Dr. Avilés is a trans and human rights advocate, educator, and policy influencer informed by 18+ years of clinical practice with a wide variety of trans, gender diverse, and q***r individuals across the lifespan. As a Doctor of Psychology, she specializes in gender identity, s*x therapy, and the impact of minority stressors on the mental health of LGBTQI+ individuals. As an educator, she focuses on ensuring that others develop the clinical and cultural competencies to serve transgender and gender-diverse individuals, considering their unique biopsychosocial needs, ethnic and cultural background, and potential exposure to trauma. As a humanities scholar, she focuses on understanding the lived experiences of these individuals in society and disseminating such understanding through different means, including publications and photography. Dr. Avilés is the founder of Transcending Identities, an organization committed to improving the quality of life for transgender and gender non-binary individuals through research, human rights advocacy, professional training, and consulting in the United States, in Dr. Avilés’ native Puerto Rico, and abroad. Dr. Avilés has been a featured guest on many television, radio, and online media outlets discussing gender identity issues and the results of her research study about the needs of the transgender community in Puerto Rico. Her interviews and presentations include an interview with the LGBTQ Policy Journal at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government about her research, work with the transgender community, involvement with Amnesty International, and the creation of innovative policy solutions for the transgender community. Dr. Avilés was a panelist for a Trans Inclusive Policy Discussion organized by the Kennedy School's LGBTQ Policy Journal. She was also a guest speaker during Amnesty International Puerto Rico's presentation of their 2015/2016 Annual Report on the state of international human rights. She was the subject matter expert for Telemundo 47’s award-winning series “Orgullo LGBTQ: 52 años de lucha y evolución” and was honored by this channel, where she was featured as an example during Puerto Rican Heritage Month. For the last 18 years, Dr. Avilés has had the opportunity to listen to the life stories of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. To begin disseminating the understanding of the experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals in Puerto Rico and to bring positive visibility that challenged the stigma and discrimination against them, she collaborated with Amnesty International to create the photographic exhibit TRANSciende. In order to translate the stories of transgender and gender nonbinary individuals into academic language to be used by healthcare providers, Dr. Avilés authored “Minority Stress Theory and Resilience-Building Practice” and co-authored "Intersectionality, Culturally Sensitive Care, and LGBTQ+ Youth" for the book "Mental Health Practice with LGBTQ+ Children, Adolescents, and Emerging Adults in Multiple Systems of Care”. Also, in collaboration with Ivana Fred, BS, and María Belén, members of the transgender community, she co-authored “Transfeminine Identities: Socioeconomic, Physical, Mental, and Sexual Status” for the book Comunidades Trans, Cuirs y No Binaria: Presencia y Resistencia (Trans, Q***r and Non-Binary Communities: Presence and resistance). This chapter depicts the biopsychosocial experiences of transfeminine individuals in Latin America and the United States. Through her work, Dr. Avilés continues to work towards her life's goal of ensuring that transgender and gender nonbinary individuals, including those impacted by intersecting forms of discrimination, are treated with dignity and respect. Dr. Avilés is licensed in Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. She provides in-person and online training and consulting services in the United States and abroad.
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Transcending Identities es una organización fundada por la Dra. Eunice Avilés Faría, quien es especialista en identidad de género y terapia de género. Esta organización nace del dolor, crueldad, falta de atención, irrespeto, injusticia, y desconocimiento sobre las comunidades transgénero y con variabilidad de género observada por la Dra. Por medio de Transcending Identities, la Dra. Avilés busca aumentar el conocimiento sobre las necesidades de las personas transgénero y con variabilidad de género y ayudar para que estas necesidades sean satisfechas. Para lograr su meta de satisfacer las necesidades de esta comunidad, la Dra. Avilés provee los siguientes servicios:
-Conferencias educativas y adiestramientos de capacitación profesional sobre identidad de género y terapia de género.
-Supervisión clínica para profesionales de la salud mental que provean, o que deseen proveer, servicios de evaluación y/o terapia a individuos transgénero y con variabilidad de género
-Servicios especializados de consultoría a empresas, instituciones privadas y públicas, hospitales, clínicas y prácticas privadas (ej. de salud mental, médicas, legales) y comercios que deseen proveer servicios éticos, respetuosos e inclusivos a la comunidad transgénero y con variabilidad de género. Avilés esta disponible para:
-Contrataciones locales e internacionales para proveer charlas educativas y adiestramientos de capacitacion de profesionales.
-Supervisión clínica y servicios de consultoría en persona, por teléfono y/o en línea.
