Guideline #1: "Psychologists understand that gender is a non-binary construct that allows for a range of gender identity may not align with sex assigned at birth."
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How to Apply Guideline
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As a mental health professional, you should be informed about TGNC causes and topics in order to provide a non-judgmental space for your clients.
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It is important to come to terms with your own understanding of gender.
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Being educated on gender identity and terminology relating to TGNC identities can help to educate not only yourself but your clients and the people around them​.
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Guideline #2: "Psychologists understand that gender identity and sexual orientation are distinct but interrelated constructs."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Avoid inherently combining the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation with the implication that they are synonymous.
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Additionally, be sure that this distinction is made when discussing trans/non-binary gender identity with family members of clients/trans individuals. ​
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Ensure that provided resources for TGNC clients are not exclusively LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) informed, as these will not always go together nor provide the most applicable information for trans clients.
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Guideline #3: "Psychologists seek to understand how gender identity intersects with the other cultural identities of TGNC people."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Inform yourself on the gender norms and perceptions/stigmas around trans and non-binary identities in different groups in order to be comfortable discussing the intersectionality of identities within sessions with trans and non-binary clients.
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Guideline #4: "Psychologists are aware of how their attitudes about and knowledge of gender identity and gender expression may affect the quality of care they provide to TGNC people and their families."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Give trans/non-binary clients the space to make their own informed decisions regarding their care and transition, while helping them along the way.
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Keep up to date with the current research and terminologies for the TGNC community.
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If you are not comfortable with your knowledge, understandings, and beliefs regarding gender diversity, it is advised to direct a trans/non-binary client to a provider who is.
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This will ensure that the individual is receiving the most effective and affirmative care. ​
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Guideline #5: "Psychologists recognize how stigma, prejudice, discrimination, and violence affect the health and well-being of TGNC people."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Inform yourself about the various discriminatory experiences that trans/non-binary individuals might face helping grow in your comfortability in discussing these topics.
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Topics include, but are not limited to workplace discrimination, increased violence towards trans individuals of color, health care discrimination, trans discrimination in the military, etc. ​
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Be able to assist clients in finding affirmative care and general resources that will help through the prejudices that society places on trans individuals. ​​
Resources to Learn More
helps provide insurance help and attorneys for insurance denials
Annual Transgender Surgery Fund
scholarship-like fund for gender affirmation surgeries
Transgender Employment Program
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Guideline #6: "Psychologists strive to recognize the influence of institutional barriers on the lives of TGNC people and to assist in developing TGNC-affirmative environments."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Work to make your space trans-friendly, including:
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Providing trans-affirmative resources in the waiting room​
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Having trans-inclusive language on paperwork
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Training staff on how to be trans-inclusive and affirmative
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Resources to Learn More
Trans-Inclusive Workplace Self Assessment Tool
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Guideline #7: "Psychologists understand the need to promote social change that reduces the negative effects of stigma on the health and well-being of TGNC people."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Use the knowledge that you have gained about trans/non-binary affirmative practices to enforce public policy and social changes that better the life experience of trans/non-binary individuals.
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Have a general understanding of the legal challenges and discrimination that trans individuals may face.
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This includes having knowledge about the legal processes of medical and social transition when working with trans/non-binary clients. It can be exhausting for a client to have to explain these topics, so having a general idea can help take this pressure off of the client's shoulders. ​
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Resources to Learn More
National Center for Transgender Equality
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Guideline #8: "Psychologists working with gender questioning and TGNC youth understand the different developmental needs of children and adolescents, and that not all youth will persist in a TGNC identity into adulthood."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Keep up with the literature regarding TGNC youth and the best care options so as to ensure that adolescents are getting the support they need.
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Being aware of general terminology can help to inform the younger gender-questioning individuals and their family members.
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This can help when navigating both positive and negative family responses to TGNC youth. ​
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Providing affirmative support to TGNC youth is vital when exploring gender, especially in the scenario that the individual does not live in a supportive environment.
