“Finding a Therapist When You Are Struggling With Your Gender Identity”

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Youtube Link Session: https://youtu.be/uzmrYOiYsXE

Deciding to see a therapist because of struggles with gender identity can be very much intimidating. However, one of the major benefits of going to a therapist is that you will not have to figure out everything by yourself. In addition, a therapist will ask questions and provide his/her client with the space so that they can discuss the issues that might be difficult for the client to bring up with others. Thus, you are not alone as you have someone to rely on. In this session, therapists discussed how they deal with gender issues and how they cater to the needs of their clients.

Challenges That Therapists Face When Working With Different Genders in Regards to Mental Health:

  • Gender shouldn’t dictate what may be effective in a session.

  • Differences in values, ethics, norms and beliefs.

  • Some clients don’t feel comfortable exploring or feeling the emotions in front of the therapists.

  • Not being a stereotype.

  • Culture differences.

  • Generation gap.

How Are Clients Affected on a Community or a Societal level? (Both Men and Women)

  • Some clients don’t have access to resources such as no education, no career and thus they remain unemployed.

  • On a community level, some don’t have access to food, health-care, or child care which has a negative impact on their mental well-being.

  • Crisis situations aren’t being addressed so cases of abuse and mental health emergencies are being dropped.

  • Our society still isn’t fully comfortable with the LGBTQ community so it affects them on an emotional level but recent studies have shown that there is a housing society named DASH which provides a variety of services and resources for the LGBT community (LGBTQ victims, survivors and refugees).

Issues of Countertransference

  • There have been cases of preferences in a way that clients feel like they are safe and have established an instant connection with the therapist.

  • Clients look for a humbling experience such as they prefer therapists who are listeners.

  • Therapists have to be open-minded and curious about the client's history.

  • Therapists need to embrace their client’s feelings positively.

Although it can be daunting to find the right therapist, many people find the journey helpful & rewarding in the long run. Every person deserves to feel a sense of understanding and comfort in their gender and body.