Working with Equanimity in Multi-gendered Society

This is Day 1 of the three-day training* 'Cultural Competency in Counselling People with Gender, Sex and Relationship diversities' with Tina Clark, Client Centred Counsellor and Sex and Gender Diversities Therapist.

Each day focuses on one area – Gender, Sexual Orientation or Relationship – and is *devised as a standalone, whilst relating to common themes running across the series. Workshops will comprise information giving, discussion, individual and group work.

Traditionally, our culture has operated on a binary model of gender – i.e. you are either male or female. Presently society is a moving toward an acceptance of gender that is based on phenomenology (subjective experience) rather than taxonomy (categorisation) and consequently broadening in perspective. As with all cultural transitions, this presents some challenges to both individuals and society.

Our binary division of gender has not been equal, one side being valued more than the other creating categorical conditions of worth. Traditional gender role socialization has then placed diverse pressures on the individual whether they identify male or female. Additionally those experiencing their gender differently to physicality, or beyond the binary, have been out-grouped – creating further layers of social challenge.

The ‘person of tomorrow’ (to use a phrase of Carl Rogers’) may actually be free to choose where they fit regards gender, rather than having this prescribed for them. However as counsellors, it is important we respect the client’s perspective, be it traditional or contemporary, make no assumptions about what gender means to the client, but be open to their personal experience.

This workshop will comprise:

exploring our own frames of reference for gender, so that we may bring into awareness potential bias that could block empathic attunement to the client’s experience

looking at some of the key events and social movements that have influenced attitudes, values and behaviours of and toward both binary genders and beyond

examining societal shifts in perception toward trans and non-binary genders

working with vignettes on some of the personal and social issues gender raises in counselling.

For further info on the event, the facilitator and how to book visit PCT Scotland