Theorizing Black Trans Survivance and Care in the Context of COVID 19: A Clinical Case Study

ABSTRACT

Although Trans women of color experience unique stressors to their physical and mental health and bring distinctive survival and resistance strategies to a therapeutic relationship, they are widely underrepresented in the clinical literature. This paper presents a case of a Black transfeminine youth in an urban area, offering questions brought forward to a clinical consultation during the Covid 19 pandemic. It situates the case in the history of Black Trans subjugation It then examines the case from three theoretical perspectives: psychoanalytic thought, queer of color critique, and a neurobiological perspective. The case is interpreted through each theoretical lens, offering both an understanding of the presenting issues as well as implications for treatment planning. The perspectives are then integrated, offering an example of how one might use a synthesis of perspectives in conversation with each other to best conceptualize and plan for treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Race
• Blackness
• Trans
• object relations
• trauma theory
• queer of color critique

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rory Crath

Dr. Rory Crath has over 15 years of community-based experience working in the areas of homelessness, sexual health promotion, and anti-poverty, anti-racism mobilization with urban queer, two spirit and trans youth in Toronto. He currently is a resident faculty member at Smith College School for Social Work.

Hannah Karpman

Dr. Hannah Karpman is resident faculty at Smith College School for Social Work. Spurred on by what she observed early in her career in residential mental health services for young women, Karpman’s broad research interests include the places where the child welfare, mental health, physical health and other child-serving systems intersect.

J. J. Mull

J. J. Mull is a poet, training clinician, and graduate student at Smith College School for Social Work based in Northampton, MA. His work has been published by Wolfman Quarterly,  Tagvverk, Dogpark Collective, and elsewhere.

Leigh-Anne Francis

Dr. Leigh-Anne Francis is an Associate Professor of African American Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Leigh-Anne holds a Ph.D. in United States and African American History, an M.A. in U.S. and World History, and a B.F.A. in Painting and Illustration.