Abstract
The counseling profession calls for a strength-based conceptualization of the personal, developmental, emotional, relational, and mental health issues facing transgender clients. In this article, the authors suggest utilizing the evidence-based indivisible self wellness (IS-Wel) model to conceptualize the experiences of transgender individuals. The authors describe experiences of transgender persons, for the purpose of educating counselors on the challenges of gender and sexual orientation, societal normative issues, and transgender culture. Lastly, the authors illustrate the use of the IS-Wel model for conceptualization of the transgender experience within the normative heterosexist social and cultural climate.