Helpingpeoplenavigategenderidentityquestionstodayiscomplexandoftenpolarizedwork.Forclientsandfamilieswhoarealsoinformedbytheirfaith,somementalhealthapproachesraisemorequestionsthananswers.Cliniciansneedaclient-centered,open-endedapproachthatmakesroomforgenderexplorationwhilerespectingreligiousidentity.GenderIdentityandFaithcarvesoutclinicalspaceformentalhealthprofessionalstohelppeoplewhowishtotakeseriouslytheirgenderidentity,theirreligiousidentity,andtherelationshipbetweenthetwo.Drawingfromtheirextensiveresearchandexperiencewithclients,MarkYarhouseandJuliaSaduskyprovideatimely,practicalresourceforpractitioners.Thisbookemphasizesrespectforclients’journeys,withoutasinglefixedoutcome,towardcongruencebetweentheirgenderidentityandfaithdescribeseffectiveclinicalpostures,assessmentandtherapeutictools,andnumerouscasestudiescoversneedsandcharacteristicsofchildren,youth,andadultclientsincludesworksheetsandpromptsforclientsandfamilymembers“Integratingpersonhoodandvaluesisnoeasyfeat,especiallyinourcurrentculturallandscape,“theauthorswrite.Thosenavigatingthisintersectionneedclinicianswhoseektounderstandtheiruniquecontextandjourneyalongsidethemwithempathy.Thisbookpointstheway.ChristianAssociationforPsychologicalStudies(CAPS)BooksexplorehowChristianityrelatestomentalhealthandbehavioralsciencesincludingpsychology,counseling,socialwork,andmarriageandfamilytherapyinordertoequipChristianclinicianstosupportthewell-beingoftheirclients.
