Cass Daniels Therapy LLC

08/04/2021

Need a free binder? Reach out to the Transgender Center of the Rockies for support.

We have so many gc2b binders! Come to Marsha’s Closet at the TCR to get your own binder for free! This is a program specifically for gender expansive folks who cannot afford a binder otherwise.

Check out this sizing guide before you stop in! If you don't have all the materials at home, the TCR has got you covered. :) https://www.gc2b.co/pages/sizing

Please DM or call the Transgender Center of the Rockies to make an appointment to come by!

***rdenver

04/18/2021

Not everyone goes by solely she/her, he/him, or they/them. We spoke to 10 people who use varied pronouns about their identities and how to respect them.

03/31/2021

Visibility

Today is about uplifting and celebrating the voices of trans people. There will never be enough visibility in a world that so desperately wants to silence, diminish and erase us. Being loud and proud in this world takes immense courage, vulnerability and bravery.

For the trans community, visibility allows for connection, community building and the opportunity to see yourself reflected in others. For the cis community, TDOV (and honestly every other day of the year) represents an opportunity to listen to the lived experiences of trans people and to take direct action to support trans liberation and freedom.

02/11/2021

“Q***r Peers” – Teen Therapy Group

Introducing an 8-week virtual therapy group for LGBTQQIA+ teens ages 14-18.
Meeting online every Thursday from 5 pm-6 pm from March 11th- April 29th.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the way our teens and youth can build community, cultivate authentic connections, and socialize with peers. According to the Trevor Project (2020), “an unintended consequence of physical distancing is the potential loss of the social connections that protect LGBTQ youth from suicidality.”

Through a relationally-focused approach, “Q***r Peers” hopes to decrease the isolation and loneliness experienced by adolescents. The virtual group will mix psycho-education, skill-building, and discussion-based work to support LGBTQ+ youth in developing social-emotional skills, enhancing social connectedness, and coping with the strains of COVID-19. Content is not solely focused on s*xual orientation or gender identity, but the facilitators, as two q***r individuals themselves, recognize the need to have an environment for q***r gender-diverse youth to build community and connect in a safe space. Hannah and Cass are intentional around grounding their work in anti-oppressive and culturally responsive care.

Sliding Scale Fee: $30-40 per session or $240-320 for the full 8 weeks
*Please reach out about our limited reduced/free spots*

Meet the Facilitators:

Hannah Bio: Hannah Gandsey LCSW (she/her/hers) is a q***r attachment-focused trauma psychotherapist specializing in adolescents and their families. Hannah has training in somatic, cognitive & behavioral, family therapy, and EMDR approaches to best address trauma, attachment and relational wounds, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and suicidality/self-harm.

Cass Bio: Cass Daniels, LCSW (he/him/his) is a transgender and q***r therapist who specializes in providing mental health and substance use counseling for the LGBTQQIA+ community and their loved ones. Cass utilizes a blend of narrative and cognitive-behavioral therapies to support clients in disrupting and challenging harmful self-beliefs while fostering empowerment and self-growth.

*To apply for Q***r Peers or to gather more information, please reach out to Hannah at hannahgandseylcsw@gmail.com or Cass at cassdtherapy@gmail.com

01/05/2021

This month I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Focus on Health (fohealth.org) and Perrier (yes, the carbonated water company) to discuss sustainable substance use recovery and the relationship with social/mental health.

From Focus on Health: Mindfulness Matters is our Dry January initiative in partnership with Perrier. Dry January is a public health campaign urging people to abstain from alcohol for the month of January.

We wanted to take this initiative and encourage individuals to implement sustainable and mindful practices to establish healthy habits in their day to day.

Wellness doesn't have to end after 30 days.

Throughout the month of January we will share panel discussions, short stories, podcasts , Q and As that discuss mindfulness through our five pillars of wellness and host a series of live events. All of our content is made with the help of food and beverage collaborators.

If you are interested in learning more about Mindfulnes Matters, visit fohealth.org/mindfulness-matters.

Check out the video below!
https://youtu.be/iGRPACO4bck"

Sustainability of Recovery A deeper look into what goal setting, self-knowledge, and community can do when coping with mental health.Mental health problems c...

12/22/2020

This January, I will be featured as a contributor for Focus On Health’s Dry January Initiative, Mindfulness Matters.

The FOH team worked with food and beverage industry memebers to create content that focused on implementing sustainable and health habits into your daily routine on behalf of Dry January.

Wellness doesn’t have to end after 30 days!

If you are interested in learning more about Mindfulness Matters, visit fohealth.org/mindfulness-matters.

Join us for the Mindfulness Matters Launch Party!

