Date of Conferral

5-14-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Lisa Scharff

Abstract

There is limited evidence-based research on required competency, training, assessment, and treatment practices for psychologists who treat transgender and non-conforming (TGNC) youth with gender dysphoria. Eleven licensed psychologists with at least 5 years of experience treating TGNC youth were recruited through social media and snowball recruiting to participate in this qualitative Delphi study. Using multicultural competency theory as a guide, these experts were asked to develop a consensus regarding the minimum competencies and training to treat TGNC youth, as well as what they thought the standards should be for assessment and treatment. Data were collected in three rounds of online questionnaires and analyzed using thematic and content analysis to identify themes, concepts, and categories. Findings of each round were shared until an 80% consensus was reached. Experts agreed that competence entails empathetically supporting gender development as well as social and physical transition to an affirmed gender. The concurred minimal level of training to treat this population without supervision was a master’s degree, 2 years of experience, and a lifetime commitment to continued training. The most useful assessment method was found to be clinical interviews, and the best treatment practices included gender affirming-care, family systems therapy, feminist therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. These findings may be used to develop training programs as well as inform the professional treatment of TGNC youth, which may contribute to social change by enhancing treatment access and effectiveness for an underserved population as well as providing vital information to the TGNC population, their families, and healthcare providers.

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