Reflections on virtual group work with transgender and gender diverse youth during the pandemic

ABSTRACT

This narrative offers reflections by three different group workers, all colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital with various levels of group work experience. Their aim is to share with readers the story of their work in virtual psychotherapy groups with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. They address the rationale for providing virtual groups for this population, offer sound recommendations on how to create safety in virtual groups, and share their insights on moving beyond isolation and division to connection, acceptance, unity, and intimacy through a virtual format during this unprecedented time of crisis.

KEYWORDS:

• Transgender and gender diverse youth
• TGD
• COVID-19 pandemic
• virtual groups
• group work
• adolescence