Journal article
Recommended Terminology, Pronouns, and Documentation for Work With Transgender and Non-Binary Populations
Practice innovations (Washington, D.C.), Vol.4(4), pp.214-224
12/2019
DOI: 10.1037/pri0000098
Abstract
Therapists may encounter many opportunities and dilemmas when working with transgender and non-binary clients. Transgender and non-binary clients may use pronouns that are new or unfamiliar to their therapists, but little is known about the unique impact that pronoun use may have in therapy. The pronouns and preferred names that transgender and non-binary clients use may also shift during the course of the therapeutic relationship. Best practices for affirmative therapy include recognizing and validating a client's gender identity, use of gender pronouns that are congruent with a client's gender identity, and using the client's preferred or chosen name, not their birth name. These clients may present to therapy for a variety of reasons; therefore, it is important to trust the client's self-perception of their own gender identity and to not engage in harmful gatekeeping practices. Scholars have highlighted the negative emotions that individuals may experience when they are misgendered, deadnamed, invalidated, or otherwise denied access to medically appropriate care. Therapists may experience anxiety about providing care that is transgender-affirmative, which may affect the therapist-client alliance. The authors draw on their own experiences as therapists working with transgender and non-binary clients and provide recommendations and guidance for therapists.
Clinical Impact Statement
This article provides guidance and information about pronoun use, documentation, terminology, and clinical errors in an effort to support clinical work with transgender and non-binary individuals. Throughout the article, vignettes, examples, and practical applications are provided.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Recommended Terminology, Pronouns, and Documentation for Work With Transgender and Non-Binary Populations
- Creators
- Douglas Knutson - Southern Illinois University CarbondaleJulie M Koch - Oklahoma State UniversityChloe Goldbach - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Contributors
- Jeff Zimmerman (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Practice innovations (Washington, D.C.), Vol.4(4), pp.214-224
- Publisher
- Educational Publishing Foundation
- DOI
- 10.1037/pri0000098
- ISSN
- 2377-889X
- eISSN
- 2377-8903
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2019
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Record Identifier
- 9984374343802771
Metrics
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