Mental Fitness Minute: Is there transgender support in the Basin?

On March 16, a grassroots committee hosted the Worland Mental Fitness Fair at the Worland Community Center.

Members of the panel were Dr. Ralph Louis, psychologist from Oxbow Center in Basin; Janae Harman, owner of Family Circle Counseling in Worland; Mary Johnson, CEO of Oxbow Center in Worland; and Carol Bell, provisionally licensed therapist at Foundations Counseling in Cody.

The panel answered prepared questions that came from the committee and from similar events in Shell, Greybull and Cowley.

The Northern Wyoming News will be covering the questions on a weekly basis.

Is there transgender support in the Big Horn Basin?

Louis: If we’re talking about is there counseling, therapy, mental health therapy available? For people who are having difficulty with what we call gender dysphoria? Having difficulty with their gender identity? Yes, most counselors can deal with that issue. Most are trained to deal with that issue anyways. Maybe not all would be comfortable with it, but most would be.

If we’re talking about medical supports and things like that? I don’t think so.

Harman: There is a counselor in Riverton that’s new from Seattle and she does a lot of transgender support specifically.

Next week: Are there faith-based and income-based counselors in the Big Horn Basin.