A Narrative Approach to Helping Families and Their Children Who Identify as Transgender or Gender Nonconforming

Counselors can help families of transgender or gender nonconforming youth adjust after a child or adolescent expresses differences in gender identity. We propose a community based narrative group therapy which may increase family cohesion and acceptance within the changing family dynamic. The program is psychoeducational and experiential, lasting eight sessions, and begins with psychoeducation about transgender individuals and heteronormative societies. It culminates in re-authoring and witnessing the family’s story in a manner which honors the youth’s gender identity. We propose this program as a strategy for helping practitioners connect diverse LGBTQ+ families with other families experiencing similar transitions