Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society
a local chapter of the Division 39 of the American Psychological Association
presents a
Saturday Morning Seminar
with
Shane Bierma, PhD, LP
on
A Kernbergian Perspective
on Gender Dysphoria
Saturday, September 10, 2022
8:30am - 11:15am
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Morrison Education and Conference Center
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920
Click here for directions to the venue.
This program is offered only to active APS members.
This program, which addresses issues related to gender identity, meets 2.0 hours of the 3.0-hour requirement for psychologists licensed in the state of Tennessee to obtain continuing education that pertains to cultural diversity.
Description of Program
This intermediate-level presentation will provide an overview of Kernberg’s level of personality organization (LPO) (Kernberg & Caligor 2005). A major consideration in Kernberg’s diagnostic measure of PO includes a patient’s self-conceptualization, including a sense of consolidation, coherence and consistency (Clarkin et al., 2016). A person’s gender identity, or internal experience of being male, female, or something else (gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity, APA 2022) is a factor of one’s overall sense of self and may at times be accompanied by gender dysphoria, or discontent with the physical or social aspects of one’s own sex (APA 2022). This talk will discuss borderline and psychotic LPO and traits and how they may express themselves in some individuals through symptoms of gender dysphoria. While this talk will discuss dysphoria through the lens of personality organization, participants are cautioned not to consider the symptom of gender dysphoria in and of itself as a natural indicator of pathology (Croc, 2022). This was a mistake made by psychologists in the past regarding the suffering endured by LGB people due to homophobia, and one that resulted in further stigmatization, marginalization and minority stress of and for many people (Lefevor, 2019). Rather, gender dysphoria may be conceptualized as one of many types of personality factors than can be affected by the identity disintegration that can occur for individuals who experience borderline and psychotic personality level functioning. Implications related to treatment, legal, societal, theoretical, and competent healthcare will be discussed.
Presenter
Shane Bierma, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in New Orleans, LA. She completed her doctoral training at the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2019., then completed her clinical internship at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, along with a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology. She currently works at LSUHSC as an assistant professor and associate training director of postdoctoral fellowship, with her primary clinical work at University Medical Center (UMC) - a non-profit, level 1 trauma hospital. Dr. Bierma oversees training of interns, fellows, and psychiatry residents in psychiatric inpatient and HIV outpatient clinic. She specializes in gender and sexual minorities (GSM) and serves as the hospital liaison for transgender healthcare. She is the only gender-affirming surgical and HRT evaluator in UMC and works closely with infectious disease, endocrinology, and plastic surgery. Dr. Bierma teaches culturally competent healthcare courses for multidisciplinary teams within the LSU School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Bierma runs her own private practice in New Orleans specializing in GSM.
Schedule
8:30am Registration
8:55am Welcome and Introduction
9:00am Theoretical Background
10:00am Break
10:15am Case/Data Discussions, Questions and Answers
11:15am Complete Evaluations and Adjourn.
Learning Objectives
After attending this intermediate program in full, participants will be able to:
1. Describe Kernberg’s Neurotic, Borderline and Psychotic levels of personality organization to improve conceptualization and clinical interventions with individuals expressing gender dysphoria.
2. Define gender dysphoria and its relation to gender identity to enhance clinical work with individuals expressing gender dysphoria.
Participants
This program is open to all APS members and other interested mental health professionals who may not be members. It is not limited to individuals practicing in a predominately psychoanalytic mode. The material will be appropriate for clinicians with intermediate levels of experience and knowledge.
Registration Fees and Policies
This program is offered only to active APS members.
BY September 5, 2022:
Professional Members and Scholar Members: $45
Early-Career Professional Members: $35
Graduate Student Members: Free.
AFTER September 5, 2022:
Professional Members and Scholar Members: $60
Early-Career Professional Members: $50.
Graduate Student Members: Free
Registration will close on September 9, 2022.
Although walk-ins will be accepted, please register online at www.aps-tn.wildapricot.org in advance to assure adequate food and seating.
If you prefer to pay by check, please print the Program Registration form, and mail with your payment to:
Wesley Gosselin, LMSW
APS Treasurer
100 Forest Court
Knoxville, TN 37919.
Refunds honored with written/electronic notice at least 48 hours before date of conference. Contact Wesley Gosselin, LMSW.
Contact the APS President Renee Repka, PhD to negotiate fees, if needed.
Facility is accessible to persons who are physically challenged. If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address requests, questions, concerns and any complaints to Renee Repka, PhD.
APS Membership
Eligible professionals can join APS or renew their membership for the 2022-2023 program year for $80. Scholars can join/renew for $50 and Early-Career Professionals can join/renew for $45. Graduate students may join or renew for $25.
American Psychological Association Approval Statement
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Continuing Education
This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. With full attendance (sign-in at start of program) and completion of a program Evaluation and Learning Assessment, a certificate will be issued. Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39. Partial credit is not available for partial attendance.
In order to fulfill licensure requirements, the Rules of the Board of Examiners in Psychology in Tennessee (https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/psychology-board/psych-board/continuing-education.html) state that psychologists must obtain three continuing education hours that pertain to cultural diversity as specifically noted in the title, description of objectives, or curriculum of the presentation, symposium, workshop, seminar, course or activity. Cultural diversity includes aspects of identity stemming from age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religious/spiritual orientation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other cultural dimensions, but one of the objectives or descriptions of the topics covered shall clearly indicate attention to cultural diversity.
This program meets 2.0 hours of the 3.0-hour requirement for psychologists licensed in the state of Tennessee to obtain continuing education that pertains to cultural diversity.
APS and Division 39 are committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. APS and Division 39 are also committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in continuing education activities. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Selected References/Recommended Reading
Clarkin, J., Caligor, E., Stern, B., Kernberg OF. (2016) Structured Interview of Personality. Organization: STIPO-R. Personality Disorders Institute.
Fortunato A; Giovanardi G; Innocenzi E; Mirabella M; Caviglia G; Lingiardi V; Speranza AM, Is it Autism? A critical commentary on the co-occurrence of gender dysphoria and autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Homosexuality. ISSN: 1540-3602, 2022 Jun 07; Vol. 69 (7), pp. 1204-1221.
Guadagnin F, da Silva DC, Schwarz K, Villas Bôas AP, Lobato MIR. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lives of People With Gender Dysphoria. Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 6;10:878348. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.878348. PMID: 35874999; PMCID: PMC9298877.
Kernberg, OF., Caligor, E. (2005) A psychoanalytic theory of personality disorders. Major Theories of Personality Disorder. Guilford, New York, USA, 114-156.
Lefevor, G. Tyler; Boyd-Rogers, Caroline C.; Sprague, Brianna M.; Janis, Rebecca A. (2019). Health Disparities between genderqueer, transgender, and cisgender individuals: an extension of minority stress theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66 (4), 385-395.
Tan, Kyle K. H.; Treharne, Gareth J.; Ellis, Sonja J.; Schmidt, Johanna M.; Veale, Jaimie F. (2020). Gender Minority Stress: A Critical Review. Journal of Homosexuality, 67 (10), 1471-1489. 19p. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2019.1591789.
Contact
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address requests, questions, concerns and any complaints to the APS President Renee Repka, PhD.
There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between Division 39, APS, presenter, program content, research, grants or other funding sources that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest. During the program, the validity/utility of the content and risks/limitations of the approaches discussed will be addressed.