| This dissertation was created to address the void in resources available to psychotherapists treating gender diverse children. A qualitative method of data gathering and analysis was utilized to compile information about the gender-affirmative psychotherapeutic practice with this population. Five licensed psychotherapists with expertise in gender-affirmative practice with children under the age of 12 underwent standardized open-ended interviews that collected information about their clinical experiences with this population. The data was analyzed according to prominent themes and complied into a handbook format to be used as a resource for intermediate and advanced level psychotherapists. The handbook describes the key principles of gender-affirmative psychotherapy, including treatment aims and interventions, as well as provides guidance around assessment and diagnosis, clarifications around terminology related to gender diversity, common challenges in treatment, clinical case examples, and recommendations for psychotherapists inexperienced with this population. |
