Theorizing Transgender Identity for Clinical Practice: A New Model for Understanding Gender

242 Pages·2019·1.16 MB·English

by  S. J. Langer

T
“Essential to both new and seasoned clinicians working with transgender h
communities. The in-depth chapters on trauma, sex and development are a unique e
examination of these clinical issues and their relation to trans experience.” o
r
—Dr. Lin Fraser, EdD WPATH Past President Co-Chair—Global Education Initiative
i
z
i
“With roots in both psychoanalytic and academic worlds, Langer provides n
g
clinicians with new ways of theorizing gender that both benefit from these

traditions and push them forward.” T
r
—Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, MA, LGBTQ psychiatrist and writer,
a
Trans Bodies Trans Selves and “You’re in the Wrong Bathroom!”
n
And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions s
g
“Beyond essentialist trapping and visual policing of identities, Langer theorizes e
n
transgender experience as a synesthetic ‘surprise’ that involves a complex
d
interaction between one’s perceptions of internal biophysiology and responses to e
social mirroring.” r
—Chris Straayer, PhD, Associate Professor, New York i
d
University, author of Deviant Eyes, Deviant Bodies
e
n
T
i
Providing new approaches for exploring gender identity and expression, this book T
y
is ideal for clinical practice with transgender and gender nonconforming/diverse

clients. It deepens understanding of the developmental trajectory of clients over F
their lifespan, before and beyond transition, by offering a new model of gender. o
r
Drawing on theories from a range of different fields including psychoanalysis,

philosophy, neuroscience and trauma therapy, this book illustrates how informed c
l
clinical practice can recognise the complexity of gender identity and expression.
i
n
With chapters on the understanding of core gender through the Free Energy ic
Principle, the foundations of gender in consciousness, a gender algorithm, trauma, a
mirroring and sexual functioning, this book works to provide a superior method of l
clinical practice that can better serve trans communities and our understanding of p
gender across the population. r
a Theorizing
S.J. Langer is a writer and psychotherapist in New York City, USA where he c
T
maintains a private practice. He is on faculty at School of Visual Arts in both the MPS
i
c
Art Therapy and Humanities & Sciences departments. Transgender idenTiTy
e
Jessica Kingsley Publishers For clinical pracTice
s
.J
. l
a a new Model For UndersTanding gender
n
g
e
r

