[GENA: A novel group psychotherapy offering a safe space to understand and express one's gender identity]

Issues related to gender diversity are prominent in contemporary social discourse. Critically, gender-affirming healthcare assumes that individuals have a clear and unwavering sense of their gender and its expression. Current standards of care offer limited guidelines for supporting gender-questioning individuals, who grapple with uncertainty, confusion, or fluidity in relation to their gender, leaving many professionals uncertain how to proceed. To address this, the McGill University Sexual Identity Centre (MUSIC) has developed a novel group therapy model tailored for individuals exploring their gender identity to better understand and fully express it. Framed within queer feminist theory, and drawing upon principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), and Narrative Therapy, the group promotes a reflective, non-judgmental inquiry into gender construction and expression. Divided into four modules across 14 weekly sessions, this therapy invites critical reflection on cultural standards, family norms, and personal experiences to make sense of one's current construction of gender identity and explore new, flexible ways to authentically express the experienced gender. Following the description of the model, we present the ongoing research evaluating the acceptability and therapeutic effectiveness of this new therapy.