Queering group therapy: a mixed methods study of the effectiveness of group therapy for transgender and non-binary persons

Group therapy is an effective treatment for mental health concerns and has been shown to be as effective as individual therapy. Group therapy is more accessible for people who face financial challenges such as lack of insurance coverage and it provides a unique environment for working on mental health concerns because of the opportunities to engage within multiple interpersonal relationships. Group therapy members are therefore able to feel normalized through the experiences of others, learn from and share learning with others, receive feedback about their behaviors which can increase self-understanding, gain a sense of community, and increase hope for change. Although this mode of therapy has been well studied in the general population, there are very few studies addressing transgender and non-binary people (TGNB).

This study is a twelve-week group therapy intervention with eight self-identified TGNB persons looking at changes in depression, collective self-esteem, connection to community, and resilience as well as the relationship between these and group cohesion. Results have been analyzed using a mixed methods approach with the qualitative results allowing a nuanced interpretation of the quantitative results. Results indicate that this intervention was effective for reducing depression and that the negative relationships subscale of the group cohesion measure had the most impact on ratings of depressive symptoms. Qualitative results indicate that most participants appreciated the group and experienced benefit, however, one person reported negative experiences. Recommendations for group therapy facilitators are provided.