Beyond the Binary: A Primer for Counseling Trans and Gender Expansive People

Presenters: Mickey E. White, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH

Learning Objectives

Describe the foundational concepts of gender identity and the evolving terminology associated with trans and gender-expansive (TGE) populations.
Identify strengths and challenges in current counseling practices when working with TGE clients, focusing on the integration of trans-affirmative approaches.
Apply trans-affirmative counseling strategies to effectively support and engage with TGE clients in mental health settings.

CE Credit: 2 NBCC Hours

Mickey E. White, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH

Dr. Mickey E. White, NCC, BC-TMH, Associate Professor, (Ph.D., Counseling, University of North Texas, 2019). Dr. White (he/him) currently serves as the program’s CACREP liaison. He has been part of the Counseling Program faculty at ETSU since 2019 and regularly teaches courses in substance use counseling, social and cultural foundations, telemental health, and clinical skills. He is an active member of professional counseling organizations, including the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) and the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES). His areas of research center around the intersections of gender identity/expression and other marginalized identities, broader LGBTQ+ issues in counselor preparation, professional issues in counselor education, decolonization and liberation practices in counseling and counselor education, and animal-assisted therapy.