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Psychological Assessment for Gender-Affirming Care in Transgender and Nonbinary Youth: The Companionship Model
Joonwoo Lee1, Hyun-Hee Kim, Stephanie L Budge
1From Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Mr. Lee and Dr. Budge); Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr. Kim).
Abstract:
This article introduces The Companionship Model as a template for conducting ethical and affirming assessment sessions for transgender and nonbinary youths (TNBY) and their guardians. The Companionship Model emphasizes proactive clinical companionship as TNBY and their guardians navigate access to gender-affirming care. The model offers specific action steps for establishing a therapeutic alliance and centers TNBY and their guardians' access to resources based on the informed consent/assent process. In this article, we provide sample session questions and illustrative clinical examples.
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