Digital Literacy for Resistance: Implications for Affirming Practice With Rural TNB Youth and Their Families

Rural trans and nonbinary (TNB) youth face a paradoxical mental health challenge. They increasingly must rely on social media for support and community, but online forums pose a significant risk to young people’s mental health and social well-being. The broad accessibility, user anonymity, and group dynamics on social media tend to amplify bullying and violent speech. The authors examine the clinical and ethical challenges rural mental health providers (MHPs) face, such as navigating complex, ever-increasing state and federal laws and policies affecting TNB youth; operating as specialists in service deserts; and balancing ethical obligations with client safety. We propose a therapy intervention model called Digital Literacy for Resistance (DLR) that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools with digital literacy strategies to empower rural TNB youth and their families.