Working Toward Family Attunement: Family Therapy with Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Children and Adolescents.
Families of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth often seek therapy for assistance in understanding, accepting, and supporting their child. This article describes a gender-affirmative approach to family therapy and outlines strategies for addressing common challenges faced by the families of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth. Therapy begins by assessing family attunement and working with parents, siblings, and other family members to better support the youth. Once family attunement is achieved, therapy can begin to explore options for gender expression and/or transition. The therapeutic model is illustrated by applying it to case examples.
Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, 601 East Genesee Street, Peck Hall, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA. Electronic address: dcoole@syr.edu.
Deborah
D
Coolhart
Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, 601 East Genesee Street, Peck Hall, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA.
Daran L
DL
Shipman
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000068116:Gender Dysphoria; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D005260:Female
Family; Gender affirmative; Gender nonconforming; Support; Therapy; Transgender; Youth