Frailties of Memory: Implications for Therapists Treating Gender Dysphoric Youth

Abstract

Therapists working with gender-questioning teens often encounter disparate narratives. Teens typically report memories consistent with their transgender identity, often recounting specific childhood events. Many parents, however, have different recollections of their teen’s childhood. As sound, ethical care is predicated on reality, therapists face the difficult task of navigating these often-contradictory narratives. We present relevant scientific literature on memory and well documented cognitive mechanisms and reflect on past therapeutic controversies to help clinicians understand the complexity of memory and why it may be prudent for therapists to consider not only their patients’ accounts of their pasts, but also that of their patient’s parents.