Social gender transition and the psychological interventions

Abstract

For children and adolescents presenting with gender identity-related concerns, understanding whether or not the child or adolescent meets criteria for gender dysphoria is important. Understanding what is and is not currently known about the developmental trajectories of children and adolescents with gender-related concerns is important as it can frame the overall clinical management developmentally. Psychological interventions are important as supporting these youth to protect their safety, ensure emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and helping them to navigate the potential complexities of transitioning genders is important given how vulnerable a population this group is. Complex understanding of family dynamics, individual personal coping strategies, co-occurring psychopathology, and the environments within which these youth exist are important when managing their mental health care in an affirming way.