Constructions of gender identity: how clinical psychologists talk about working with trans people,

This research explored how clinical psychologists talk about working with
trans clients. The Introduction outlines historical and cultural institutions that
have staked a claim in the conceptualisation of gender identity. I then
describe a social constructionist approach and the possibilities of this
framework for examining the dominant historical and cultural notions of
gender identity. In detailing the current legislative and National Health
Service policies I argue that certain discourses about gender identity will
impact on how clinical psychologists can construct the work they do with trans
clients and that this will have implications for the healthcare services that
trans people receive.
The aim of the research was to identify how clinical psychologists constructed
gender identity when talking about working with trans clients to explore what
actions and practices seemed reasonable or unreasonable. I interviewed
seven participants: all qualified clinical psychologists who had had clinical
contact with trans people but not through a specialist gender identity service.
The Analysis explored the language that participants used to construct gender
identity and their work with trans clients. Similar discourses were drawn upon
by the participants but were often constructed in different ways. In the
discussion I summarise the analysis and explore the implications for practice
and future research. Finally I reflexively examine the research in relation to
my own positioning, identity and validity of the analysis.

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