Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People
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Case 9:18-cv-80771-RLR Document 126-30 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/24/2018 Page 1 of 33 Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People American Psychological Association Transgender and gender nonconforming1 (TGNC) people logical practice guidelines be developed to help psycholo- are those who have a gender identity that is not fully gists maximize the effectiveness of services offered and aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The existence of avoid harm when working with TGNC people and their TGNC people has been documented in a range of historical families. cultures (Coleman, Colgan, & Gooren, 1992; Feinberg, Purpose 1996; Miller & Nichols, 2012; Schmidt, 2003). Current population estimates of TGNC people have ranged from The purpose of the Guidelines for Psychological Practice 0.17 to 1,333 per 100,000 (Meier & Labuski, 2013). The with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (hereafter Guidelines) is to assist psychologists in the pro- found 0.5% of the adult population aged 18 to 64 years vision of culturally competent, developmentally appropri- identified as TGNC between 2009 and 2011 (Conron, ate, and trans-affirmative psychological practice with Scott, Stowell, & Landers, 2012). However, population TGNC people. Trans-affirmative practice is the provision estimates likely underreport the true number of TGNC people, given difficulties in collecting comprehensive de- mographic information about this group (Meier & Labuski, The American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) Task Force on Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Non- 2013). Within the last two decades, there has been a sig- conforming People developed these guidelines. lore m. dickey, Louisiana nificant increase in research about TGNC people. This Tech University, and Anneliese A. Singh, The University of Georgia, increase in knowledge, informed by the TGNC community, served as chairs of the Task Force. The members of the Task Force has resulted in the development of progressively more included Walter O. Bockting, Columbia University; Sand Chang, Inde- pendent Practice; Kelly Ducheny, Howard Brown Health Center; Laura trans-affirmative practice across the multiple health disci- Edwards-Leeper, Pacific University; Randall D. Ehrbar, Whitman Walker plines involved in the care of TGNC people (Bockting, Health Center; Max Fuentes Fuhrmann, Independent Practice; Michael L. Knudson, & Goldberg, 2006; Coleman et al., 2012). Re- Hendricks, Washington Psychological Center, P.C.; and Ellen Magalhaes, search has documented the extensive experiences of stigma Center for Psychological Studies at Nova Southeastern University and California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International and discrimination reported by TGNC people (Grant et al., University. 2011) and the mental health consequences of these expe- The Task Force is grateful to BT, Robin Buhrke, Jenn Burleton, Theo riences across the life span (Bockting, Miner, Swinburne Burnes, Loree Cook-Daniels, Ed Delgado-Romero, Maddie Deutsch, Mi- Romine, Hamilton, & Coleman, 2013), including increased chelle Emerick, Terry S. Gock, Kristin Hancock, Razia Kosi, Kimberly Lux, Shawn MacDonald, Pat Magee, Tracee McDaniel, Edgardo Men- rates of depression (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2014) and vielle, Parrish Paul, Jamie Roberts, Louise Silverstein, Mary Alice Sil- suicidality (Clements-Nolle, Marx, & Katz, 2006). TGNC verman, Holiday Simmons, Michael C. Smith, Cullen Sprague, David people’s lack of access to trans-affirmative mental and Whitcomb, and Milo Wilson for their assistance in providing important physical health care is a common barrier (Fredriksen-Gold- input and feedback on drafts of the guidelines. The Task Force is espe- cially grateful to Clinton Anderson, Director, and Ron Schlittler, Program sen et al., 2014; Garofalo, Deleon, Osmer, Doll, & Harper, Coordinator, of APA’s Office on LGBT Concerns, who adeptly assisted 2006; Grossman & D’Augelli, 2006), with TGNC people and provided counsel to the Task Force throughout this project. The Task sometimes being denied care because of their gender iden- Force would also like to thank liaisons from the APA Committee on This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS), April Harris-Britt and Scott This article is intended solely for the personal use of thetity individual user and is not to ( be disseminatedXavier broadly. et al., 2012). In 2009, the American Psychological Association Hunter, and their staff support, Mary Hardiman. Additionally, members of the Task Force would like to thank the staff at the Phillip Rush Center and (APA) Task Force on Gender Identity and Gender Variance Agnes Scott College Counseling Center in Atlanta, Georgia, who served (TFGIGV) survey found that less than 30% of psychologist as hosts for face-to-face meetings. and graduate student participants reported familiarity with This document will expire as APA policy in 2022. After this date, issues that TGNC people experience (APA TFGIGV, users should contact the APA Public Interest Directorate to determine whether the guidelines in this document remain in effect as APA policy. 