Certificate Program
The program offers 46.75 hours of Continuing Education Credits. We are an approved CE Provider for the American Psychological Association, NBCC, CAMFT, and Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors.
About the Program
About the Program
The Gender-Affirming Care Certificate Program strives to empower clinicians and care providers to deliver ethical, evidence-based, and compassion-driven gender-affirming care across diverse populations and lifespans, grounded in liberation, inclusion, and cultural humility. This program centers client autonomy and justice, equipping participants not only to affirm identities and advocate resilience, but to challenge systemic barriers and create meaningful change within their practices and communities.
Program Learning Objectives
By completing this 17-week certificate program, participants will:
Build a strong foundation in the core principles, ethical frameworks, and inclusive language essential to gender-affirming care.
Develop critical knowledge of gender diversity across history, cultures, biopsychosocial research, and contemporary social contexts.
Recognize and dismantle the impacts of stigma, transphobia, discrimination, and systemic oppression and proactively foster resilience and joy for trans and gender-diverse (TGD) clients.
Gain practical clinical skills in assessment, documentation, and support for all transition pathways, including navigating complex scenarios such as detransition, co-occurring conditions, and advanced ethical dilemmas.
Champion holistic supports by engaging families, communities, and interdisciplinary teams to nurture affirming, safe, and thriving environments for TGD individuals.
Advance advocacy and leadership by transforming understanding into action – supporting client autonomy and well-being in an evolving legal and cultural landscape.
For a detailed breakdown of each week’s course content, click here. For program policies, click here.
Why Attend?
Join a passionate and justice-oriented community to master the latest knowledge and best practices, cultivate genuine self-awareness, and become a leader equipped to honor the lived realities, strengths, and needs of trans and gender-diverse clients. Step beyond allyship to become an agent of structural and interpersonal change, because affirming care transforms lives.
Application Process
Admission to the Gender-Affirming Care Certificate Program is by application only. All interested providers must submit an application to be considered for participation in the Spring 2026 cohort. Selected applicants will be invited to interview with core faculty. Applications are due 12/5/2025.
Core Faculty
Laura Baker, MA, MFT
Laura has been providing gender-affirming psychotherapy services to individuals of all ages for the past seven years. Their identity as a genderqueer clinician informs their practice, allowing them to connect deeply with LGBTQIA+ clients. As a founding board member of The Nevada Gender Clinic, Laura is dedicated to promoting gender-affirming care and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), ensuring they remain informed about best practices in the field.
In their role as director of both Inclusive Counseling and the Gender Affirming Care Certificate Program, Laura focuses on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community building. They are committed to nurturing the next generation of queer and trans-affirming providers and frequently collaborate with healthcare professionals and institutions to enhance cultural awareness and sensitivity in clinical settings.
Laura’s approach is rooted in critical and liberatory praxis, striving to create a supportive environment for clients to explore their identities and build strong communities. Through their work, Laura aims to foster understanding, acceptance, and advocacy within both clinical practices and the broader community.
Exie Adams, MA, MFT
Exie is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and has worked in the mental health field for over eight years. After receiving her masters in counseling with a specialization in community mental health, Exie was fortunate to work in a wide range of mental health settings. This has allowed her to care for clients from all walks of life.
Exie is a Black Queer woman, which plays an integral role in her approach as a mental health clinician. Exie specializes in trauma work, and is very passionate about socio-political impacts on mental health. Exie often utilizes somatic interventions to care for the mind and body and highlight the inescapable connection between the two. Exie has also found much enjoyment in being able to utilize her skill set as a clinician to explore endeavors outside of clinical work such as, supporting therapy interns, providing consultation to colleagues, and collaborating on workshops and curriculum for graduate counseling programs.
Liz Blieden, MA, MFT
Liz brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the gender-affirming care certificate program as an instructor. Their specialization in trauma treatment, LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy, and somatic interventions makes them particularly well-suited to guide students through the complexities of gender-affirming care. With a Masters in Counseling from the California Institute of Integral Studies, Liz has developed an integrative and empowering therapeutic approach that acknowledges the profound impact of sociopolitical factors on mental health. This holistic perspective is crucial in understanding the challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
Liz’s expertise extends to working with both youth (ages 16-20) and adults, providing them with valuable insights into the developmental aspects of gender identity across different life stages. Their approach encourages clients to define their own paths to growth and healing, challenging preconceived notions of what recovery should look like.
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Liz brings authenticity and lived experience to their role as an affirming provider. This personal connection enhances their ability to create a safe and understanding environment for clients exploring various aspects of their identity, including gender and sexual orientation.
Spring 2026 Cohort
Spring 2026 Cohort
The Spring 2026 cohort will begin meeting in January.
Program Dates
The spring 2026 cohort will meet virtually via Google Meet Thursdays from 9AM – 12 PM PST on the following dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12/, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21.
Participants will attend the Gender Affirming Care Consultation Group, held the first Wednesday of every month from 12:30-2 PM PST on the following dates: 2/4, 3/4, 4/1, and 5/6.
Upon completion of the program and required case consultation, participants will receive a certificate in gender-affirming care and will be listed in our online provider directory. This certificate is good for 2 years and will be renewed upon completion of a virtual refresher course.
Admittance to the program is by application. You will be contacted if selected for an interview as part of the application process. We encourage you to apply early as space is limited!
