Cisgenderism in Family Therapy: How Everyday Clinical Practices Can Delegitimize People's Gender Self-Designations

Abstract

Cisgenderism is the ideology that delegitimizes people's own designations of their genders and bodies. Family therapy (FT) offers a systemic, non-pathologizing framework for working with people who have experienced cisgenderism. Unfortunately, FT practices, like those of many mental health professionals, are often cisgenderist. The authors discuss literature on cisgenderism, explore implications of therapists’ and supervisors’ cisgenderist practices, and provide a brief self-reflection tool.

Keywords:

• cisgenderism
• family therapy
• family therapy supervision
• gender
• gender affirmative family therapy
• intersex
• misgendering
• transaffirmative
• transgender

Notes

¹Appendix is in part inspired by the work of McGeorge, C., & Carlson, T. S. (2011). Deconstructing heterosexism: Becoming an LGB affirmative heterosexual couple and family therapist. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 14–26.

²This case example represents a clinical composite that exemplifies how cisgenderism can be inherent to current practices. Pseudonyms are used in this example.