2009). Psychologists and other mental health professionals Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to the who have limited training and experience in TGNC-affir- Public Interest Directorate, American Psychological Association, 750 mative care may cause harm to TGNC people (Mikalson, First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Pardo, & Green, 2012; Xavier et al., 2012). The significant level of societal stigma and discrimination that TGNC 1 For the purposes of these guidelines, we use the term transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC). We intend for the term to be as people face, the associated mental health consequences, broadly inclusive as possible, and recognize that some TGNC people do and psychologists’ lack of familiarity with trans-affirmative not ascribe to these terms. Readers are referred to Appendix A for a listing care led the APA Task Force to recommend that psycho- of terms that include various TGNC identity labels. 832 December 2015 ● American Psychologist © 2015 American Psychological Association 0003-066X/15/$12 00 Vol 70, No 9, 832–864 http://dx doi org/10 1037/a0039906 9:18-cv-80771-RLR PLAINTIFFS' EXHIBIT 30 Case 9:18-cv-80771-RLR Document 126-30 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/24/2018 Page 2 of 33 of care that is respectful, aware, and supportive of the unique needs and that the creation of practice guidelines identities and life experiences of TGNC people (Korell & would be a valuable resource for the field (APA TFGIGV, Lorah, 2007). The Guidelines are an introductory resource 2009). Psychologists’ relative lack of knowledge about for psychologists who will encounter TGNC people in their TGNC people and trans-affirmative care, the level of soci- practice, but can also be useful for psychologists with etal stigma and discrimination that TGNC people face, and expertise in this area of practice to improve the care already the significant mental health consequences that TGNC peo- offered to TGNC people. The Guidelines include a set of ple experience as a result offer a compelling need for definitions for readers who may be less familiar with lan- psychological practice guidelines for this population. guage used when discussing gender identity and TGNC populations (see Appendix A). Distinct from TGNC, the Users term “cisgender” is used to refer to people whose sex assigned at birth is aligned with their gender identity (E. R. The intended audience for these Guidelines includes psy- Green, 2006; Serano, 2006). chologists who provide clinical care, conduct research, or Given the added complexity of working with TGNC provide education or training. Given that gender identity and gender-questioning youth2 and the limitations of the issues can arise at any stage in a TGNC person’s life (Lev, available research, the Guidelines focus primarily, though 2004), clinicians can encounter a TGNC person in practice not exclusively, on TGNC adults. Future revisions of the or have a client’s presenting problem evolve into an issue Guidelines will deepen a focus on TGNC and gender- related to gender identity and gender expression. Research- questioning children and adolescents. The Guidelines ad- ers, educators, and trainers will benefit from use of these dress the strengths of TGNC people, the challenges they Guidelines to inform their work, even when not specifically face, ethical and legal issues, life span considerations, focused on TGNC populations. Psychologists who focus on research, education, training, and health care. Because is- TGNC populations in their clinical practice, research, or sues of gender identity are often conflated with issues of educational and training activities will also benefit from the gender expression or sexual orientation, psychological use of these Guidelines. practice with the TGNC population warrants the acquisi- tion of specific knowledge about concerns unique to TGNC Distinction Between Standards people that are not addressed by other practice guidelines and Guidelines (APA, 2012). It is important to note that these Guidelines are not intended to address some of the conflicts that When using these Guidelines, psychologists should be cisgender people may experience due to societal expecta- aware that APA has made an important distinction between tions