Approved: LABMT LAP0212, TDLR CE2138, NCBTMB 100620. This course is 12 hours.
This course helps massage therapists strengthen their ability to provide affirming care for transgender clients. Together, we’ll explore gender identity, cultural competency, implicit bias, and structural racism, with attention to how these factors influence health outcomes and the client experience. Practical strategies—including inclusive intake practices, trauma-informed communication, and culturally responsive approaches will support therapists in creating safer, more welcoming spaces for all clients.
Transgender populations are groups of people who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. Massage can positively impact this population through empathetic and nonjudgmental touch. This course covers: gender dysphoria, gender affirming top surgical procedures, post-surgical considerations, and documentation.
Learning Objectives – Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Define and differentiate the concepts of gender identity, cultural competency, structural racism, and implicit bias in relation to massage therapy.
3. Explain how structural racism contributes to health disparities among transgender people, particularly those who are also BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
Supported by:
o Bailey, Z. D., et al. (2017). Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: evidence and interventions. The Lancet, 389(10077), 1453–1463. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30569-X
o Human Rights Campaign Foundation. (2021). Black and LGBTQ+ Americans: Key Data from the HRC Foundation. https://hrc.org
4. Demonstrate inclusive intake and interview practices that reduce misgendering and foster therapeutic rapport.
Supported by:
o UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. (2023). Guidelines for the Primary and Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary People, 2nd ed. https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines
o American Medical Association. (2021). Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/amaaamc-equity-guide.pdf
5. Apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive strategies that support safer care for transgender clients in bodywork settings.
Supported by: o Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).(2023). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. TIP 57.
