Seeking Support: Transgender Client Experiences with Mental Health Services

Mental health research and practice has traditionally maintained a view of transgender people through the narrow lens of gender identity disorder. Recently, broader understandings of gender have influenced affirmative therapy with transgender clients. The purpose of the present research is to critic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of feminist family therapy 2013-01, Vol.25 (1), p.17-40
Main Author: Benson, Kristen E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Feminism
feminist research
feminist theory
Feminists
Gender identity
Gender identity disorder
Health services
LGBT affirmative therapy
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
phenomenology
qualitative research
queer
Reputation
Sex
Sex Role Identity
Standards of Care
Therapists
therapy
Training
Transgender persons
Transsexuality
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Summary:Mental health research and practice has traditionally maintained a view of transgender people through the narrow lens of gender identity disorder. Recently, broader understandings of gender have influenced affirmative therapy with transgender clients. The purpose of the present research is to critically review historical views of transgender clients and to highlight experiences of transgender clients in therapy. Feminist phenomenology informed in-depth interviews with seven people who self-identify as transgender. Four themes emerged: the purposes transgender clients sought therapy, problems in practice, therapist reputation, and transgender affirmative therapy. Transgender affirmative practice and training implications are discussed.
ISSN:0895-2833
1540-4099
DOI:10.1080/08952833.2013.755081