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TRANSACTIVISM AS THERAPY:A Client Self-Empowerment Model

Linking Personal & Social Agency

Rupert Raj, M.A., Counseling Psychology

LGBT Counsellor (Psychotherapist)Sherbourne Health Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Agenda Theoretical Drivers of the Model

Practical Drivers of the Model

Nuts & Bolts of the Model Case Study: Annabelle

Types of Transactivism

Therapist Transactivists

Non-Therapist Transactivists

Interactive Exercises

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Theoretical Drivers of the

ModelPSYCHODYNAMIC & EXISTENTIAL THEORY:

ALFRED ADLER (Interconnectedness, Power)

VIKTOR FRANKL (Meaning, Authenticity)

ANNE VITALE (Gender Authenticity)

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Practical Drivers of the

Model (TRANS)ACTIVIST THERAPIST AS

FACILITATOR: as role model & mentor

TRANS CLIENT AS SELF-EMPOWERER:

as individual (trans)person & as (trans)

community member

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Nuts & Bolts of the Model Interconnectedness (Social Interest)

Power

Meaning

Existential Authenticity

Genderal Authenticity

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Nuts & Bolts of the Model(contd)

EMPOWERMENT = personal & trans-personal power

AGENCY= ability of individual to be anactive agent of hir personal destiny

Personal Agency = Self-Advocacy

Social Agency = Community Activism

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Case Study: Annabelle Two-Spirited Transwoman (20)

Have been working with (then) pre-

transitional client over past 2 1/2 years Paper of same name to be published in

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy

(Issue 3/4 and also as a monograph:Activism in LGBT Psychology) inNovember 2007

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Case Study: Presenting

IssuesMultiple Mental Health Issues: self-hatred poor body image

PTSD ADHD depression anxiety psychotic episodes anger/rage

substance use eating disorder self-harm suicidality

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Case Study: Presenting

Issues(contd)

Gender Distress (GID)/Transsexualism

Obesity

Familial Rejection

Abusive Mother/Unsafe Home Life

Social Isolation

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Case Study: Treatment

Goals Facilitate Self-Empowerment

(develop personal & social power)

Enhance Self-Esteem

Be Safe/Access Housing

Stabilize Mood Work Out Anger & Rage

Cease/Decrease Harmful Behaviours

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Case Study: Treatment

Goals(contd)

To Transition (hormone therapy)

Improve Body Image & Lose Weight

Make Supportive Friends

Connect to Community (trans & two-spirited)

Re-Connect with Father & Sisters

Start Healing Process re: Trauma

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Case Study: Interventions

CLIENT-CENTRED INTERDISCIPLINARY

CARE PLAN:

Client

Psychotherapist

Psychiatrist

Primary Care Physician Primary Care Nurse

Client Resource Worker

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Case Study: Interventions(contd)

Therapist Self-Disclosure, Modelling &Mentoring

Encouragement Client Self-Esteem Building Skills Development re: Self-Advocacy, Life,

Interpersonal & Social Skills Connecting the Dots between Personal &

Social Agency Re-channelling Righteous Rage re: Transphobia

into Empowering Advocacy & Activism

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Case Study: Interventions(contd)

Skills Transfer between Self-Advocacy &Community Activism

Facilitation re: Centres Trans Activities &Trans Community Activism

Individual Therapy

Group Work

Bibliotherapy Psychoeducational Workshops

Overall Ongoing Therapeutic Support

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Case Study: Treatment

Outcomes

Facilitating Self-Empowerment(developing personal & social power)

Enhancing Self-Esteem Becoming Safe/Accessed Transpositive

Supportive Housing

Stabilizing Mood Working Out Anger & Rage

Ceased/Decreasing Harmful Behaviours

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Case Study: Treatment

Outcomes(contd)

Accessing Female Hormone Therapy

Improving Body Image

Making Supportive Friends

Connecting with Trans & Two-SpiritedCommunities

Re-Connecting with Father & 1 Sister

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Types of Transactivism

Self-Advocacy Community Activism

Political Activism Legal Activism Educational Activism Scientific Activism

Religious Activism Art-as-Activism Therapy-as-Activism

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Some Key Transactivist

Therapists

Dallas Denny+ Gianna Israel+ (deceased) Matthias Kaay Zack Marshall Jude Patton+* Rupert Raj+* Hershel Russell+ Melanie Spritz, M.D. Reid Vanderburgh* Anne Vitale+ Lukas Walther Julian Young+*autobiographical pieces+trans research papers or other trans worksCanadian

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Contact Information

Sherbourne Health Centre

333 Sherbourne Street

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 2S5

Tel: (416) 324-4180; fax: (416) 324-4181

www.sherbourne.on.caRupert Raj: (416) 324-4174;

rraj@sherbourne.on.ca