Exploring cisgender therapists' attitudes towards, and experience of, working with trans people in the United Kingdom

Mollitt, Paul Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1284-7412 (2022) Exploring cisgender therapists' attitudes towards, and experience of, working with trans people in the United Kingdom. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 22 (4) . pp. 1013-1029. ISSN 1746-1405 [Article] (doi:10.1002/capr.12559)

Abstract

Objectives

Research suggests therapists may be lacking the skills and experience to work with the trans population and may hold a range of personal and professional views about trans people, in line with wider society. The aim of this study is to understand attitudes that qualified cisgender UK therapists have towards this client group, how equipped they feel to work with them and to identify gaps in training and experience.

Design

A mixed-methods, concurrent nested design was used.

Methods

Data were generated via an online survey. Quantitative data were analysed alongside a reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The politicisation of trans identities has created a toxic debate that has left therapists confused about their professional and personal stance, but there is an earnest attempt to understand this. Therapists are generally supportive of trans people and a majority have worked with this community, but a significant minority of these therapists could be said to hold transphobic views or working practices. Therapists feel ill-equipped to work with the trans community and are fearful of getting things wrong. Younger, more recently trained therapists are more comfortable working with gender identity, with older, “gender critical” and psychoanalytic therapists struggling the most.

Conclusions

The politicisation of trans identities has created a split in UK therapists, and work is necessary to ensure adequate training and ongoing reflexivity regarding personal biases. Clarity and reassurance are needed on the implications of the proposed conversion therapy ban, particularly on exploratory therapeutic work within an affirmative stance.

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