Nonbinary-Affirming Psychological Interventions

Nonbinary individuals experience unique stressors and stigma compared to binary transgender individuals. Given the many social systems that operate on a binary gender system, nonbinary individuals frequently experience microaggressions, discrimination, and harassment and suffer from high rates of negative mental health outcomes as a result. The unique stressors that nonbinary individuals face warrant specific clinical considerations for working with this population. Yet, limited published clinical guidance exists on working with nonbinary clients. This article uses minority stress theory to understand the unique stressors and mental health risks that nonbinary individuals face, a cultural competency framework to describe affirming practices, and ecological theory to contextualize how mental health providers can intervene and support nonbinary individuals. Concrete micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level interventions are provided for clinicians to enact to support the well-being of nonbinary clients including affirming the client's experience of gender, taking a stance of openness and flexibility, and advocating for inclusive policies and practices.