Lived Experience

I grew up in Little Saigon, Orange County, California. As a young person, I witnessed my family juggle competing priorities as refugees from Việt Nam while I struggled with my gender identity, sexual orientation and untreated mental health issues. Like many queer people, I packed up my bags and moved to a major city in search of meaning and community. I spent the next decade in the Sacramento area and Bay Area where I explored, experimented, stumbled, fell (many times) and grew. With the love and guidance of community and professionals, I found myself. Today, I am a proud Vietnamese-American transgender man living with Bipolar 2, Gender Dysphoria and in recovery from an Eating and Feeding Disorder and substance dependence. I also have educational privilege and am able bodied with legal citizenship. When I am not providing clinical services, I am often communing with Mother Nature, practicing Muay Thai and enjoying nutritious food with loved ones.

I have learned a lot throughout my lifetime and I am committed to continue learning. Although we may share identities or experiences, it is my responsibility and desire to remain deeply attuned to your individual and cultural experiences. I welcome any discussion and incorporation of power, privilege and identity into our work together.

Education and Training

I am registered as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the state of California (CA BBS #89309).

I received my Master's in Social Welfare with the University of California, Berkeley with a concentration in Community Mental Health. In other words, my studies and training focused on working within marginalized and disenfranchised communities. My clinical practicuums included placement with a wraparound program serving foster youth (9 - 24 y/o) and a public health clinic serving low-income adults living with HIV and/or Gender Dysphoria.

Recent Continuing Education and Professional Development:

Fundamentals of Exposure-Based Therapy for OCD and Anxiety Disorders on 12/4/2023.
Childhood OCD: Symptoms & Assessment on 9/7/2023.
Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self Harm and Suicide Attempts Among Youth on 4/29/2023.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders on 4/29/2023.
OCD Sexual Content: Navigating Stigmas and Empowering Treatment on 3/29/2023.
Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders on 3/1/2023.
Medication Treatment for OCD: What Non-Prescribers Need to Know on 1/30/2023.

Why "Gender Specialist"?

Although there is no governing board who determines who can identify as a “Gender Specialist,” many individuals or organizations seeking gender-specific support use “Gender Specialist” to guide their search. I include “Gender Specialist” in my title due to my extensive training and experience. In addition to co-founding and co-building two Gender Clinics in California, by 2024, I have:

Provided individual therapy and partner/family support to 300_ children and their families, adults and seniors struggling with Gender Dysphoria.
Completed 200+ Gender Surgery Letters of Support that were successful in court approval, insurance authorization or appealing insurance denial.
Developed and facilitated 200+ gender specialty trainings for providers, para professionals and organizations.
Provided clinical program development and management for a public health clinic serving 1,000+ low-income adults and seniors struggling with Gender Dysphoria.
Collaborated with numerous gender surgeons on developing surgery access guidelines and best practices when serving public health and community mental health clients.
Collaborated with numerous insurance companies on developing and implementing Utilization Management guidelines for treating Gender Dysphoria and accessing gender-affirming care.

From peer-to-peer navigation and direct clinical services to program development, research and advocacy, I have worked in nearly every role in the Gender Affirming Care.

Select Recognitions

2022 Graduation Alumni Ceremony Speaker, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley.
2019 Recipient, Healthcare Provider of the Year, Project AFFiRM, San Francisco.
2019 Recipient, The Lotus Award: Recognizing Contributions to the LGBTQ and Vietnamese Communities, Vietnamese Rainbow of Orange County (VROC).
2019 Community Rapporteur, United States Professionals Associations for Transgender Health Bi-Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2016 Fellow, Human Rights Center, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley.
2016 Fellow, Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco.
2014 Recipient, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Scholarship.
2014 Recipient, Vietnamese Rainbow of Orange County Scholarship.
2012 Recipient, National Undergraduate Social Action Award, Sociologists for Women in Society.
2012 Recipient, Chancellor's Student Achievement Award for Diversity and Community, University of California, Davis.

Select Conference Presentations

Clark, D., Do, L., Hatcher-Johnson, Q., Perez, E., & Williams, A., (2023). What’s the Real T: Implementing Holistic Programs with Trans and Gender Expansive Communities. Panelist at the National Transgender Health Summit Pre-Conference. University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Do, L., Gender Health SF. (2019). Let’s Face It: Racial, Ethnic and Cultural Considerations with Facial Feminization Surgery. Presented at the United States Professional Association for Transgender Health Conference. Washington, D.C.
Do, T., & Wenzel, C. (2019). Adult Assessments for Gender Surgeries and Procedures. Presented at National Transgender Health Summit Pre-Conference. University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Hyemingway, Z., Chang, S., & Do, L. (2017). Decolonizing Transgender Medicine: Meeting the Needs of People of Color. Presented at U.S. Professional Association for Transgender Health Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

About: Credentials