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Chapter 5 - The Ever-changing Role of the Mental Health Care Professional in Transgender Healthcare

from Section A - Contextual Transgynecology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2022

By
Gunter Heylens  and
Els Elaut
Edited by
Mick van Trotsenburg ,
Rixt A. C. Luikenaar  and
Maria Cristina Meriggiola
Mick van Trotsenburg
Affiliation:
Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität, Wien
Rixt A. C. Luikenaar
Affiliation:
Rebirth Health Center, Utah
Maria Cristina Meriggiola
Affiliation:
Università di Bologna
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Summary

This chapter critically illuminates the role, tasks, and challenges of mental health professionals (MHPs) in transgender care and cites relevant literature. Various models of professional–client relationships are presented. Realistic and unrealistic expectations of somatic-oriented professionals about the diagnostic and preparatory process by MHPs are discussed in detail and a critical appraisal of referral letters is included. Also, meaning and necessity of cooperation between MHPs and somatic-oriented medical healthcare professionals are emphasized.

Keywords

mental health careassessmentcare models
Type
Chapter
Information
Context, Principles and Practice of TransGynecology
Managing Transgender Patients in ObGyn Practice
 , pp. 32 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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