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Gender Journeys: Exploring Identity in Community
July 9–11, 2021
July 9–11, 2021
With Ben Geilhufe and Jen Hastings

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

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Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Need a scholarship? Apply here.

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

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
Ben Geilhufe

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.

Read More

Jen Hastings

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.

Read More

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Workshop Schedule

Fri 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Sat 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sat 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm

Sat 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Sun 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing

With Ben Geilhufe and Jen Hastings

July 9–11, 2021
Register Now

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

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
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.

Read More

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.

Read More

Workshop Schedule

Fri 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Sat 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sat 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm

Sat 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Sun 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing