Brightstone's Jamila Minnifield to Present at the 2026 AMHCA Annual Conference
What happens when gender diversity and autism spectrum overlap — and clinicians aren't equipped to recognize it? That's the question Jamila Minnifield, MA, is bringing to one of the most highly attended sessions at this year's American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon.
About the Session
Intersecting Identities: Gender Diversity and Autism Spectrum Overlap
2026 AMHCA Annual Conference: Rooted in the Past, Growing Towards the Future
Friday, June 26, 2026 / 9:00–10:30 AM / Portland, Oregon
Why This Topic Matters
Research consistently shows that transgender and non-binary individuals are significantly more likely to present with autism spectrum traits — yet many mental health clinicians report receiving little to no training at this intersection. The result? Diagnostic overshadowing, misread client presentations, and ethical blind spots around scope of competence, treatment planning, and continuity of care.
These aren't edge cases. For clinicians working with adolescents and young adults especially, missing this overlap can mean missing the person entirely.
What Attendees Will Learn
Jamila's session offers a clinically grounded, evidence-based framework for working with transgender and autistic adolescents and young adults. Participants will explore how sensory processing differences, executive functioning challenges, and communication styles intersect with identity development — and how those intersections shape mental health outcomes including anxiety, depression, and suicidality.
The session covers:
Accurate case formulation and how to differentiate overlapping features without flattening either identity
Neurodiversity-affirming and gender-affirming interventions that hold both realities
Ethical decision-making — including how to evaluate clinician fit, when to consult or refer, and how bias shapes treatment outcomes
Collaboration with families, schools, and other systems of care to ensure consistent, developmentally appropriate support across settings
Through case examples and structured discussion, attendees leave with practical tools for assessment, intervention, and interdisciplinary coordination.
About Jamila Minnifield
Jamila Minnifield, MA, brings both clinical depth and lived commitment to the populations Brightstone Transitions serves. As a core member of Brightstone's programming team, her work sits at the intersection of therapeutic practice, identity development, and whole-person care for young adults navigating some of life's most complex transitions.
Her presence on this stage — at a session flagged as highly attended — reflects both the urgency of this clinical conversation and the caliber of expertise she brings to it.
Brightstone's Growing Clinical Focus
Jamila's work at the AMHCA conference is a glimpse into the direction Brightstone Transitions is heading. We've always believed that meaningful support for young adults requires more than structure — it requires clinical intentionality woven into every layer of care. That vision is becoming more central to everything we do. More to come on that soon.
In the meantime, if you're attending the AMHCA conference in Portland, don't miss Jamila's session on June 26. It's the kind of presentation that changes how you see your clients — and your practice.
Want to learn more about Brightstone Transitions and our approach to supporting young adults?