Investigating gender affirmative approaches to counselling: Learning from counsellors in the profession and reflecting on implications for Graduate Counselling Programs

Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals often report experiencing several obstacles with accessing mental health services prepared to meet their needs. This current study used a case study methodology to explore the subjective experiences of three therapists working with the transgender population using gender affirmative counselling approaches. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: (1) inadequate training and independent learning, (2) the damaging impact of inadequate training, (3) foundational baseline knowledge, and (4) core embodied practices. The results of this study provide the perspective of therapists with experience practicing gender affirmative therapy and can be used inform professional training programs to better prepare mental health professional to work with this population.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Pigeau, Thomas L

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Martino, Wayne
• Brown, Jason

• Mental health
• transgender
• gender affirmative care
• gender affirmative therapy
• transgender erasure
• psychotherapy

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/37334

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/37334