Graduate Program
College Student Affairs
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2012
Thesis Director
Steven Conn
Thesis Committee Member
Catherine Polydore
Thesis Committee Member
Mona Davenport
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine counseling practitioner attitudes regarding the diagnosis, conceptualization and treatment of trans gender clients, and to observe possible factors affecting counselor views of trans gender individuals and their presenting issues. The Counselor Attitude Survey (CAS) was designed to measure coonselor attitudes toward trans gender individuals. This measure was distributed to 1000 members of the American Counseling Association throughout the United States and United States territories, resulting in 66 total respondents. Support was found regarding the association between counselor attitudes toward the transgender population and religious and political affiliations. Much of the literature states there is pervasive ignorance and insensitivity to transgender issues, including identity formation, within the mental healthcare system. Awareness is key for competent practice, particularly of how a mental health practitioner's political and religious views impact work with self-identified transgender clients. This study highlights some areas in which transference might be high and personal values held by the counselor might affect competent practice.
Recommended Citation
Rehbein, Rachel N., "Transition in conceptualizing the transgender experience: A measure of counselor attitudes" (2012). Masters Theses. 1010.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1010
