Presented by Lisa Marchiano, L.C.S.W.
Elan Lepovic, M.A.
What can a Jungian perspective bring to our clinical understanding of gender dysphoria? How can Jung’s theory of anima and animus challenge the collective narrative about gender? The affirmative approach endorsed by many gender clinicians concretizes feelings about gender, and locates the problem in the body. In this clinical workshop, we will explore working with gender dysphoria from a symbolic perspective. This will allow us to expand and deepen our inquiries with gender dysphoric patients. The presentation will include personal narrative, case presentation, theoretical consideration, and a review of new research on detransition.
Course Objectives:
- Describe what is meant by the term gender dysphoria.
- Describe what is meant by Jung’s theory of animus and anima.
- Describe how Jung’s theory of anima and animus challenges the collective narrative about gender.
- Give an example of how the current affirmative approach towards gender dysphoria concretizes feelings about gender.
- Give an example of how to work with gender dysphoria from a symbolic perspective.
- Give an example of some clinical implications on current research on detransition.
Lisa Marchiano is a licensed clinical social worker and Jungian analyst in private practice in Philadelphia. She is on the faculty of the Philadelphia Jung Institute. Her article “Outbreak: On Transgender Teens and Psychic Epidemics” appeared in the fall, 2017 issue of Psychological Perspectives. She is a contributor to the book “Transgender Children and Young People” published by Cambridge Scholars.
Elan Lepovic holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at Palo Alto University. He does research on the issue of gender detransition, and has given talks on the topic at WPATH’s inaugural USPATH conference and the National Transgender Health Summit.