Kristie Overstreet: What doctors should know about gender identity
Kristie Overstreet works with individuals to help strengthen their relationship with themselves and others. Full bio
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into my career as a therapist,
and alcohol rehab facility.
down at the detox unit.
and assess one of the new patients
and had the pleasure of meeting Anne.
and as her and I started talking,
about what brought her into treatment,
that she didn't fear coming into rehab
that were going to be treating her
that she has experienced her whole life
but knowing she's female.
when she was born,
that she was feeling
to come out to her family.
it didn't go over so well.
"Absolutely not. You're not a girl.
We don't know what you're thinking.
and in and out of homeless shelters,
she started using drugs and alcohol
in and out of hospitals and rehabs
providers and doctors
female name or pronouns.
to become a therapist,
with transgender patients.
the patients I'd be working with.
and other patients like Anne,
that the transgender community
I saw how this very real fear
and this lack of acceptance
to turn to alcohol and drugs.
were seeking medical care
medical needs were ignored.
of meeting Leah a few years back.
a wife and a child.
that she was not a male,
and from everyone she knew,
until the age of 50.
keep living like this.
I want a divorce, get out"?
regardless of who you are.
that she wanted to medically transition,
assessed for hormone replacement therapy,
with her doctor.
of her appointment early.
and waited patiently.
called her back to the exam room.
she took a deep breath,
and said, "Hi, I'm Leah."
didn't shake her hand and said,
I've hid it from everyone,
I can financially afford it,
and let's evaluate me for HRT."
"We can't do anything today.
how would the rest of the world treat her?
she was transgender,
an HIV test and ending the appointment.
any other questions.
where Leah's coming from,
with the community,
that aren't true at all.
to transition with medication or surgery;
this is a disorder;
aren't real men and women.
health care providers be trained
of their health care needs.
of health care providers
of the LGBT community.
in the education and training.
for three groups of people:
and, well, the rest of us.
a couple of definitions
around gender identity a little bit more.
Get ready to take some notes.
with this idea of a binary system.
there was only two, male and female.
that this isn't true.
on the other side.
gender-nonconforming,
different types of identities.
to think about transgender
a sex at birth that doesn't match
and their sense of self.
than biological sex.
what's between your ears:
than biological sex, right?
I have never questioned who I am.
transgender individuals feel.
are many different types of identities,
that like to know how to spell things,
for "on the same side of."
to my parents and said,
in a small farm town in Georgia,
than someone who's transgender.
for "on the other side of" --
on the other side of the spectrum.
who was assigned female at birth,
who they are, how they live their life,
someone that's assigned male at birth
and sense of self as a female.
that has a nonbinary identity
I want to point out sexual identity,
sexually, spiritually.
with gender identity.
before we continue on:
of it between your legs,
well, sometimes we use our heart,
about the LGBT health-related needs
that there are unique health risks
10 million American adults
with transgender patients,
as they go along,
how to take care of them.
asking about gender identities.
to their medical care
to say the wrong thing.
something inappropriate
from a malicious or mean place,
on how to care for these individuals.
as a norm anymore either.
who is assigned female at birth
goes for their yearly gynecological visit?
with the correct pronouns, correct name,
that the rest of the staff will too.
about my thoughts on doctors,
to the transgender community.
is really fearful, right?
about going into treatment
as her female self,
about how her doctor would react,
that he didn't shake her hand
her fears came true.
needs to be empowered
whatever treatment you can get are over.
for your health care needs,
or a couple of months,
a doctor's appointment, right?
to your doctor's appointment
when you got there.
of the 1.4 million transgender adults
to get an appointment.
"Why is this important to me?
I don't know anybody that's transgender.
and trained health care providers,
mind raising your hand:
anyone who is transgender,
two-spirited, three-spirited?
who did not raise your hand,
of these identities, I guarantee it.
community is increasing.
or the new thing to do.
There's more visibility.
are speaking up about their true self
that our health care system get on board
and health care providers are trained
with dignity and respect,
in my 11th grade literature class,
teachers, Mr. McClain,
that sticks with me to this day.
is that things will change."
face changes in our lives,
with these changes,
decisions to make.
the transgender community
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Kristie Overstreet - Clinical sexologist and psychotherapistKristie Overstreet works with individuals to help strengthen their relationship with themselves and others.
Why you should listen
Dr. Kristie Overstreet is a clinical sexologist, psychotherapist, author, speaker and consultant. With more than twelve years of clinical experience, she has developed best practices for transgender healthcare. Her mission is to educate every behavioral and healthcare worker to provide dignity care for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Overstreet has written three books on improving relationships and is a sought-after expert. She is the creator of the Transgender Healthcare Dignity Model training and certification program. Her new book Finding Your True Self: A Guide to Gender Acceptance will be published in 2019. She serves as a national contributor to CNN, Psychology Today, Readers Digest, Your Workplace, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and various other media.
Overstreet holds a PhD in Clinical Sexology, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling and Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is a licensed counselor in California, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. She is also a certified sex therapist and addiction professional. She is president of Therapy Department, a private practice in Orange County, California, that provides counseling, training, speaking and consulting services throughout the United States.
Kristie Overstreet | Speaker | TED.com