Socioculturally Attuned Systemic Therapy With Transgender and Gender Diverse Families

Abstract

The transgender and gender diverse (TGD) community continues to experience discrimination that is inextricably linked to poorer health outcomes. As state legislators attempt to erase TGD people from existence, systemic therapists can and should be at the forefront of advancing TGD-inclusive therapy practices. In the spirit of such advancement, we present a socioculturally attuned approach to working with TGD individuals and families. Like TGD-inclusive therapy, socioculturally attuned therapy requires systemic therapists to recognize how systemic oppression constrains TGD individuals and families. This approach differs in that it calls for third-order change, or systems changing systems, moving beyond helping families restructure the rules and relational dynamics to becoming agents of change within the systems they operate. We posit that TGD-inclusive therapy practices and socioculturally attuned practice can mutually inform one another to create a more inclusive practice.