Intragenerational Support for Gender-Questioning and Trans Youth: Centering the Sibling Subsystem in Affirmative Systemic Therapy

Abstract

Affirmative systemic therapy (AST) is an emerging trend in family therapy for accompanying families with a gender questioning, nonbinary, or trans child. Simultaneously, research from across the globe reports that the inclusion of siblings and the focus on the sibling subsystem are often lacking in systemic work. The authors write from a shared Canadian perspective toward expanding the inclusion of siblings of gender diverse young people in therapy. Siblings may serve as early sources of self-disclosure and exploration surrounding gender identity for young gender questioning and trans individuals. Siblings may also play important roles as mediators, educators, and advocates among peers and family, given their shared generational zeitgeist. Through a case study, we exemplify the importance of involving the sibling subsystem while working with gender diverse families. More specifically, we begin by focusing on obstacles to the inclusion of siblings in affirmative systemic therapy. Then, we discuss strategies toward better inclusion and integration, namely, systemic approaches and techniques for working with the sibling subsystem with a focus on the theme of gender creativity, transition, or questioning. In this article, we advocate for the greater inclusion of siblings in family therapy generally, and hope to contribute to an ongoing conversation by illustrating some techniques for working with the sibling subsystem, in AST more specifically.