Seeking Support: Transgender Client Experiences with Mental Health Services

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• feminist research
• feminist theory
• gender identity
• gender identity disorder
• LGBT affirmative therapy
• mental health
• phenomenology
• qualitative research
• queer
• Standards of Care
• therapy
• transgender

Notes

The author extends sincere gratitude to Fred Piercy, Ph.D., for his mentorship and guidance during this project.