s.J. langer
www.jkp.com/gender
Cover design: Adam Renvoize

THEORIZING TRANSGENDER IDENTITY
FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
of related interest
Working with Transgender and Gender Variant Youth
A Practitioner’s Guide to Research, Policy and Practice
Tiffany Jones
ISBN 978 1 78592 425 5
eISBN 978 1 78450 789 3
Counseling Transgender and Non-Binary Youth
The Essential Guide
Irwin Krieger
ISBN 978 1 78592 743 0
eISBN 978 1 78450 482 3
Counselling Skills for Working with Gender Diversity and Identity
Michael Beattie and Penny Lenihan with Robin Dundas
ISBN 978 1 78592 741 6
eISBN 978 1 78450 481 6
Part of the Essential Skills for Counselling series
Supporting Young Transgender Men
A Guide for Professionals
Matthew Waites
ISBN 978 1 78592 294 7
eISBN 978 1 78450 601 8
Transgender Health
A Practitioner’s Guide to Binary and Non-Binary Trans Patient Care
Ben Vincent, PhD
ISBN 978 1 78592 201 5
eISBN 978 1 78450 475 5
THEORIZING
TRANSGENDER IDENTITY
FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
A NEW MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING GENDER
S.J. LANGER
First published in 2019
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © S.J. Langer 2019
Front cover image source: Shutterstock®.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in
any material form (including photocopying, storing in any medium
by electronic means or transmitting) without the written permission
of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of
the law or under terms of a licence issued in the UK by the Copyright
Licensing Agency Ltd. www.cla.co.uk or in overseas territories by the
relevant reproduction rights organisation, for details see www.ifrro.org.
Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce
any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work
may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Langer, S. J., author.
Title: Theorizing transgender identity for clinical practice : a new model
for understanding gender / S.J. Langer.
Description: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018. |
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018005668 | ISBN 9781785927652
Subjects: | MESH: Transsexualism--psychology
| Gender Identity | Transgender
Persons--psychology | Psychological Theory
Classification: LCC RC451.4.G39 | NLM WM 611 | DDC 616.890081-
-dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018005668
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 78592 765 2
eISBN 978 1 78450 642 1
Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1. Being and Knowing: The Interoception
of Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2. Foundations of Consciousness and Gender . . 63
3. Mirroring Recognition. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 87
4. Gender, Terminable and Interminable . . . . . 115
5. Accommodating for Bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
6. Trauma, Trans and Temporality . . . . . . . . . 171
Epilogue. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
References. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
About the Author. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 225
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Acknowledgments
In the solitude of writing the book there were many
people on whom I relied and I was humbled by their
support. I am indebted to my co-presenters and audiences
at various conferences where I presented many of the
ideas offered here. These include the Philadelphia Trans
Health Conferences, World Professional Association
for Transgender Health Symposiums, U.S. Professional
Association for Transgender Health Symposium, White
Institute, National LGBT Health Conference, Working
Group on Gender at New York State Psychiatric Institute’s
Division of Gender, Sexuality and Health and The
Science of Consciousness Conference. Especially, ICP’s
Psychotherapy Center for Gender and Sexuality’s Trans
Clinical Biannual Symposiums in New York City and
particularly the co-directors Joanne Spina and Bob Najjar
who have been very supportive of me and my ideas.
I received invaluable feedback from the discussions which
ensued in the Q&As, as well as on walks and water taxis,
during meals and Skype calls, and over countless coffees
around the world. Christopher Bussman and the staff at
the School of Visual Arts Library were instrumental in
acquiring the literature and research for this book and
were undaunted by my constant flurry of interlibrary
loan requests. Thank you to my lawyer Jonathan Lyon
for his invaluable advice. Gratitude to Adriana Passini
7
8 Theorizing Transgender Identity for Clinical Practice
for shaping my clinical thinking over these many years.
Thanks to Laura Erickson-Shroth, Kathleen Delmar
Miller, Judy Luhr and Robert-Paul Juster for their solid
and helpful feedback; and to my chair, Debi Farber, at
the School of Visual Arts’ Art Therapy Department and all
my colleagues, especially Val Sereno and Liz DelliCarpini
for their support and encouragement and adopting me
into the department. For their intelligent comments,
detailed suggestions, support and treasured friendship:
Christie Block, Luc-Olivier Charlap, L. Zachary DuBois,
Judith Jordan, Julie Lipson, Jae Puckett, Jack Pula and
Karalyn Violeta. My gratitude and thanks to my supportive
friends Tina Andreadis, Sam Eber and Peter Walsh. Thank
you to my CM family for all the unconditional love during
this process. Thanks to my supervision group, Kathy
Panos, Daisy Alter and Ellen DiMeglio, for over a decade of
conversations, support and comments on various chapters.
To my patients who honor me with the trust of being their
therapist, I thank them for allowing me into their lives.
I hope they feel my dedication to them and that I have
done them justice in this work. I could not have endured
the hours at the computer without the help of Nina
Simone. Thank you to Debra Rosenzweig, for being my
compassionate mirror and container. Deep appreciation
to Chris Straayer for his friendship, mentorship and
tennis. Thanks to everyone at JKP including Emily Badger,
Hannah Snetsinger and my editor, Andrew James, whose
calmness, responsiveness and invaluable advice has made
this a smooth birthing process. With all my deepest love,
gratitude and dedication I thank my wife, Denise, for
always believing in me and for being my family.