In recent years, a growing body of research and literature from a variety of professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH), has attempted to better understand and meet the needs of transgender individuals and the clinicians who provide their care. This is reflective of a societal shift towards inclusion, as well as a growing number of transgender individuals on the caseloads of clinicians. The APA, for example, made changes to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013 to reduce stigma and improve clinical care available to the transgender community. Specifically, the DSM-5, “changed gender identity …show more content…
Thus, the overall aim of voice and communication therapy is to help transgender clients adapt their voice in a way that is safe and authentic, allowing their communication patterns to be congruent with their gender identity (Adler, Hirsch, & Mordaunt, 2006).
Speech-language pathologists work along with transgender clients in order to help them develop voice and communication skills that align with their physical appearance, age, and that are consistent with the both their individual expectations and those of society for that person’s gender identity (Hancock & Haskin, 2015). This involves teaching them how to adjust pitch, loudness and stress patterns, intonation, articulation, speech rate and phrasing, voice quality, resonance, language, and nonverbal communication in order to adopt speech patterns and conversation styles characteristic of the client’s gender identity (Coleman et al., 2012; Hancock & Haskin, 2015). Because speech feminization or masculinization involves changing the habitual use of the voice production mechanism, it is important to involve speech-language pathologists in this process in order to prevent causing damage to the vocal tract, or the exacerbation of an existing voice disorder (Davies & Goldberg, 2006; Coleman et al., 2012).
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As mentioned previously, in order to work with and counsel transgender clients, it is imperative that the clinician possesses basic “trans-competence,” or transgender cultural competence, in addition to the clinical skills relating to speech and voice science, and trans-specific assessment, treatment and outcomes (Davies & Goldberg, 2006). Furthermore, a counseling relationship requires mutual and genuine care, respect, trust, and support, which are necessary for the establishment of rapport, the facilitation of a more open and efficient communication and engagement in therapy, as well as, the creation of a safe therapeutic environment that promotes a “feeling of positive anticipation” and change (Davies & Goldberg,
When working with individuals with physical disabilities the TTM model can vary according to how the individual’s culture recognized their disability (Boston, 2015). Gender roles can also affect the process of change (Boston, 2015). The helper needs to empathize with the disabled person to understand how they feel about their disability and the cultural belief system of the client, in an effort to assist the client (Boston, 2015). When a counselor is working with a transgendered person, the helper needs to adjust the model to include the client’s level of social acceptance (Carroll, 2002). The social situation with a transgendered client may not be one of tolerance, therefore the helper needs to be aware of this and balance between the clients needs and the social environment the client occupies (Carroll, 2002). Finally, when working with clients from various populations, the experience should be unique and the therapist should work to help the client feel accepted and understood, the various models can be modified or adjusted to better fit the
Fifty years ago, nobody could ever have imagined how widely accepted transgender individuals would be in modern times. Countries all around the world had only ever known about the social distinction between men and women, which is known as ‘masculinity vs. Femininity’. However, now it is much more complex than that; as transgender and gender confused individuals are more widely accepted, it has become more of a case of sex vs. gender. “Sex is the biologically based distinction between men and women centring on sexual organs, while gender is the social and cultural rendering of masculinity and femininity.” (Oakley, 1972) And even though transgenders are accepted into society they still face inequalities such as not being accepted into a particular community, ostracised by families and friends,
Gender Affirming care: For transgender people, this refers to the process of coming to recognize, accept, and express one’s gender identity. Most often, this refers to the period when a person makes social, legal, and/or medical changes, such as changing their clothing, name, sex designation, and using medical interventions. This process is often called gender affirmation because it allows people to affirm their gender identity by making outward changes. Gender affirmation/ transition can greatly improve a transgender person’s mental health and general well-being. A theory I personally believe that no character or any physical appearance can’t be prior than being human. I personally believe that sexual orientation is not more important than a human nature and his own appearance. A transgender should get a treat as a normal human Bing.
For many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, finding healthcare professionals who understand their identities and are receptive to their needs can be difficult. Many in the community feel that they have difficulties finding a practice that will respect their identity and provide them with effective and reliable care. For those specifically in the transgender community, these difficulties can increase exponentially, as many doctors are not properly trained to address the specific health needs that transgender individuals can often require. By his senior year, recent Keene State College graduate Kennedy Redden had noticed that both the staff of his school’s health center and the nearby Planned Parenthood had a distinct lack of knowledge about the needs of transgender students. Because of this, Kennedy decided to write a Transgender Health Manual for the school to use in the general education of its healthcare professionals as his senior capstone piece in Community Health.
