Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience microaggressions and generally uncomfortable exchanges in a therapy setting. When talking with any individual, there is a risk that they will not be as competent when it comes to trans and non-binary identities. Though therapists are trained and encouraged to be culturally competent and non-judgmental, one, unfortunately, needs to be aware that therapists are not immune to judgmental words and actions. 

​

This being said, no individual deserves to feel uncomfortable and invalidated within their therapeutic relationship. You have the right to act upon and talk about any microaggressions or overt aggressions/discrimination faced in therapy. 

​

​

Therapists are meant to be forming credibility and trust between themselves and you as a client. This means that by ensuring that they are providing you with a non-judgmental and safe space to discuss yourself and your experiences and they are trained to be able to aid you in the process of building a trusting relationship. A positive therapeutic relationship can be very beneficial for a client and is the most effective for treatment. 

​

When a therapist is not validating your gender identity, it can be a great detriment to the therapeutic relationship. Even if the therapist does not know that they are being discriminatory or using microaggressions, this can have a powerfully negative effect on your trust and relationship with your therapist. Your relationship with your therapist should be one that is non-judgmental and you should not be made uncomfortable because of your gender identity, or any identity. 

​

It is perfectly normal to feel uncomfortable when a therapist is not respectful of your identity. It can be very difficult and uncomfortable to work with a therapist who disrespects you or uses microaggressions against you. This uncomfortable feeling is valid. There is a distinct power dynamic that goes on in a therapy session. Therapists are often viewed as the expert in this situation, making it hard to talk out against them, even when they are being disrespectful. This guide wants to help you to gain some additional insight about how to handle this situation and affirm that you are deserving of a safe space within your mental health care. 

​

It is understandable to want to simply move past any microaggressions or discriminatory words/actions that occur in a therapy session. This would be the easiest option as it can be very exhausting to point out something so obvious to you to a professional. This being said, the therapeutic relationship is easily severed when discrimination happens, as stated earlier. If the microaggressions and discriminatory words continue, the effectiveness of your mental health care greatly decreases as the trust that you have with your therapist will likely also decrease (Sue & Sue, 2003; Sue et al., 2007)

​

Navigating These Situations:

​

1.)   Talk with your therapist about the microaggressions and/or discriminatory situations ​​​

           - It is important to talk through negative experiences because the therapeutic relationship is vital to effective care.

           - It is not uncommon to discuss the therapeutic relationship, a therapist should be comfortable with this!  

           - Expressing your frustrations regarding your therapist's microaggressions can help to encourage further communication       and trust within the therapeutic alliance

           - This can help to ensure that you are getting respected by your therapist, can help your therapist continue to learn and grow, and it can provide you with an (ideally) safe space to practice these sorts of interactions if they are ever needed in the world outside therapy

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

2.)    If a therapist chooses not to listen or if it is causing you harm, you have every right to end the therapeutic relationship

           - Therapy is there to help you, not to harm you. If your therapist is not helping you or causing you mental harm through their actions, you have the ability to discontinue therapy with this specific therapist. There are plenty of therapists out there that will be happy to help you and provide you with a safe and affirmative space.  

​

​

​

​

​

​