Gender Identity and Faith: Clinical Postures, Tools, and Case Studies for Client-Centered Care, By Mark A. Yarhouse and Julia A. Sadusky
Gender Identity and Faith
paperback
  • Length: 224 pages
  • Dimensions: 6 × 9 in
  • Published: May 03, 2022
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • Item Code: 4181
  • ISBN: 9780830841813

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Helping people navigate gender identity questions today is complex and often polarized work. For clients and families who are also informed by their faith, some mental health approaches raise more questions than answers. Clinicians need a client-centered, open-ended approach that makes room for gender exploration while respecting religious identity.

Gender Identity and Faith carves out clinical space for mental health professionals to help people who wish to take seriously their gender identity, their religious identity, and the relationship between the two. Drawing from their extensive research and experience with clients, Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky provide a timely, practical resource for practitioners. This book

  • emphasizes respect for clients' journeys, without a single fixed outcome, toward congruence between their gender identity and faith
  • describes effective clinical postures, assessment and therapeutic tools, and numerous case studies
  • covers needs and characteristics of children, youth, and adult clients
  • includes worksheets and prompts for clients and family members

"Integrating personhood and values is no easy feat, especially in our current cultural landscape," the authors write. Those navigating this intersection need clinicians who seek to understand their unique context and journey alongside them with empathy. This book points the way.

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

"Gender Identity and Faith delivers an accessible framework for clinicians working with individuals seeking therapy to better understand and integrate the aspects of their identity related to gender and religion/spirituality. Yarhouse and Sadusky provide specific interventions that can be used with clients, accompanied by numerous case examples to illustrate how to approach this complex topic with nuance and cultural humility. Given that many clients seeking therapy for gender-related needs also have a faith background that impacts their sense of self, this book is an essential read for all mental health providers working with gender diverse and transgender individuals."

Laura Edwards-Leeper, chair of the child and adolescent committee of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and member of the child and adolescent groups revising the standards of care for transgender persons

"Too often, we who counsel and coach other persons erroneously believe our job is to offer solutions to the complex overlap of philosophy, religion, and gender identity. Using multiple worksheets, Gender Identity and Faith greatly helps religious and nonreligious counselors and coaches to come alongside the transgender-presenting client and, by offering questions, to assist the client in exploring their amazing inner worlds."

Caryn LeMur, a male-to-female transsexual and a follower of the words and life of Jesus

"The authors' considerable experience is informed by a deep and thorough knowledge of the psychology, biology, culture, and politics needed to protect the transgender individual. Although certainly a valuable resource for practitioners who work with conventionally religious families navigating gender identity and faith, this book is also wonderfully accessible to all."

Tamara Pryor, adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and executive director of clinical and research at EDCare

"Gender Identity and Faith represents a sophisticated and highly competent approach to engaging a clinical niche rarely addressed with either sophistication or competence in all areas: clinical practice around the intersection of gender identity and religious concerns. The common impulse in this area is either to prioritize one area over the other (either religion or gender identity). The authors embrace an alternative client-centered approach. The text offers a practical outline of their treatment model with clear and persuasive rationales. This is not a polemical text aimed to fight in the gender identity culture wars or at presenting a theology of gender or gender identity. It is a standout resource text for Christian clinicians and other professionals who are attempting to help clients well navigate issues of personal religious faith and gender identity. It represents a best-practices example of Christian clinical and role integration in the mental health fields and is illustrated with rich case studies."

William L. Hathaway, executive vice president for academic affairs at Regent University and professor in and former dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent

"If you serve clients seeking to honor both their deep personal faith and their gender identity questions, you'll find robust concepts and practical tools in this resource. You'll boost your competency with flexible assessments, worksheets, strategies, and case studies to help clients of all ages navigate culturally sensitive and spiritually profound questions of gender identity."

Pieter Valk, licensed professional counselor and director of EQUIP
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Read an Excerpt

CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part One: Overview of Gender Identity in Therapy
1. Religious Identity and Gender Identity in Therapy
2. Assessment
3. Discussing the Gender and Religious Identity Therapy Approach with Clients

Part Two: Therapy Postures and Gestures—Children
4. Gender Patience
5. Approaching Puberty: Answering Questions Around Puberty Blockers

Part Three: Therapy Tools—Adolescents and Adults
6. Adolescence: A Brief Overview
7. The Journey to Find "Me"
8. A Multitier Distinction
9. Identifying Scripts and Storylines
10. Chapters in One's Life
11. Sojourners and Traveling Companions
12. Unpacking Feelings
13. Where Is God?
14. Coping and Management Strategies

Part Four: Case Studies
15. Individual: The Case of Kelly
16. Couples Therapy: The Case of Ben (Bea) and Elodie
17. Individual Therapy: The Case of Rae

References
General Index

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Mark A. Yarhouse

Mark A. Yarhouse (PsyD, Wheaton College) is the Dr. Arthur P. Rech & Mrs. Jean May Rech Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Wheaton College, where he directs the Sexual and Gender Identity (SGI) Institute. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and author or coauthor of several books, including Understanding Gender Dysphoria, Modern Psychopathologies, Understanding Sexual Identity, and Family Therapies.

Julia A. Sadusky

Julia A. Sadusky (PsyD, Regent University) is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Lux Counseling and Consulting, a private practice in Littleton, Colorado. She is a fellow of the Sexual and Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College, an advisor for the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, and an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary. She is the coauthor (with Mark Yarhouse) of Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today's Youth.