Pretreatment counseling experiences, stressors, and support differences between transgender and cisgender university students seeking mental healthcare

Abstract

Objectives: Our aim was to explore rates of prior counseling experiences as well as pretreatment stressors and supports among transgender university students seeking psychotherapy services in university counseling centers. Methods: We used regression models to explore relationships between gender identity and prior mental health experiences, risk-related experiences, traumatic experiences, and support among clients (cisgender: n = 162,305; transgender: n = 545) seeking treatment at 136 university counseling centers. Results: Results demonstrate more previous mental health service utilization and greater frequency of some prior stressors transgender clients. Findings indicate the odds of transgender clients reporting drug and alcohol concerns are lower than the reference group. Additionally, transgender clients report less familial support but more social support than cisgender clients. Conclusion: We discuss the importance of these findings through a more holistic lens that recognizes both stressors as well as positive factors that may more accurately characterize the experiences of transgender clients.