Instructions – Case Study Outline

1. Read the following case study.

Week 9 Case Study: Gender Identity – Transgender – Gender Dysphoria

Week 9 Obstacles to Care TGNC (Transgender Non-Conforming) Sam to Samantha (Pseudo-names)

Sam to Samantha

Sam starting coming out and questioning his gender identity in high school wearing full makeup to school. He was interested in fashion design. He started cross dressing in high school as well. His mom was incarcerated for drugs when he was 10 years old and had limited contact with her until he was an adult. His father remarried shortly after that and him and his new wife were members of conservative Christian church which did not accept or support the LGBT community. When he left home his parents had a difficult time accepting his changing look and full make up, but were relieved he was not living with them or in the community because they were ashamed and embarrassed by him. He moved to NYC and got a job at one of the leading cosmetics companies and was one of their top performers. At night he MC’d the drag shows in the New York City for years. He was in a relationship with a man who was beginning to medically transition, Sam decided he did not want to go through with the full surgery and began to identify himself as non-binary. That is when he changed his name from Sam to Samantha and wanted to be addressed as “They” or “Them”. Them did not want to be called “his son” by his father, which created a rift between them. Their father has never accepted Them as a transgender person. Them is now in his late 30’s, in a long-term relationship, Their religion is Wiccan, and has limited contact with family except for an aunt who accepts Them unconditionally. How could you provide support to Samantha and educate Samantha’s family on Their Transgender/Non-Conforming/Non binary identity?

Use this as guide to write up an assessment and treatment plan for this case study – “Samantha”

Primary mental health needs of transgender people

Transgender and gender nonconforming people, in general, have three types of need for mental health.

a. Exploration of gender identity. This includes determining exactly what one’s gender identity is, coming to terms with this gender identity, self-acceptance and individuation, and exploring individual–level ways to actualize this identity in the world. This may also include preparation and assessment for various gender affirming treatments and procedures.

b. Coming out and social transition. This includes coming out to family, friends, and coworkers, dating and relationships, and developing tools to cope with being transgender in a sometimes transphobic world.

c. General mental health issues, possibly unrelated to gender identity. The variety of mental health concerns experienced by transgender people include mood disorders, generalized anxiety, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

2. Complete the Case Study Outline (review the mental health needs listed below for transgender people).

Case Study Outline

1. Background information and Socio-cultural considerations.

2. Assessment (assessment methods must be consistent with the theory you have read for this week’s assignments, video clips or theory mentioned in the vignette).

3. Treatment plans, must list 3 treatment goals that follow logical problem solving.

4. Interventions (Interventions must be consistent from theory/ theories you are using for the case study) include collateral stakeholders as part of the interventions as needed.

5. Discuss future research that may be needed.

3. Your Case Study Outline should be attached as a Word .doc file (.doc, .docx) or PDF.

Video links

· How to talk (and listen) to transgender people | Jackson Bird (Links to an external site.)

Transgender: a mother’s story | Susie Green | TEDxTruro (Links to an external site.)

Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2013): Chapter 17, Appendices A and B (Comparative View of Family Theories and Therapies and the AAMFT Code of Ethics)

o PowerPoint Handout: Chapter 17 pdf

Transgender, Non-Conforming, Non- Binary People