Meister and colleagues (2017) completed an investigation to assess the subjective and objective voice results of Wendler’s glottoplasty. Meister and colleagues (2017) examined the effects of Wendler’s glottoplasty on 21 male-to-female transgendered individuals. Areas evaluated included fundamental frequency, vocal range, and voice satisfaction. All participants, except one, raised their fundamental frequency after surgery. The researchers saw a decrease in vocal range, but increase in lower frequencies
Grossman, Arnold H. Anthony R. D’Augelli. “Transgender Youth: Invisible and Vulnerable.” Journal of Homosexuality. Vol. 51, No. 1 (2006): pages 111-128. Web. 25 June 2015. Arnold H. Grossman, a professor of Applied Psychology at New York University, and Anthony R. D’Augelli, professor of Human Development at Pennsylvania State University, did a study of Transgender youth from ages 15 to 21. The study was designed to determine the factors that affect the youth, who either identify as transgender or their gender does not fit the normal gender descriptions. Focus groups were used as nonthreatening environment to examine the youths’ social and emotional experiences. The study not only provided insight on their emotional and social experiences but
Medical practitioners have a history of not accurately reflecting the understandings of people who trans gender, dating back to the 1800s when they upheld the sexually dimorphic model that states that everyone has “one true sex” (Enke, lecture 2/18). Even in the early 1900s, medical professionals advised trans people to take hormones more closely aligned with their designated sex at birth, as it would help them “feel better”. However, medical treatment of people who trans has improved dramatically over the years. Now, in the 21st century, there are laws in place to prohibit discrimination against people who trans. In order to get from that point to this point, it took growth in both the trans community and the medical community. Medicine mimics society just as society mimics medicine, and as the trans community grew more forthright and educated from those within its community as well as the medical field, the medical field grew more understanding of people who trans. It is all a cycle.
Transgender individuals have experienced significant injustice in schools, homes, workplace and in health care. There are many barriers that prevent transgender individuals from receiving quality care; therefore, creating a culturally competent health care program that is geared towards their unique needs will help them receive the care they require.
Antoni, C., Davies, S., Papp, V., (2015). Voice and communication change for gender nonconforming individuals: giving voice to the person inside. International Journal of Transgenderism, 16:3, 117-159, DOI: 10.1080/15532739.2015.1075931
In Trauma in Transgender Populations: Risk, Resilience and Clinical Care Mizock and Lewis explains factors that put the transgender population at risk such as working in the sex industry or being targets of hate crimes. (Mizock & Lewis, 2011, p. 336). This article also sheds light on some strategies and types of resources that can build resilience in transgender people. Mizock and Lewis gave a thorough description of what it means to be transgender, transsexual, transman etc. as these terms can often be misused and misapplied to this population. This article highlights some common traumatic experiences shared among the transgender population and how transphobia is contributing to this problem. (Mizock & Lewis, 2011, p.336). I feel this
Transgender people have certainly pioneered through the journey of acceptance and individuality. For many, this transition can take a toll on them and the people around them. Mentally, this can
The medical and behavioral (DSM) community has chosen to let go of the more shadowy term “Gender Identity Disorder,” in favor of a less charged and hopefully more suitable term, “Gender Dysphoria,” for transgender individuals. This paper will explore conventional clinical perspectives and subsequent changes therein; survey a few theoretical frameworks, both conventional and more post-modern, in order to gain a better understanding of how to effectively work with gender dysphoria. The main body of this paper will be structured under specific headings, beginning with a brief historical description of gender dysphoria, followed a brief discussion on etiology with some clinical implications. Current theoretical frameworks will be presented
“Before I knew I was transsexual, I went through years of pain... It’s only now that I’m living as a woman that I finally feel comfortable with myself” (“Real Lives - Three Transsexuals”). This quote, from a male-to-female transsexual individual who was living as a woman while waiting to qualify for gender re-assignment surgery (GReS), shows the pain that those who struggle with gender identity disorders (GIDS) undergoi while “trapped” in the physical and social constraints of living as their original gender, as well as the relief that comes with living as a member of their “true” gender. Some may argue that use of surgery for purposes of treating gender identity disorders is morally unacceptable since trans sexuality does not belong
As the title of the article states, this report discusses the stigma towards the Transgender community and the results of intervention. Through out the article stigma, within our society, of transgender individuals is the main topic with emphasis on the effectiveness of intervention style approach to reduce prejudice overall. Transgender (TG) individuals experience widespread prejudice and discrimination and are at greater risk for associated adverse mental health outcomes relative to their gender-conforming peers (Institutes of Medicine, 2011).
The healthcare needs of the transgender community are complex and as such they face many obstacles in finding and receiving quality medical care. A transgender individual is someone who identifies with a sex different from the one assigned to them at birth. How an individual defines their sexual orientation and gender identity can cause significant clinical, administrative, and financial difficulties when seeking healthcare services. The article “Transgender patients need more access to competent, compassionate care” by Debra Beaulieu-Volk addresses some of the challenges faced by this community and offers suggestions to the healthcare professionals on improving transgender patient care.