Emerging global research suggests that transgender people experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes, as well as higher rates of discrimination in healthcare settings. To explore this in an Australian context, a qualitative research project was undertaken to explore the helpful and unhelpful therapy experiences of six transgender Australians.
Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, four master themes emerged from the interview data, two of which are explored in depth. The research brings valuable insight into working towards positive outcomes with transgender clients with suggestions for changes in clinical practice for mental healthcare providers, education, training and future research.
Transgender individuals are facing multiple forms of personal and systematic discrimination in Australia. Taking into consideration that this growing population experience higher levels of mental health issues due to minority stress, and are required to have frequent interactions with mental health providers, it is important to ensure that psychological services provided are inclusive, welcoming and have positive therapeutic outcomes.
This qualitative study examines the experiences of therapy for transgender Australians. The aims of the current study are: 1 To listen to, and accurately reflect, the helpful and unhelpful experiences of therapy from the unique perspective of transgender Australians residing outside metropolitan centres; and 2 To use this preliminary research to provide suggestions for improving psychological services in an Australian context.
Helpful and unhelpful interview responses referred to therapeutic encounters with counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Concurrently, global academic research has begun to unveil a disturbing pattern of high rates of discrimination, injustice, and physical and mental health issues experienced by this vulnerable minority population. However, more recently, there has been an increased understanding that higher rates of mental health issues in this population are not a reflection of an inherent pathology but rather social discrimination.
