SPECIAL FOCUS : GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE
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Humanistic approaches to counseling honor the individual client through emphasizing one ’ s personal worth and the creative nature of human beings while centering on human values :
• Person-centered theory centers the importance of unconditional positive regard and phenomenology within counseling practice . Considering that many gender-diverse individuals struggle with being seen in interpersonal spaces , integrating a person-centered approach can enhance the therapeutic relationship and trust .
• Feminist theory uses a socialjustice lens of navigating systems of oppression for the individual . Using this approach provides an opportunity for clients to engage in gender-role and / or power analyses and facilitates activism and social change within systems of oppression .
• The constructivist approach of narrative therapy empowers clients to “ re-story ” their experiences and externalizes the problems clients experience or have experienced in their lifetime . The process of externalization and creating a new narrative directly challenges the internalization process and can lead to less gender-minority stress .
In addition to the theoretical approaches LCMHCs can utilize when counseling gender-diverse individuals , a counselor can also utilize resilience-based interventions to promote cognitive flexibility and active coping skills . For example :
• Integrating community connections as a protective factor can benefit gender-diverse individuals
as it can help facilitate embracing one ’ s authentic identity and self-worth .
• Using compassion-oriented therapeutic practices , especially in a world that includes threats to health-care access or authentic living , can help clients embrace their identity .
• Supporting identity pride ( when an individual is proud of who they are ) leads to increased resiliency when navigating external and environmental prejudicial stressors such as victimization , rejection , discrimination , and non-affirmation .
In determining how gender-role socialization may impact a gender-diverse client , LCMHCs may consider utilizing a gender-role analysis . This therapeutic activity is situated within feminist theory and relies on the nature of personcentered practice of maintaining unconditional positive regard , empathy , and a trusting therapeutic alliance . When facilitating a gender-role analysis , counselors help clients regain their personal power by overseeing the direction of therapy .
Clients are asked to recall the gender-role messages they received when growing up ; these messages could be from any one or combination of systems within the ecological model ( i . e ., parents , family , friends , teachers , disclosures made by trusted teachers to parents , school and workplace policies , laws that restrict access to care , etc .).
Once these messages are identified , the client would then move to identify the damaging self-statements that they have internalized based on these messages . This can be beneficial for individuals as they become aware of how these gender-role messages and expectations are at the root of their current “ problems .” A gender-role analysis is also helpful for counselors , as they are then able to utilize gender-role interventions such as reframing and challenging core beliefs , as well as providing out-of-session tasks and support .
Breaking the Link Between Inaccurate Gender-Role Expectations and Self-Concept
While not every gender-diverse client will attend counseling to address their gender identity , it is important that Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors consider how their clients — and themselves — have been socialized into sex-based gender roles and expectations . As objective and empathetic listeners , LCMHCs can become curious about how inaccurate gender-role expectations and messages may interfere with any client ’ s self-concept — and their own .
In addition , providing all clients with an option for why they may not engage authentically in social spaces can be beneficial in helping them restructure their gender story and become more confident when engaging with others .
The Advocate Magazine 2023 , Issue # 3 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) ww . amhca . org 11