A Clinical Program for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Neurodiverse/Autistic Adolescents Developed through Community-Based Participatory Design. Issue 6 (2nd November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strang, John F.; Knauss, Megan; van der Miesen, Anna; McGuire, Jenifer K.; Kenworthy, Lauren; Caplan, Reid; Freeman, Andrew; Sadikova, Eleonora; Zaks, Zosia; Pervez, Noor; Balleur, Anouk; Rowlands, D. W.; Sibarium, Ely; Willing, Laura; McCool, Marissa A.; Ehrbar, Randall D.; Wyss, Shannon E.; Wimms, Harriette; Tobing, Joshua; Thomas, John; Austen, Julie; Pine, Elyse; Griffin, April D.; Janssen, Aron; Gomez-Lobo, Veronica; Brandt, Abigail; Morgan, Colleen; Meagher, Haley; Gohari, Dena; Kirby, Laura; Russell, Laura; Powers, Meredith D.; Anthony, Laura G.;
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Volume 50:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 730
• Page End: 745
• Publication Date: 2021-11-02
• Subjects: Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent Psychology -- Periodicals; Child Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Clinical -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry; Adolescent psychology; Child psychiatry; Child psychology; Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2020.1731817
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-4416

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : A series of studies report elevated rates of autism and autistic characteristics among gender-diverse youth seeking gender services. Although youth with the co-occurrence present with complex care needs, existing studies have focused on co-occurrence rates. Further, clinical commentaries have emphasized provider-centered interpretations of clinical needs rather than key stakeholder-driven clinical approaches. This study aimed to employ community-based participatory research methodologies to develop a key stakeholder-driven clinical group program. Method : Autistic/neurodiverse gender-diverse (A/ND-GD) youth ( N = 31), parents of A/ND-GD youth ( N = 46), A/ND-GD self-advocates ( N = 10), and expert clinical providers ( N = 10) participated in a multi-stage community-based participatory procedure. Needs assessment data were collected repeatedly over time from A/ND-GD youth and their parents as the youth interacted with one another through ongoing clinical groups, the curriculum of which was developed progressively through the iterative needs assessments. Results : Separate adolescent and parent needs assessments revealed key priorities for youth (e.g., the importance of connecting with other A/ND-GD youth and the benefit of experiencing a range of gender-diverse role models to make gender exploration and/or gender affirmation more concrete) and parents (e.g., the need for A/ND-related supports for their children as well as provision of an A/ND-friendly environment that fosters exploration of a range of gender expressions/options). Integration and translation of youth and parent priorities resulted in 11 novel clinical techniques for this population. Conclusions : With generally high acceptability ratings for each component of the group program, this study presents a community-driven clinical model to support broad care needs and preferences of A/ND-GD adolescents.