Pricing Model
The program cost is based on an economic justice model, as follows:
| Provider Category | Program Cost |
|---|---|
| High access to resources | $4,000-$5,500 |
| Moderate access to resources | $2,500-$4,000 |
| Limited access to resources | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Marginalized identities with limited resources | $1,000 – $1,500 |
Providers are invited to self-determine which provider category they fall into, taking into account current and future access to financial resources, debt, and other factors that impact financial wellbeing. Providers paying at the higher end of our sliding scale enable us to offer this program at lower fees to those with less financial access.
Important: All applicants (regardless of payment level, including those seeking scholarships) must complete the program application. The application will also allow you to indicate your interest in a scholarship and share information about your financial needs.
Scholarships
Making this program as accessible as possible is our highest priority. If the cost of the program is prohibitive, we invite you to indicate you wish to apply for a scholarship using the application below. We will prioritize:
- Low-income providers
- Professionals working in Community Mental Health
- Individuals with marginalized identities
Whether you are seeking a scholarship or planning to pay full tuition, every participant must submit an application. In your application, you will be able to request consideration for a scholarship.
The Spring 2026 will begin meeting in January.
Program Dates
The Spring 2026 cohort will meet virtually via Google Meet Thursdays from 9AM – 12 PM PST on the following dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12/, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21.
Participants will attend the Gender Affirming Care Consultation Group, held the first Wednesday of every month from 12:30-2 PM PST on the following dates: 2/4, 3/4, 4/1, and 5/6.
Upon completion of the program and required case consultation, participants will receive a certificate in gender-affirming care and will be listed in our online provider directory. This certificate is good for 2 years and will be renewed upon completion of a virtual refresher course.
Pricing Model
The program cost is based on an economic justice model, as follows:
| Provider Category | Program Cost |
|---|---|
| High access to resources | $4000-$5,500 |
| Moderate access to resources | $2500-$4,000 |
| Limited access to resources | $1500-$2,500 |
| Marginalized identities with limited resources | $1,000 – $1,500 |
Providers are invited to self-determine which provider category they fall into, taking into account current and future access to financial resources, debt, and other factors that impact financial wellbeing. Providers paying at the higher end of our sliding scale enable us to offer this program at lower fees to those with less financial access.
Important: All applicants (regardless of payment level, including those seeking scholarships) must complete the program application. The application will also allow you to indicate your interest in a scholarship and share information about your financial needs.
Scholarships
Making this program as accessible as possible is our highest priority. If the cost of the program is prohibitive, we invite you to indicate you wish to apply for a scholarship using the application below. We will prioritize:
- Low-income providers
- Professionals working in Community Mental Health
- Individuals with marginalized identities
Whether you are seeking a scholarship or planning to pay full tuition, every participant must submit an application. In your application, you will be able to request consideration for a scholarship.
Core Faculty
Laura Baker, MA, MFT
Laura has been providing gender-affirming psychotherapy services to individuals of all ages for the past seven years. Their identity as a genderqueer clinician informs their practice, allowing them to connect deeply with LGBTQIA+ clients. As a founding board member of The Nevada Gender Clinic, Laura is dedicated to promoting gender-affirming care and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), ensuring they remain informed about best practices in the field.
In their role as director of both Inclusive Counseling and the Gender Affirming Care Certificate Program, Laura focuses on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community building. They are committed to nurturing the next generation of queer and trans-affirming providers and frequently collaborate with healthcare professionals and institutions to enhance cultural awareness and sensitivity in clinical settings.
Laura’s approach is rooted in critical and liberatory praxis, striving to create a supportive environment for clients to explore their identities and build strong communities. Through their work, Laura aims to foster understanding, acceptance, and advocacy within both clinical practices and the broader community.
Exie Adams, MA, MFT
Exie is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and has worked in the mental health field for over eight years. After receiving her masters in counseling with a specialization in community mental health, Exie was fortunate to work in a wide range of mental health settings. This has allowed her to care for clients from all walks of life.
Exie is a Black Queer woman, which plays an integral role in her approach as a mental health clinician. Exie specializes in trauma work, and is very passionate about socio-political impacts on mental health. Exie often utilizes somatic interventions to care for the mind and body and highlight the inescapable connection between the two. Exie has also found much enjoyment in being able to utilize her skill set as a clinician to explore endeavors outside of clinical work such as, supporting therapy interns, providing consultation to colleagues, and collaborating on workshops and curriculum for graduate counseling programs.
Liz Blieden, MA, MFT
Liz brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the gender-affirming care certificate program as an instructor. Their specialization in trauma treatment, LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy, and somatic interventions makes them particularly well-suited to guide students through the complexities of gender-affirming care. With a Masters in Counseling from the California Institute of Integral Studies, Liz has developed an integrative and empowering therapeutic approach that acknowledges the profound impact of sociopolitical factors on mental health. This holistic perspective is crucial in understanding the challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
Liz’s expertise extends to working with both youth (ages 16-20) and adults, providing them with valuable insights into the developmental aspects of gender identity across different life stages. Their approach encourages clients to define their own paths to growth and healing, challenging preconceived notions of what recovery should look like.
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Liz brings authenticity and lived experience to their role as an affirming provider. This personal connection enhances their ability to create a safe and understanding environment for clients exploring various aspects of their identity, including gender and sexual orientation.