Counseling Transgender Clients

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Counseling Transgender Clients

Transgender people include transexuals as well as other individuals who cross-dress due to different reasons (Sue et al., 2022). A person’s gender is determined at birth by external genital and biological processes. Therefore, no one controls what gender they want to be or make. Therefore, it is wise for transgender counselors to start their talks by making their clients understand that nature has to take its course, no human can control it, and no one stands to be discriminated against.

While dealing with transgender clients, I would recommend that counselors always try to have a conversation that is based on science. Adopting bias-conscious counseling will allow them to be highly aware of their values. It’s very important to let clients understand that religion has nothing to do with who someone is, either male or female but appreciate it.

A qualified counselor should always use gender-fair language. using gender inclusion terms are always best. For example, in counselling sessions, the counselor can talk about the chairperson instead of the chairlady or chairman (Lindqyist et al., 2019). The counselor must try to understand how their clients feel when referred to by different gender. Transgender persons are not mentally ill. However, most transgender persons experience dysphonia at various times as they do their various life duties. The counselors must know that they have to treat the dysphonia and assist them in finding possible ways of expressing gender physically and socially.

To sum up, lack of knowledge, comfort, and skills among providers who work with transgender is one of the challenges faced. There is an imbalance between the counselor and the client. Transgender people rarely seek counseling, but when they do, in most cases, there is a challenge of average rates of depression, suicide, and self-mutilation (Morris et al., 2020).

Reference

Lindquist, A., Renström, E. A., & Gustafsson Sendén, M. (2019). Reducing a male bias in language? Establishing the efficiency of three different gender-fair language strategies. Sex Roles, 81(1), 109-117.

Morris, E. R., Lindley, L., & Galupo, M. P. (2020). “Better issues to focus on”: Transgender Microaggressions as Ethical Violations in Therapy. The Counseling Psychologist, 48(6), 883-915.

Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.