APPROACHES TO WORKING WITH GENDER DIVERSITY

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Unaffirming:

• Does not have knowledge of transgender and/or gender diverse identities. 

• Feels using a person’s chosen name and pronoun may be giving credence to mental illness. 

• Believes genitalia determines someone’s gender. 

• Believes identifying with a gender other then the gender assigned at birth is due to mental illness.

 

Neutral:

• May or may not be interested in learning more about transgender identities.  

• May or may not have interacted with transgender people.  

• Is undecided on whether to refer to someone by their birth name or chosen name. 

• Is unsure if gender is determined by genitalia or other factors.

 

Novice:

• Has very limited or no knowledge of transgender or gender diverse identities.  

• Has very limited or no interaction with gender diverse or transgender people.  

• Is interested in learning about different models of working with transgender people.  

 

Friendly:

• Has limited knowledge of transgender identities and is willing to learn more. 

• Has interacted with transgender and gender diverse people and is respectful of client’s gender expression and identity. 

• Feels comfortable being around transgender and gender diverse folks.

• Has created an LGBTQIA+ affirming environment via literature on a website or supportive materials in the office.

 

Affirming:

• Has some knowledge of gender diverse identities and refers to clients with correct name and pronouns, has gender affirmative intake documentation. 

• Has developed limited clinical skills through training, consultation, or readings to help a client with initial exploration of their gender.  

• Understands the history of transgender and non-binary people’s relationship to the medical and mental health community.  

• Has knowledge about the impact of transphobia and the various ways it impacts healthy development.  

• Has begun to study intersectionality, privilege, and explored their own views of gender and gender roles.

• Believes gender diversity and gender expression of all kinds is healthy and a sign of a healthy society.

• Office staff is gender affirming, if applicable.

 

Competent: (Affirming plus, may also identify themselves as a Gender Therapist) 

• A licensed mental health clinician who has obtained education, training, consultation, clinical experience, and engages in ongoing continuing education in working with a gender diverse caseload.

• Able to provide psychoeducation to clients regarding social and medical changes to their gender.  

• Continued learning about intersectionality and their own experience of privilege such as, cisgender, heterosexual, race, education, class, etc.

• Experience writing a variety of referral letters/letters of support to assist clients in receiving gender affirmative care (i.e. gender affirming hormone therapy, name and gender marker change, surgery)

• Knowledge of local resources (i.e. support groups, endocrinologists, affirming providers) and national resources (i.e. WPATH, Trans Lifeline, Transgender Law Center).  

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Created by Adam Sauceda, LPC-S and Lisette Lahana, LCSW