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Should be aware of the potential medical and social transition options for non-adult TGNC individuals.
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Additionally, be willing to work with medical providers during this process to ensure that the client is getting the care that affirms their gender identity. ​
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Resources to Learn More
Supporting/Caring for Trans Children
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Guideline #9: "Psychologists strive to understand both the particular challenges that TGNC elders experience and the resilience they can develop."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Be aware of the difference between working with and treating trans/non-binary adults and trans/non-binary elders.
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There are different biological, social, and psychological needs as an individual gets older.​
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There is a possibility of shame and guilt amongst trans elders. ​
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Trans elders may be less comfortable disclosing their trans identity to others due to differences in generational understanding of gender identity, and their level of disclosure should be respected.
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Like in many other guidelines, knowing the general terminology surrounding the TGNC community can help an elder understand and accept their gender identity better through increased knowledge.
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Guideline #10: "Psychologists strive to understand how mental health concerns may or may not be related to a TGNC person's gender identity and the psychological effects of minority stress."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Avoid focusing solely on a client's trans identity and ignoring other mental health concerns. Likewise, avoid completely ignoring trans identity when working with mental health-related issues. One's gender identity dictates a lot of an individual's experience, so acknowledging one's mental health concerns and other life experiences in addition to gender identity is best.
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Example: Help explore positive and negative life experiences that the patient relates to gender identity so as to explore the connections between the two and allow for an option as to which topic the client would like to explore further.​
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Acknowledging that minority stress can play a large role in an individual's mental health and resilience to negative life experiences.
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It is also important to understand how hormone treatment can have either positive or negative effects on pre-existing mood disorders and be willing to discuss these changes with the client.
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Guideline #11: "Psychologists recognize that TGNC people are more likely to experience positive life outcomes when they receive social support or trans-affirmative care."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Work to provide trans-affirmative care for clients so as to ensure that your clients are getting the more effective care.
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Be aware of the importance of social support when it comes to healthy transition and acceptance of one's gender identity. ​
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When working with a family member of a trans individual, being aware and comfortable with navigating potential losses and the general grieving process that may come when a loved one comes out as trans/non-binary.
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In doing this, it is also important to remain affirmative of the trans/non-binary individual's gender identity. ​
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Guideline #12: "Psychologists strive to understand the effects that changes in gender identity and gender expression have on the romantic and sexual relationships of TGNC people."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Recognize the possibility of a trans/non-binary client questioning and reworking their sexual orientation and relationship with pre-existing romantic and sexual partners.
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This discussion could include safety/boundaries with a pre-existing partner in regards to the client's trans identity, coming out to a partner, change in expressions of intimacy, changes in sexual desire and how to communicate these with a partner, ​etc.
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Guideline #13: "Psychologists seek to understand how parenting and family formation among TGNC people take a variety of forms."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Understand that the process of family planning and parenting may look very different for trans/non-binary parents
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It is important to provide a space for trans/non-binary clients to express frustrations around potential inaccessibility to medical intervention and general discrimination around family planning.
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Additionally, being aware of the discrimination that trans individuals may face when starting a family can aid during these conversations. ​
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It is also important to understand and be comfortable discussing the challenges that a trans/non-binary client may face when coming out as trans and already having children.
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Being aware of the effects that hormone treatments can have on the ability to conceive will be important to discuss amongst clients who wish to have a family.
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Review reproductive health services provided to trans clients as resources to ensure that they are trans-friendly in order to prevent disappointment and further frustration.
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Guideline #14: "Psychologists recognize the potential benefits of an interdisciplinary approach when providing care to TGNC people and strive to work collaboratively with other providers."
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How to Apply Guideline
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Be willing to educate other professionals about trans-related issues and how to be trans-affirmative.
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Work collaboratively with other care providers to ensure that a client receives the care that they deserve.
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