About the Workshop
Join us for “Affirming Relational Therapy with Trans and Gender Diverse Couples and Families: Attachment, Systemic Dynamics, and Clinical Considerations” on March 30, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 3:45 pm. This interactive course equips mental health professionals with relational and attachment-based tools to support trans and gender diverse individuals in romantic and family settings. Explore how gender identity development and affirmation processes affect attachment bonds, couple dynamics, caregiving, and systemic patterns, while learning practical strategies to address disruptions, grief, ambivalence, and instability. Led by Laura Castro, PsyD, LMFT—a queer, biracial, cis woman and disabled military veteran with expertise in systemic and affirming therapies—this training emphasizes maintaining emotional safety and affirmation for all system members through attachment-informed interventions, therapist language, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Date: March 30, 20026
Time: Registration & Refreshments – 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m; Workshop 12:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., one 15 minute break
Fees: $50 fee, 3 CE credits offered
Location: Lakehouse Resort, Heartwood Room, 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
Educational Goals:
- Develop a relational and attachment-informed perspective for working with trans and gender diverse individuals within couples and family systems
- Enhance clinical sophistication in addressing attachment disruptions, grief, ambivalence, and systemic stressors in relational contexts.
- Strengthen therapist capacity to maintain affirmation while attending to the emotional safety and needs of all members of the system.
- Advance systemic competence in identifying and responding to polarization, triangulation, and relational instability during identity transition/affirmation process.
- Increase professional confidence in applying attachment and systemic principles to complex couple and family dynamics involving trans and gender diverse clients.
Measurable Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Identify at least three common relational disruptions that occur when one partner transitions or begins affirming their gender identity.
- Distinguish between grief and rejection in cis partners and family members within relational contexts.
- Apply at least two attachment-informed interventions to stabilize distressed couples navigating gender transition/affirmation.
- Demonstrate at least two therapist language strategies that validate multiple perspectives while maintaining affirming care.
- Identify at least three common therapist pitfalls when working with trans and gender diverse couples and families.
Who Should Attend:
Mental health therapists, counselors, social workers, school psychologists, trainees, students, and anyone passionate about child and family therapy in San Diego County. Earn CEUs while advancing your skills!
Presenter:
Laura Castro, PsyD, LMFT
Laura is a queer, biracial, cis woman, and disabled military veteran.
She is a San Diego-based therapist and adjunct professor with expertise in systemic approaches, sexual, gender, and relationship diversity, and affirming therapy practices, bringing both lived and professional experience to her work.
Affirming Relational Therapy Course Flyer
Course syllabus and additional details will be emailed after you register.
To receive updated registration information, contact: Edralyn Botz, ebotz@pfcs.agency
For more information on continuing education at Palomar Family Counseling Service, contact:
Chris DuVall, cduvall@pfcs.agency or David Drazenovich, ddrazenovich@pfcs.agency
Funding for this workshop provided in part by:
