Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
Learn More.

Learn more.

Due to road closures along Highway 1 to our north and south, Esalen is closed through April 11.
Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
past workshop

Gender Journeys: Exploring Identity in Community

July 9–11, 2021

With Ben Geilhufe and Jen Hastings

This workshop is a deep exploration into the inner dimensions of gender and how gender impacts, influences and informs our day-to-day experiences. Skilled and experienced facilitators will offer a balance of lecture-based sessions, process space and self-exploration in a wide range of modalities, including art, movement, journaling, and individual and small group work. Participants will explore their own gender journeys and gender identities, share their experiences, and build community connections.

The nature of this work is deeply personal and thus requires a safe and supportive environment. To that end, registration for this workshop is specifically limited to transgender, non-binary, gender-fluid and/or gender-exploring individuals. To apply, please follow this link to share your gender experience and receive a password to complete your registration process with Esalen.

This application is not meant to be invasive, but to intentionally create safety and an affirming space for participants to explore their gender, share their stories, and build community.

This workshop is limited to registered participants and participants must be able to attend all sessions.

There are so many books that explore gender diversity and gender exploration. We have listed a hand-full here, which is by no means an exhaustive list. We have included links to further reading at the bottom.

  1. Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity. Edited by Micah Rajunov and A. Scott Duane
  2. Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
  3. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth
  4. Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
  5. Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison Green
  6. Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Feminity, by Julia Serano

Links for further exploration:

  1. Transgender Reading List for Adults
  2. 21 Must-Read Books for Transgender Awareness Month (2016)
  3. Goodreads: Popular Gender Identity Books, youth and adults

Ben Geilhufe

Ben Geilhufe (he/him/his) is the director of community-based clinical programs for the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center, adjunct faculty at Santa Clara University, co-facilitator of the Gender Therapist Team of the Central Coast, and a clinician in private practice in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Full Bio

Jen Hastings

Jen Hastings (pronouns jen) is a family practice physician who started the Transgender Health Care Program at Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, Santa Cruz. Jennifer is an assistant clinical professor in UCSF's Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Full Bio