Gender Incongruence: Youth with a Special Talent for Gender; Supporting Youth and Families

Abstract

Understandings of gender are undergoing great change. In caring for children and youth experiencing gender incongruence, we reflect over how to create a systemic conversational space in which they, along with their families, can explore feelings and experiences of gender identity. The family as a phenomenon is a strong discourse, and parents’ voices are important in how this process is experienced. Their active participation in therapy can contribute to children and youth becoming secure in owning their gender identities. We describe using a gender map as an aid to talk about feelings, experiences and desires in conversations with older children, youth, parents and their networks.