View the segment live on IG at 2PM EST. For access to the social hour, register at https://linktr.ee/fohealth

Stay Mindful!
_

12/21/2020

I often hear clients say that taking time to slow down and engage in self-care feels selfish. However, we won’t have anything left to give to others unless we are taking care of ourselves first.

Self-care is not selfish, it is necessary.

12/16/2020

I love Jeopardy and I love visibility!

A Jeopardy! contestant is celebrating a historic win after becoming the first ever trans person to claim victory on the quiz show.

12/16/2020

That’s show biz baby!

12/01/2020

For Giving Tuesday, consider donating to the Colorado Name Change Project! They do incredible work supporting the trans community by providing free resources and education about changing legal documents.

This year alone, the Colorado Name Change Project has hosted more than a dozen name/gender marker update workshops, provided microgrants to 17 individuals, performed over 25 remote notarizations, generated name change forms for hundreds of Coloradans, and maintained a dedicated COVID-19 page that provides the latest information from county, state, and federal agencies on the name/gender marker update process.

This , your support can enable us to continue providing these essential, free resources and services to the Colorado transgender community. If you’re able to give financially, we encourage you to do so, but if not, we'd greatly appreciate you sharing this post or even creating your own fundraiser.

12/01/2020

Looking for a therapist? Meet Cass!

11/20/2020

Every year on November 20th, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is observed. The event, which started in 1999, honors the memory of trans community members who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.

This year, over 40 trans people (that we are aware of) have been senselessly murdered in the United states, most of which were women and femmes of color. Posted above are some pictures of the beautiful souls we lost this year.

On November 20th, we also celebrate the resilience, diversity and strength of the trans community. Trans Day of Resilience was founded in 2014 and aims not to replace Trans Day of Remembrance but to additionally celebrate the community members who survive and thrive in the face of hatred and violence. The movement for Trans Day of Resilience is led by trans people of color, Forward Together, and the Audre Lorde Project.

As noted on their website, “Our rebellious mourning recommits us to the living. We refuse to forget or forfeit our power, even in the face of epidemic violence. We remember: we are pure possibility. Our freedom dreams could set the whole world free.”

11/17/2020

Yesterday, I completed my training on the Gender ASSET!

The Gender Affirmative and Supportive Surgery Evaluation Tool (ASSET) is a clinical assessment and interview developed by trans mental health professionals, Becca Keo-Meier, MSW and C**t Keo-Meier, Ph.D. The tool was designed to empower mental health providers to feel more competent and helpful when supporting clients in navigating the complexities of preparing to undergo surgery as part of a gender transition. The course was engaging, informative, and not only emphasizes gender affirmative care but also self-determination.

After completing this course, I feel even more prepared and educated in the process of writing WPATH assessments and I highly recommend this training. I am happy to provide consultation for other mental health professionals in working with the trans population, the WPATH Standards of Care, surgery psycho-education and letter writing.

Reach out if you want more information on the Gender ASSET, how to access the training, and/or if you are in need of a therapist.

11/16/2020

Hey y’all, it is Transgender Awareness Week! Trans Awareness Week is an internationally recognized "holiday" and proceeds Transgender Day of Remembrance. During this week, the trans community and their allies come together to promote visibility and to provide education and resources about the issues faced by the community.

Here at Cass Daniels Therapy, we want all trans and gender-expansive people to know their journeys and experiences are valid. Visibility and awareness is critical as it allows for the creation of a world that is open to self-discovery, exploration, and authenticity. However, there is often a dominant narrative that reduces the trans experience to bite-sized images of physical transformations and stereotypical binary representations. While bodies and the binary are important to many trans folx, it can be harmful to reduce this beautiful and diverse community to such a narrow narrative.

All trans experiences are beautiful.
We are not just our bodies, we are not just the binary.

10/28/2020

Hey y’all! Happy workout Wednesday. C**ter is here to talk to us about the importance of working on our mobility and getting our blood flowing when chest binding. Check out this short and informative video to learn more and reach out to C**ter if you are interested in personal training sessions.

10/26/2020

Here in Colorado, it is a snowy Monday!!! We are starting our day by getting our blood pumping and bodies moving with these chest stretching exercises explained by

Join us in making sure that our pec muscles aren’t too tight!

10/25/2020

Happy Self-Care Sunday. Today we would like to give everyone a heads up that tomorrow is Inters*x Awareness Day! Inters*x is an umbrella term used to categorize bodies & biology that do not fit within societies narrow views of the s*x binary.
Being inters*x is natural but infants are often not given autonomy over their bodies.
However, growing activism, such as International Inters*x Day are helping so protect and lift up the voices of these amazing humans.

10/21/2020

Join C**ter (he/him) as he teaches you the importance of taking care of your back muscles when binding and taping. In this short video, C**ter models the appropriate form for rows.

Thanks C**ter!

