Tony has been training in varying professional settings since 2005. He is known for his humor and ability to make light of a sometimes challenging situation.
Tony's trainings leave the audience with a new found perspective on what it is like to be transgender and how that newly acquired knowledge can help them be better for their patients, staff and co-workers. His commitment to delivering a thought-provoking and heartfelt training will leave you wanting more. Tony is available for custom workshop arrangements but his ‘off the shelf’ trainings include the following:
Holding Space in Crisis: Caring for Trans and Non-Binary Youth When the System Fails Them
This one-hour training is designed for health providers, behavioral health providers, and educators/school staff who are on the frontlines of supporting trans and non-binary youth. With gender-affirming medical care for minors being withdrawn by major hospitals, and the removal of LGBTQ+ specialized crisis supports from 988, young people are arriving in hospitals, clinics, and classrooms carrying heightened levels of fear, grief, and despair.
Tony Ferraiolo provides direct and compassionate guidance on how to recognize when distress shows up as shutdown, anger, self-harm, physical stress, or quiet despair; how to respond when a student or patient says “I don’t know,” in a way that reflects feelings rather than forcing answers; and how to create micro-moments of safety and belonging even when larger systems fail them. The training also emphasizes self-care strategies for providers and staff, offering ways to stay grounded and resilient while doing this difficult work.
Participants will leave with practical tools to show up fully for youth while also protecting their own emotional well-being.
Caring for Your Transgender Patient
Discrimination in health care settings can be very common for transgender individuals. This workshop will help you understand the needs of your transgender patients from the front desk check in, to the exam room. This workshop will provide you with the tools and language that is needed for health care providers and their staff to deliver respectful and competent care to their transgender patient.
Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth
Transgender youth have a voice that is rarely heard. Through artwork, trans youth can give voice to their experiences and feelings. Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth is a unique workshop presented by Tony Ferraiolo, CPC. Tony shares with his audience his one-on-one experiences working with transgender youth and the realization that trans youth don’t have gender identity issues — it is often everyone around them who has an issue with their gender identity. The workshop will showcase a slide show of actual drawings created by members of Tony’s youth groups, Translation and Create Yourself. The drawings are the artistic expressions of answers to questions like “Draw what anger feels like,” and “What makes you sad?”
Your Transgender Students
Trans gender students are often misunderstood. Often educators are faced with questions like…What pronoun and name should I use? What restroom or locker room should my transgender student use? This workshop will answer these questions and more. Drawing from first hand experiences, Tony’s perspective is extremely powerful. After his own transition, he has devoted his life to training educators how to support their transgender students, reminding he’s audience that every student deserves a safe and respectful education.
Just a few of Tony's Past Workshops and Trainings:
Interested in a booking engagement with Tony Ferraiolo?
"Tony -- Your presentation was phenomenal -- it gave us so much to think upon, to reflect on and even to change. We were so thankful to have you join us and share your experiences, your wisdom, your sense of humor - and most importantly your compassion. It renews our commitment to meeting every child where they are! "
Principal, Elementary School