TransYouth Care Faculty

  • Dr. Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and transgender man with over fifteen years of experience providing therapy to transgender and non-binary individuals across the lifespan. His therapeutic approach is rooted in anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and critical theories, with a strong focus on intersectionality, power dynamics, and challenging systemic oppression.

    Dr. Olson-Kennedy examines the multifaceted experiences of gender dysphoria beyond conventional diagnostic frameworks. He works to guide clinicians and parents in identifying opportunities to foster gender euphoria and becoming active coconspirators in this process.

    He also specializes in providing therapeutic support and education to parents, caregivers, and guardians of trans and non-binary individuals of all ages. In addition to his clinical practice and training efforts, Dr. Olson-Kennedy teaches in the Master of Social Work program at California State University, Fullerton.

  • Darlene Tando, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in San Diego, specializing in working with transgender and gender-expansive youth and adults since 2006. She provides consultations and ongoing therapy for children, adolescents, and adults navigating gender identity and transition-related experiences.

    In addition to her clinical work, Darlene offers trainings for professionals and caregivers in various settings and provides supervision to associates engaged in gender-affirming care. She is the author of The Conscious Parent’s Guide to Gender Identity: A Mindful Approach to Embracing Your Child’s Authentic Self.

    Darlene firmly believes that each individual is the expert on their own gender identity and works to create affirming, supportive spaces where clients and caregivers can explore and embrace authentic gender expression.

  • Johanna Olson-Kennedy, MD is a Board Certified Pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine subspecialist who specializes in the care of transgender and non-binary children, youth and young adults. She is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at USC and spearheads a rigorous research program to understand the impact of medical interventions on the health and well-being of trans and non-binary youth. Dr. Olson-Kennedy is the Medical Director of the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital Los Angeles as well as the president elect for the United States Professional Association of Transgender Health. She has provided educational lectures around the world about the care of transgender youth and has appeared multiple times on national television to educate audiences about the needs of transgender youth.

Key Topics Covered in the Symposium

Dr. Aydin Olson-Kennedy:

  • Engaging Community: The Importance of Parent Support Groups

  • Fostering Gender Euphoria as a Protective Factor Against the Triggers and Stressors of Gender Dysphoria

  • Anti-Oppressive, Gender-Affirming Theories in Mental Health Care for Transgender Clients

  • Gender Dysphoria: Exploring External Stressors and Internal Triggers

  • Writing Letters of Recommendation For Gender-Affirming Medical Interventions Using an Anti-Oppressive, Depathologized Approach

Darlene Tando:

  • Development of gender identity, and how one’s relationship with being transgender can evolve over time

  • The evolution of youth’s transgender identity

  • Considering affirmation as a compassionate intervention

  • Supporting parents and caregivers as they come to understand their child’s journey

  • Evaluating the role of distress in the process of affirmation

Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy:

  • Introduction and history of gender related care

  • Developmental Trajectories and Medical Decisions

  • Puberty development and the role of pubertal blockers

  • Adolescent brain development and an overview of gender-affirming hormones