10/21/2020

Happy International Pronouns Day!!! Let's normalize sharing our pronouns. I use he/him/his pronouns

What pronouns do you use?

International Pronouns Day 3rd Wednesday of October October 21, 2020 Register Now

10/19/2020

Start this Monday morning off right with some back stretches with Gina.

Chest binding, sitting at a desk all day, COVID stress, stress due to elections and systemic oppression, etc., etc., etc. can all cause major back pain.

Take 5-10 minutes to get in touch with your body.

10/18/2020

Self-Care Sunday • When using a chest binder, it is important to follow these do’s and don’ts to protect your muscular, respiratory, skeletal and mental health.

As always, listen to your body 🌟

10/16/2020

Happy Factual Friday.

Many people do not have the opportunity or access to pay for a chest binder. This could be due to many reasons such as cost and/or lack of family support.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a binder but can not afford one, check out some of these resources that offer free and reduced cost binders.

10/12/2020

Hello all! Join Gina as she guides you through shoulder and neck stretches.

Chest binding, taping and dysphoria can have immense impacts on our bodies - particularly our posture and shoulder tightness/soreness. Engaging in movement and stretching can loosen these area of your body and improve your physical health. Taking a couple of minutes either each day or each week to stretch out your muscles is super important!

10/11/2020

For self-care Sunday we are celebrating National Coming Out Day!

Here at Cass Daniels Therapy we know this can be a day filled with mixed and complex emotions. Wherever you are in your coming out process, we see you and you are loved and valid.

10/09/2020

Factual Friday • Looking for a chest binder or chest tape? Support these three tans-owned businesses.

Check back next factual friday for a list of resources for free and reduced cost binder options.

10/07/2020

C**ter Cordova is a q***r, trans activist, personal trainer, husband, dog daddy and overall awesome human! Every Wednesday during the month of October, we will be posting a video in which C**ter describes strategies and techniques to strengthen the areas of your body that may be impacted by chest dysphoria and chest binding/taping. C**ter has been weight training since he was a teen and deeply understands the nuances of the trans body. Follow along to learn more about how to take care of your physical health. Also, if you watch these videos, you might happen to see Bellatrix, C**ter’s French bulldog!

10/05/2020

Happy Movement Monday!!

Watch this inclusive, accessible and informative video about breathing techniques. In this video, Gina (she/hers) teaches useful skills around belly breathing which promotes relaxation and calming! Trying incorporating some of these techniques into your daily or weekly routine.

When chest binding/taping, it is super important to take some time each day to take deep breaths. While binding has positive mental health benefits, it has negative impacts on our respiratory system. Belly breathing with our binders on and/or off can help keep our lungs safe and healthy.

10/04/2020

Self Care Sunday - Take a moment to stop scrolling and take a deep breath. We breathe on auto-pilot all day long but becoming aware and intentional around our breath can have a transformative effect. Breathing is one of the simplest ways to feel more grounded.

10/02/2020

For our first factual Friday and to prepare for the remainder of the month, we will be discussing gender dysphoria and the mental and physical health impacts of chest binding/taping.

Gender dysphoria: Term used to describe the feelings, thoughts and sensations associated with conflict between someone's assigned s*x at birth and their gender identity. Gender Dysphoria is multi-dimensional and extremely personal. It looks and feels differently for everyone. In fact, many gender expansive people can experience minimal or no dysphoria. There are various components of gender dysphoria but typically it manifests as either physical and/or social dysphoria. Physical dysphoria involves a sense of incongruence between physical s*x characteristics and gender identity. Social dysphoria is the distress and discomfort experienced from being perceived in an unauthentic way based on cis/hetero social standards and norms

For AFAB (assigned female at birth) people, a primary way to reduce chest dysphoria is using a chest binder or chest tape. Chest binding/taping has been found to have beneficial impacts on mental health while having detrimental impacts on physical health. The benefits for mental health include improvement to self-esteem, reduction in dysphoria, reduction in anxiety and reduction in depression. Impacts on physical health include body tightness, muscle atrophy, postural changes, and respiratory concerns.

Follow along the rest of the month as we provide information, techniques and skills to take care of your mental and physical health when dealing with chest dysphoria and binding/taping.

10/01/2020

Happy October!!! As promised, over the month of October our social media is going to be focused on chest dysphoria, binding/taping health and awareness, and physical/mental self care. Check out this posting schedule to follow along. We are excited to have you join us!

Movement Mondays: Join for breathing and stretching techniques to increase your bodily self-awareness, comfort and flexibility.

Workout Wednesdays: Join for strength training and work out videos to feel more affirmed, strong and confident with your body.

Factual Friday: Posts about binding/taping health, dysphoria, and resources around finding affordable or free binders/tape.

Self-Care Sunday: Posts related to mental, physical and emotional self care.