Affirmative Sexual Health Care for Transgender & Nonbinary Youth: Toward a Sex-Positive Approach
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Abstract
Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth face unique health care challenges that result in and maintain health disparities. A general lack of provider competence perpetuates negative health care experiences and subsequent avoidance of care. This is of particular concern when it comes to sexual health care, an area of increased vulnerability for TNB youth. This paper outlines the necessity of providing sex-positive care that is culturally competent, TNB-affirmative, and patient-centered. The authors forward a comprehensive sex-positive framework for sexual health practice with TNB youth, which includes providing inclusive and culturally competent assessment, increasing precision and inclusiveness of medical language, a reliance on consent-based approaches, and respect for patient autonomy. Additional considerations include recognizing resilience as a positive factor and being a patient advocate while navigating legal and parental objections to treatment.
Continuing Education Information
1 CE Credit, Instructional Level: Intermediate
1 Contact Hour (New York Board of Psychology)
Learning Objectives:
- Identify health care challenges that result in health disparities among transgender and nonbinary youth
- Demonstrate knowledge about sex-positive care for transgender and nonbinary youth
- Describe interventions to effectively deliver health care services to transgender and nonbinary youth
Disclosures: None
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CE Disclaimers
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Klooster et al.
Dannie Klooster, MS, (they/them/theirs) is a counseling psychology doctoral student in the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Their research focuses on improving mental and sexual well-being for gender diverse & sexually expansive communities, particularly transgender and non-binary (TNB), consensually non-monogamous (CNM), and queer adolescent populations.
Douglas Knutson, PhD, LHSP, ABPP, (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, at Oklahoma State University. He is a Licensed Health Service Psychologist in Oklahoma and is Board Certified in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Knutson serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Rural Mental Health, Director of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology Communications and Technology Board, and is a Mental Health First Aid Research Advisory Group member. He is also an editorial board member with Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity and The Counseling Psychologist. In addition, Dr. Knutson was recently appointed to the APA Committee on Rural Health for a three-year term that started January 2024. Other recent awards Dr. Knutson has received include the 2023 APA Excellence in Rural Psychology Award and the 2023 APA Division 44 Distinguished Book Award for his co-authored book, Counseling in a Gender Expansive World: Resources to Support Therapeutic Practice. Dr. Knutson is proud to work with outstanding students and colleagues as the coordinator of the Health, Education, and Rural Empowerment Lab, a consortium of scholars who research and advocate for rural LGBTQ+ health and resilience.
Em Matsuno, PhD, (they/them/theirs) is an assistant professor in Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. Matsuno’s research interests focus on trans and nonbinary minority stress and resilience using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Their main goal is to develop and test interventions to decease negative mental health outcomes and increase wellbeing among trans and nonbinary people.
