A group approach to gender diversity in adolescence

The psychic suffering of transgender and non-binary adolescents largely relates to risk factors in their environment, in particular bullying at school or in the neighbourhood and transphobia in their families, or even from among certain healthcare professionals. In a hospital consultation specialised in transidentity in adolescence, one of the main objectives is to provide psychological support to transgender minors and their parents in order to prevent psychiatric disorders. For this purpose, two discussion groups and a multi-family intergenerational group were set up for these adolescents and their parents. These psychoanalytically guided group provisions promote the expression and elaboration of the psychological conflicts for each member of the group. In addition to countering a trend towards isolation, they also enable participants to enhance their own narcissistic self-esteem as part of a process of mutual investment.