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Post by eccentric on Nov 13, 2015 11:56:37 GMT
As a therapist it is important to remember that we have the propensity to have enormous influence, particularly with young people. It is important as a therapist to have an understanding of the issues surrounding LGBT an awareness of stigma and that clients may or may not feel comfortable with who they are and who they want to be.
There is a risk of discrimination from the therapist even if it is not intended, simply because of heterosexual ideologies in themselves which affect the therapeutic processes.
Encouraging 'coming out at the wrong time can be psychologically damaging to a client if they are not ready to face the consequences.
It is important for the therapist to have knowledge of terminology so as not to discriminate, symbols, historical data, experience with oppression, policies that impact LGBT, knowledge of community resources, and coming out models.
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Post by monica on Nov 13, 2015 21:27:58 GMT
Ethical issues of working with transgender clients might include one's own prejudices and opinions which may be deep-rooted and may not have been challenged until this particular client arrives. The therapist needs to be aware of their own internal responses to a client who is exploring their own identity. Use of language is important - again a therapist would need to be aware of unconscious bias. As above, knowledge of community resources and policies. A client may well ask for advice on how to manage a transition - how to behave in certain situations - and a therapist would need to ensure that they signposted the client rather than try and give advice which may prove less than helpful.
On the other hand, if the transgender client has come to, for example, stop smoking or deal with fear of flying, then the therapist should really be dealing with them in exactly the same way they would any other client - as a client rather than as a 'transgender client'.
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Post by Dr Johnny Munford on Nov 25, 2015 19:24:26 GMT
As a gay man (as well as a therapist) I'd completely concur with this Monica. In fact I'd go further - the process of 'coming out' is one which requires peer support, not just positive counter transference. I'd therefore signpost clients in this position to LBGT support organisations, many of which provide group events and ongoing peer support for people in the early stages of coming out. Whilst coming out is a different process to transitioning, there are obviously parallels.
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Post by eccentric on Dec 7, 2015 19:55:01 GMT
As a therapist who works with young people who are often exploring sexuality and are unsure of themselves in this area, I don't concur that they would necessarily feel comfortable attending organisations that aid 'coming out and in my experience these organisations do not exist in many areas of the country for young people.
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Post by charlotte21 on Dec 15, 2015 16:58:20 GMT
Playing devils advocate I am wondering is it any different from ethic issues dealing with any client? Transgender clients may have a sensitivity to certain topics, language use etc. but then in my experience all clients have sensitive areas - it is simply a question of what that is for each client.
A therapists ontological position will undoubtedly inform the philosophical stance they take in their therapy, which will skew their approach to therapy (no judgement attached to the word 'skew' by the way - we are human thankfully rather than robots!).
As a therapist with a person-centered and psycho-dynamic foundation I agree with eccentric with respect to awareness of the therapist's influence, and with an aware therapist arguably transference and counter-transference can be useful tools within therapy, but combined with person-centered (client driven)intervention. I think the ego-driven more controlling therapists can be hugely detrimental for clients generally but particularly with sensitive areas such as LGBT where a fundamental sense of self can be in question?
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