Psychological Support For Trans People: Affirmative Psychology

Trans people constitute one of the segments of the population in which there is a greater degree of discrimination even today.

Statistically, people who have not developed a gender identity that fits the canons of cis (based on gender roles) suffer a much higher rate of unemployment, and also present a greater risk of attempting to end their life. This is not because the fact of being trans is a pathology (this pathologizing conception has been discarded in psychiatry and clinical psychology), but because of the strong stigmas and discriminatory dynamics against them that continue to exist.

Thus, What is known as affirmative psychology has emerged, from which special attention is paid to the experiences of trans people, to help them integrate into themselves and accept their non-normative gender identity. In this article we will see what it consists of.

What is affirmative psychology?

Affirmative psychology is an approach of applied psychology towards the problems and needs that usually affect people in the LGTBI community. It is a way of addressing experiences linked to sexual orientations and gender identities that are outside the norm, that is, experiences related to the possibility of expressing sexual and gender diversity freely and without complexes.

This is a non-pathologizing vision; That is, it does not assume that there is a qualitatively different and problematic psychic structure in homosexual and trans people, which is why it does not propose a cure towards heterosexuality or cisgender identity.

In fact, it originated as a way to help gay and bisexual people develop a positive perspective on their sexual orientation, accepting themselves and not assuming they have an illness, dealing with the stigmas and myths surrounding their collective; Over time, work also began to help trans and asexual people.

This precisely explains why we talk about affirmative psychology: It is about positively and constructively affirming that part of a person’s identity, without repressing it or trying to eliminate it to fit into “the norm.” in order to get rid of the social stigma that has affected people from the LGTBI community for a long time. And since there is a whole series of expectations, prejudices and roles that are deeply internalized by society and that presuppose how men and women should behave, any dissidence in this sense has been highly punished, coming to be seen as part of a disease.

Thus, this way of judging minorities has come to produce a self-fulfilling prophecy effect, damaging their mental health.

This type of prejudice and pathologizing ideas have generated a series of social stigmas that, in some cases, have even been materialized in discriminatory legislation. Fortunately, currently countries like Spain are getting rid of these discriminatory elements in their written regulations, but a whole series of social dynamics still remain that reproduce the discomfort with oneself in many people from the LGTBI groups.

On the other hand, affirmative psychology should not be understood as psychology applied to the sexuality of people who do not fit into the canons of heterosexuality and cisgender identity. This is because it is not limited to the problems and needs associated with sexual practices, but above all addresses bio-psycho-social issues derived from stigma and the hegemony of gender roles.

Definitely, Affirmative psychology is based on the idea of ​​acceptance of sexual orientations and identities; The aim is not to repress or conceal that facet of oneself, but rather to integrate it into one’s self-concept and be able to express it in a satisfactory way and not limited by personal complexes.

That is to say, affirmative psychology does not propose the objective of “curing” a psychopathology (since gender identities that deviate from the norm are not a disorder), but rather focus on the usual experiences of people from the LGBT community to address their problems and needs by understanding what they go through going beyond the presuppositions that are often based on the cis and heteronorm paradigm.

It is not a specific type of therapy or an intervention model with specific and unique techniques and strategies for these cases, but rather a set of ideas and references to adapt to the kind of experiences that often lead to these types of minorities. to seek professional psychological support.

Main areas of work of psychological support for trans people

As we have seen, affirmative psychology is not limited to providing help to trans people; In fact, it originates with attention to homosexual people, although over time it has expanded its focus of action to include the entire LGTBI community. Therefore, focusing on attention to trans people from affirmative psychology, it is worth highlighting the following intervention fronts.

1. Psychoeducation in the field of gender identities

There is a lot of misinformation about everything related to the experiences of those who are part of the LGTBI community. , and some of these myths cause problems. Therefore, psychoeducation is essential.

2. Fight internalized transphobia

Transphobia is not simply a social phenomenon; It also has an individualized component, of beliefs and feelings that go so deep that they are accepted even by many trans people, who blame themselves for being “weird” or “degenerate” and only see a “cure” for what they are facing as a way out. it happens to them. Many times, these pathologizing beliefs coexist with other self-acceptance beliefs. fighting against them and giving rise to apparently contradictory behaviors.

Therefore, affirmative psychology helps the person to definitively let go of these dysfunctional beliefs and adopt a positive perspective on their gender identity.

3. Support when dealing with uncertainty and contradictory ideas and beliefs

As gender identity falls outside the canons of cisgender, trans people tend to feel much more disoriented and lacking references; thus, They are forced to examine many more aspects of their ways of behaving, and without guidance provided by external institutions, it is easy to focus on contradictions. that generates their “philosophy of life”.

For example, many trans people find it problematic to accept themselves and at the same time maintain religious beliefs whose main institutions spread transphobic messages or, at least, do not take into account trans-

Therefore, affirmative psychology helps to face this lack of answers that does not seem to affect the rest of the people, and to assume a certain degree of contradiction in one’s own beliefs (given that it is impossible to develop beliefs in complete harmony), always That this friction between ideas does not generate much discomfort or lead to self-rejection.

4. Support in intra-family conflicts

Unfortunately, trans identities continue to trigger conflicts in the family due to transphobia. Therefore, in therapy Trans people are helped to face these problems and, if possible, approaches are carried out through family therapy. to solve the root problem.

• You may be interested: “Family therapy: types and forms of application”

Are you looking for professional psychological assistance?

If you are interested in starting a psychotherapy process or want to have psychological assistance through affirmative psychology, we invite you to contact our team of professionals.

From Cepsim Psychological Center We serve both in person at any of our consultations located in Madrid, and online via video call.