Conclusion
By way of concluding this paper, it seems timely and necessary for the field of psychotherapy to begin, like the individuals and couples we work with, to confront the loosening of the stranglehold that gender and sexuality has exerted for so many years and the ways in which it has influenced theory and practice. In my work with children and young people so many of them are questioning their gender and sexuality, so it behooves therapists to make their own journey through this profoundly complex and at times disturbing terrain in order to appropriately accompany these children, young people and adults on their own journey from one gender to another. By the same token, it is also important to properly understand the nature of the struggle partners encounter within the context of a partner or loved one transitioning from one gender or another and ass they work towards acceptance and integration. This point is further underscored as family members and partners have the potential to mediate the stress and disturbance that often accompanies a loved one making this transition. Sadly, for some, they have to make the journey alone, but therapists also hold the key to reaching out and helping these individuals find real acceptance of self and other.
A version of this paper was published in the International Review of Psychoanalysis of Couple & Family, ISSN 2105-1038, No 16-1/2017 – The Family Crisis.
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