Supporting Families with Adult Children in Gender Distress: Clinical Tools for Connection, Compassion, and Communication with Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, LCSW

In this 2-hour continuing education course, licensed therapist and author Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, LCSW provides a framework for clinicians working with families whose adult children identify as transgender. Learn how to maintain connection, foster open communication, and address the underlying emotional, relational, and environmental factors contributing to gender distress, all while helping parents stay grounded, compassionate, and hopeful.

Drawing from A Practical Response to Gender Distress: Tips and Tools for Families and What Makes a Good Therapist, this course offers practical, reality-based strategies for maintaining connection, fostering compassionate communication, and addressing underlying relational and developmental dynamics.

Therapists will learn how to help parents navigate these complex situations ethically, skillfully, and without compromising truth or empathy.

Earn 2 continuing education contact hours when you complete this self-study course. Watch and listen to the content, pass the quiz and download your certificate of completion.

Please check with your state board to see if they will accept NBCC continuing education contact hours. Mustard Consulting, LLC is a NBCC Approved Provider, No. 7061

Please note: There are NO REFUNDS for digital courses.

Learning Objectives:

Identify at least five potential underlying contributors to gender distress in adults (e.g., trauma, autism, family conflict, overmedicalization, social isolation) and summarize how these factors can manifest in clinical presentation.
Apply three or more communication strategies that promote empathy, curiosity, and relational connection between parents and their adult children who identify as transgender
Develop a family support plan that includes appropriate emotional and financial boundaries, emphasizing long-term relationship maintenance and self-care for family members.
Assess the developmental age and emotional maturity of an adult child exhibiting gender distress and adjust family interventions accordingly.
Demonstrate techniques for helping families maintain hope, confidence, and resilience—measured through the ability to articulate specific therapist interventions that reinforce self-trust and reduce family helplessness.
Evaluate the effectiveness of involving extended family members or trusted adults in the support process, and determine when such reinforcement may strengthen or hinder communication within the family system.
Screen and recommend appropriate mental health professionals or resources by applying clear criteria for identifying therapists who align with the family’s goals and values.
Analyze parallels between gender distress and other forms of emotional or behavioral dependency (e.g., addiction), and formulate guidance for families on creating supportive conditions that encourage self-reflection and autonomy in their adult child.
Demonstrate how to guide families in making appropriate apologies and relational repairs by identifying past patterns that may have contributed to disconnection and modeling language that fosters empathy and trust.

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Also included in the course:

A Chapter from Pamela's Book: A Practical Response to Gender Distress: Tips and Tools for Families” How To Talk To Your Child About “Trans”
What Purpose Can a Trans Identity Serve?
What Makes a Good Therapist
Open Letter to Parents

Continuing Education Contact Hours:

Mustard Consulting, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7061. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Mustard Consulting, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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About Pamela Garfield-Jaeger

Known as "The Truthful Therapist", Pamela is a California licensed social worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in a variety of settings including schools, clinics residential programs and hospitals. In 2022, she publicly started questioning the direction the mental health field is going. Pamela believes in working collaboratively with families when treating minors. She also values treating patients holistically, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. In addition, she doesn't make assumptions about people based on the color of their skin. Plus, she knows people need therapy to work through underlying issues and blind affirmation is not ethical. Finally, Pamela believes in empowering patients and not reinforcing victim mentality.

Pamela graduated from New York University in 1999 with her Master's in Social Work and completed a Master's in Public Administration in 2003. She has been licensed in California since 2005.

Pamela has starred in three documentaries about the harms of gender medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find an answer? Feel free to contact us at hello@lisamustard.com

When does the training start and finish?

Once I purchase the course, how long will I have access?

How do I access course materials?

What is your refund policy?

I have a coupon code but it's not working. What do I do?

Is the course NBCC Approved?

How do I request accommodations for a disability?

How do I receive my Certificate of Completion?

Is there a Bulk discount for group practices or agencies?

I'm interested in presenting a Podcourse or CE course - what are your requirements?

Thank you for your interest! Please email hello@lisamustard.com for more information.

We follow the NBCC guidelines for presenters and subject matter:

"The subject matter must be directly and primarily related to an NBCC Content Area; and, the presenter of the program, or author preparing the publication, must qualify as a presenter/author (presenter) for the subject matter presented.

Qualifying programs must be taught or authored by presenters who possess appropriate qualifications, as required by this Policy.

Qualified presenters and authors are classified by three (3) specific categories. The following categories identify the relevant education and/or experience requirements for a presenter to qualify to present/ author programs that are offered for NBCC continuing education credit.
1. Category 1 Presenter Qualifications:
In order to qualify as a Category 1 Presenter, the individual must:
(a). Hold a graduate degree in a mental health field from a regionally accredited educational institution; and,
(b). Be qualified by appropriate education, experience, and/or training to present/author the particular subject matter, or author the publication concerning the subject matter.

2. Category 2 Presenter Qualifications:
In order to qualify as a Category 2 Presenter, the individual must:
(a). Hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited educational institution directly related to the subject matter presented; and,
(b). Be qualified by appropriate education, experience, and/or training to present/author the particular subject matter, or author the publication concerning the subject matter.

3. Category 3 Presenter Qualifications:
In order to qualify as a Category 3 Presenter, the individual must:
(a). Be qualified by appropriate education, experience, and/or training to present/author the particular subject matter, or author the publication concerning the subject matter.

4. Additional Presenter Requirements and Restrictions.
(a). Each program presenter must qualify under this Policy to teach the particular subject matter presented by that individual.
(b). Honorary academic degrees must not be used to qualify a presenter to present or author programs offered for NBCC credit.
(c). Individuals who have received academic degrees outside the United States may or may not be qualified to present programs for NBCC credit. Such foreign degreed individuals may be required to submit the results of an international degree equivalency evaluation. NBCC will determine whether the individual qualifies as a presenter under this Policy."