Gender diverse youth have a heightened need for mental health care due to the unique stressors they face. This session will explore theories of gender identity development and how they relate to overall identity and mental health development for pediatric patients. It will also explore the effects of hormone therapies, techniques for navigating family structures, and ways to address co-occurring mental health complexities.

Learning objectives:

• Describe theories of gender identity development and how they relate to the gender journey of gender diverse youth.
• Identify developmentally appropriate language and techniques for use with gender diverse youth.
• Explore the effects of hormone therapy on mood and mental health.
• Assess how to approach gender care in cases of greater mental health complexity, such as autism, psychosis, and eating disorders.