Demonstrating Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth with Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior: A Case Study

Abstract

Suicide is a growing public health issue among adolescents. While the majority of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth are healthy, many experience suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB). Due to discrimination and stigma, TGD youth attempt suicide at higher rates then heterosexual, cisgender and even cisgender, LGBQ youth. Despite this vulnerability to suicide, few treatments have been developed and tested for this population. One treatment, attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) has been adapted to work with LGBQ youth and may be promising for TGD adolescents at risk for suicide. This article provides an overview of our ABFT modifications for TGD youth with thoughts of suicide. Specifically, we illustrate how treatment outcomes, in a single case study, relate to processes within clinical treatment tasks. The case study demonstrates the application of these ABFT modifications with a self-identified, gender nonconforming adolescent (who had recently attempted suicide) and his caregivers. Treatment evaluation measures were collected over the course of 24 weeks to illustrate the youth’s clinical progress. The youth’s suicidal symptoms diminished markedly by the end of treatment. Further, the family reported an increased ability for problem solving and more open communication by treatment conclusion.