Listen, Learn, and Affirm! Insights from A Clinician's Guide to Gender-Affirming Care in Michigan

Providing affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse clients starts with HUMILITY: the willingness to listen and challenge ideas we have absorbed throughout life. A Clinician’s Guide to Gender-Affirming Care asks mental health professionals to take this step with intention and ground their practice in reflection, respect, and action. 

At Being Human Group, this message resonates with our core values. Affirmation is not only knowing the right language or symbols to use, but also being accountable and open-minded. This ensures that every client feels seen, heard, and empowered! 

Challenging Gender Training 

The book starts by asking clinicians to challenge their gender training. This means reflecting on how rigid, pervasive ideas about gender shape our worldview and how we see clients. From a young age, most of us have been taught what it means to be a man or a woman, as well as the consequences for breaking those societal rules. 

As clinicians, we have to understand where these types of lessons come from (families, schools, social media, institutions, etc.). This helps us uncover biases that may impact how we perceive and interact with those around us. It also reminds us that being an ally is a lifelong practice filled with consistency and humility! 

At Being Human Group, reflection guides our practice. We are encouraged to challenge our assumptions and engage in open conversation to strengthen our awareness. 

Encouraging Client Self-Determination 

A key takeaway from the book is the power of language. Words can affirm or deny a client’s truth. Something as simple as asking “What name do you go by?” rather than “What is your preferred name?” can communicate respect. Similarly, asking “What pronouns do you use?” validates identity as a key part of who a person is. 

Affirmation also means doing our best to make no assumptions. A client’s gender identity may not be the focus of treatment, and forcing that conversation can disrupt the trust process. The clinician’s role is to follow the client’s lead and honor self-determination. 

Being Human Group embodies this by meeting every individual where they are. Whether a client is seeking support around transition, relationships, trauma, or other mental health concerns, the goal is to create a space where authenticity is appreciated! 

The Landscape of Gender Diversity

Gender diversity has existed in many cultures for centuries. The book highlights how colonialism disrupted and erased much of this history, framing gender variance as deviant. For trans and nonbinary clients, learning about this history can serve as a reminder they are not alone. This lens is vital in therapy because as practitioners, understanding the intersections of race, class, culture, and gender allows us to support clients in a holistic fashion. 

Accountability and Competence

Less than one-third of mental health providers report having proper training in gender-affirming care. Yet, competence in the mental health world is not optional, but rather an ethical imperative! The book emphasizes that being an ally without the necessary education can lead to unintentional harm. 

Competence includes breadth and depth: understanding the diverse experiences within trans communities, while also cultivating the knowledge needed to support clients through transitions or medical interventions. Clinicians must stay up to date on evolving standards, such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines, and seek supervision when needed. 

Being Human Group models this commitment through ongoing professional development and collaboration to stay informed, inclusive, and evidence-based in the therapy space. 

Connection and Resilience 

Resilience is a common theme throughout the book. For many trans individuals, navigating oppression, discrimination, and systemic barriers demands tremendous amounts of strength. Therapy then becomes the space for identifying strengths, building coping strategies, and fostering support systems. Additionally, group therapy and community spaces play an important role in this process. Clinicians have to embrace humility and reflect on how power dynamics show up in the rooms they enter. 

Being Human Group’s array of therapy options reflect the belief that healing happens collectively. We work to create inclusive environments where connection can flourish and clients feel empowered. 

Shifting From Awareness to Advocacy 

Lastly, the book challenges us to step into the advocate role. Creating a trans-affirming practice is not only about what happens in the therapy room, but also how clinicians engage with the larger world. From revising intake forms to challenging discriminatory systems, advocacy is a key part of affirming care! 

Being Human Group aligns with this call to action by promoting policies and practices that protect LGBTQIA+ rights, while also empowering clients to advocate for themselves and their communities. 

Consider Gender-Affirming Care Near Plymouth, Michigan

Listening, learning, and affirming: not endpoints, but rather lifelong practices. A Clinician’s Guide to Gender-Affirming Care serves as a reminder that care is rooted in humility, cultural awareness, and respect for diversity. At Being Human Group, our gender affirming Michigan therapists are committed to creating spaces where every client can explore, heal, and thrive! 

Read and learn more about Being Human Group’s gender-affirming services. 

Listen to the book here: A Clinician's Guide to Gender-Affirming Care Working with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients