Affirmative Counseling With Transgender and Gender Diverse Clients

In this video, Drs. lore m. dickey and Anneliese A. Singh explore the different dimensions of providing affirmative counseling when working with transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse clients.

This approach is based on theories of gender affirmation, intersectionality, multiculturalism, and social justice, all of which are applied to build a strong foundation for the therapeutic relationship. Attention to issues of cisgender privilege and the importance of psychologist self-reflection are emphasized, in addition to the role of psychologists as social justice advocates and change agents.

In this program, Dr. Singh demonstrates this approach with an agender person who is dealing with social anxiety and unresolved issues with being able to use the workplace restroom. Later in the program, Drs. dickey and Singh discuss the demonstration session and analyze the approach.

Lore M. Dickey is an assistant professor and doctoral training director in the department of educational psychology at Northern Arizona University.

Anneliese A. Singh is an associate professor and associate dean of diversity and equity in the college of education at the University of Georgia.