025 

 

"I really liked how Vanessa presented the issue of Transgender Awareness.This is a topic that is toxic with politics, and I must confess that I was very intimidated beforehand.  I have attended other CPD events which did little for my understanding and even less for my confidence and sense of professional competence. However, I need not have been intimidated as she presented the issues around Trangenderism from a human perspective, and in so doing, bypassed the toxicity completely. As I am almost 70, I carry the burden of past ages and reorienting myself to the world of today is challenging.  The workshop was an enabling and life enhancing experience and I would recommend it wholeheartedly."

Neil Dempsey, Educational Psychologist

February 2024

 

"Vanessa offered such an authentic human presence with so much compassion for self and others that I experienced a real connection and this is what, I feel, increases awareness and creates change. I felt I better understood the context and complexity of the personal and political issues."

Anna Scully, UCD Student Adviser

March 2024

 

"I felt that Vanessa gave an authentic and very honest account of the experience of transgender people, and thanks to her I learnt a lot about this community, the issues they face and the kind of support that is available."
 
Barbara Rea, Counselling Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist

March 2024

Learning outcomes: 

At the end of this workshop participants should:

  • Understand the various terminology and language that is important to transgender individuals. 
  • Understand trans and gender non-conforming people and the life challenges they face. 
  • Engage more effectively with trans and gender non-conforming people and their families
  • Understand the treatment pathway process for trans people and their families in Ireland and abroad.
  • Attain an understanding of some of the real-life challenges and co-existing issues experienced when working with trans people and gain practical skills to address them.
  • Gain an insight into misunderstandings about trans people, dispelling myths
  • Adapt practical skills for helping trans people and their loved ones to find the individual pathway that is right for them.

Methodology

The methodology used in this training will be a combination of the following:

Directed learning

Group discussion and interaction

Practical skills learning

Suggestions for further learning and reading 

Connect with Your Trainer

The Learning Curve Institute will distribute a unique pre-course questionnaire to each participant in order to ensure the training meets the needs of everyone taking part and is tailored to the appropriate level, while also covering specific situations or scenarios as highlighted by the group.

The Learning Curve Institute offers a unique post course support system whereby participants are provided with the contact details of the trainer and are free to contact them with any questions they may have.

Programme Certification

All attendees will receive an eCertificate of Completion in "Transgender Awareness" from The Learning Curve Institute.