Gender Identity Skills Training (GIST) Kilkenny - 5th & 6th March 2025
As the number of individuals presenting to healthcare services with gender related concerns increases, so does the need for healthcare professionals to be able to confidently navigate this space.
In response, the scientific committee of GIST, which comprises national and international experts in the field of transgender healthcare, is reconvening to offer a two-day training course designed specifically for healthcare professionals working with adults and young people who need support with their gender identity.
Following the success of previous events, the training will be delivered in partnership with Gender Plus, one of the leading independent providers of holistic transgender healthcare in Ireland and the UK. The event promises to share the latest thinking in this specialist field, enabling attendees to better understand the challenges facing this patient cohort and how best to respond to their needs.
Price - €265 per person (student rate* €120)
Location - Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny Ireland**
This event is eligible for CPD credits***
To secure your place please book right away..
Limited places available. Questions can be directed to gist@genderplus.com
*student rate is available to those on a full-time course that will confer professional healthcare registration upon graduation.
** Preferential Hotel Kilkenny room rates available to delegates
*** This event has CPD points pre-approved by the Psychological Society of Ireland and College of Psychiatry. Delegates attending from other professional organisations will need to apply directly to their respective organisations to receive their CPD credits
GIST Provisional Programme
Day 1 Wednesday 5th of March 2025
8.30 - 9.15 Registration
9.15 - 10:00 Current Treatment Pathways in Ireland
This presentation will highlight the current Irish healthcare pathways for both adults and young people who experience gender incongruence. Including information on the Treatment Abroad Scheme and Cross Border Directive
Dr Anne Kehoe Chartered Clinical Psychologist Ireland
Dr Vanessa Lacey, Managing Director, Gendercare
10:00 - 10.45 Presentation of Gender Plus preliminary data from UK and Ireland
Dr Aidan Kelly will present some preliminary data from the Gender Plus clinic that works across Ireland and the UK. He will present different demographic and psycho-social data and discuss this in relation to some of the broader dilemmas and concerns raised in the Cass Review.
Dr Aidan Kelly, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director Gender Plus
10.45 - 11:00 Break
11:00 -11:45 A contextual approach to working with gender diverse and transgender young people
This talk will consider how socio-political and legal contexts impact on the clinical work with gender diverse young people. We will think about how clinicians can consider these contexts in clinical practice in order to work ethically with this group of individuals.
Dr Claudia Zitz, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Systemic Psychotherapist. Gender Plus.
11:45 - 13:00 Transition stories
This section of GIST focuses on the lived experience of transgender people and their families. It will cover aspects such as: becoming aware of a gender conflict, revealing plans to gender transition, accessing services, legal aspects, transition in school and the workplace, mental health, grief and loss, discovering new hopes
This module highlights some of the main factors that can help support all family members as they navigate this journey.
Catherine Cross, Parent of a young trans person and expert by experience.
Lucas Cross, gender identity expert by experience.
Dr Vanessa Lacey, founder and director of Gendercare
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:15 An update on the most recent scientific research to date
Dr Ristori and Dr Murtagh will present the most recent scientific data on transgender healthcare globally. Both speakers will highlight some of the challenges ahead for trans healthcare.
Dr Jiska Ristori, Psychologist and Psychotherapist Italy and founding member of The Italian Society of Gender Identity and Health (SIGIS).
Dr Aileen Murtagh, Assistant Medical Director with Special Responsibility for Adolescent Services, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, St Patrick's University Hospital
15:15 Break
15:30 - 17:00 Hot Topics Session
Our speakers will guide a critical discussion of topics much talked about but not always well understood, to include: birth sex ratio; rapid onset; de-transition; online services; the Cass review and self-medication.
Dr’s Murtagh, Steensma, Ristori, Kehoe, Lacey, Zitz, Kelly.
17:00 End of Day 1
GIST Provisional Programme
Day 2 Thursday 6th of March 2025
9:00 - 10:15 Psychological Assessment for Children and Adolescents
This module will include a general introduction and overview of the gender spectrum. It will focus on the assessment process for pre-pubertal children, adolescents and adults. It will reference the gold standard “Dutch protocol” and international guidelines, such as WPATH Standards of Care Version 8. Discussion of diagnostic criteria and current DSM-V criteria for Gender Dysphoria. Psychometric scales will be referenced.
Dr Thomas Steensma, Clinical Psychologist, Centre of Expertise for Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam
Dr Jiska Ristori, Psychologist and Psychotherapist, and founding member SIGIS
10:15 - 11:00 Co-existing mental health conditions in young people experiencing gender incongruence
This module will focus on common co-existing conditions including internalising disorders, self-harm and suicidality, Autism, ADHD and Eating Disorders.
Dr Aileen Murtagh, Assistant Medical Director with Special Responsibility for Adolescent Services, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, St Patrick's University Hospital
Dr Anne Kehoe, Chartered Clinical Psychologist
11:00 - 11:20 Break
11:20 - 12:30 Transition Outcomes
Research on outcomes will be presented, including factors influencing persistence and desistence. Development of resilience will be considered. This module will also cover the role of mental health professionals in the decision process for medical interventions. Counselling and decision making regarding surgical transitions will also be covered.
Dr Thomas Steensma, Clinical Psychologist, Centre of Expertise for Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam
Dr Vanessa Lacey, Gendercare
12:30 - 13:00 Rainbow Ready Pharmacies
An examination of the experiences of transgender, non-binary and intersex people in community pharmacy led to the development of a survey intended to identify the educational needs of pharmacists in this area. The plan is to use the results of this survey to build an educational module for pharmacists to improve their clinical knowledge and cultural competencies. Is there a place for a Rainbow Ready Pharmacy programme?
Nicola Cantwell, BSc.Pharm, CISM and Student Coordinator, South East Technical University.
13:00 - 13:45 Lunch
13:45 - 14:15 Transgender health care provision in primary care.
Supporting transgender patients in primary care. More details to follow.
Dr Nicola Cochrane, Sandymount Road Medical Centre
14:15 - 15:45 Case Discussion (2 separate rooms).
Parallel group discussion:
Group 1 for clinicians working with children and adolescents, facilitated by Dr Thomas Steensma & Dr Kehoe
Group 2 for clinicians working with children & adolescents, facilitated by Dr Jiska Ristori & Dr Murtagh
15:45 - 16:00 Break
16:00 - 17:00 Full group discussion, ways forward, questions and comments.
17.00 End of Day 2
GIST Scientific Committee:
Dr Vanessa Lacey, Director of Gendercare
Dr Thomas Steensma, Clinical Psychologist, Centre of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam (International Lead)
Dr Aileen Murtagh, Assistant Medical Director with Special Responsibility for Adolescent Services, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin (National Lead)
Dr Anne Kehoe, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Past President PSI.
Dr Jiska Ristori, Clinical Psychologist, Florence Italy and founding member SIGIS.
Dr Claudia Zitz, Clinical Psychologist, Gender Plus.