Transgender-led peer counseling through TACT helped Beth discover “little tips” from their experiences. TACT Director AJ Shaler was inspired to do this work by their own transition experiences. (Courtesy/Getty/PinkNews)
Finding the right person to talk to about being transgender and the impact hate has on your mental health can seem like a daunting task.
And for Beth, the “greatness of getting support” from transgender-led peer counseling helped them discover “little nuggets” about their identities and experiences.
Many transgender and nonbinary people are grappling with some aspect of their identity, whether it's gender dysphoria, isolation, or bigoted attacks on their community.
Sharing common ground can help ease some of the fear and anxiety about talking to strangers about mental health. That's why transpeer counseling from TACT (Trans Advocacy and Care Team) is so powerful.
TACT is provided free of charge counseling and support groups For people of diverse genders across the United States. Volunteer counselors support other transgender people in their gender journey and help them access the positive resources that are best for them.
Beth has been participating in one-on-one counseling with TACT Director AJ Shaler for a little over a year, ever since she identified as non-binary and transgender.
Coming out as non-binary and transgender at the age of 30 has helped them connect with the queer community, understand their sexuality, and cope with what it's like to lose someone after a breakup. I was left with doubts about what to do next.
“I was married to a cis man for seven years, and we realized this in our marriage, which then ended in divorce,” Beth told Pink News.
“[I’ve] AJ and I got through it together. What's it like to lose someone you've been with for over 10 years and choose yourself through it all? Because sometimes it's easy to look for safety in the known instead of accepting who I am and what makes me truly happy. ”
Having previously been to therapy, Beth goes on to say: That's very different from just some random person who has some normative, general commonalities with you.
“I felt, and sometimes still do, that I wasn't transgender enough because my gender is so fluid. I'm not transgender.
“A lot of times I came in as a confessional, but AJ guided me to not have to fit into a certain box. This is a work in progress, but I The non-linear process of, having someone who keeps validating my fluidity and who is there with me through that chaos and helps me find clarity during that time has been invaluable.”
There's a lot of evidence that being transgender in a hostile society can contribute to poor mental health.
Transgender people endure severe discrimination and have seen politicians repeatedly use the community to target them. A disproportionate number of transgender people experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Research shows that gender-affirming care, which includes a variety of social, psychological, and medical interventions designed for transgender people, can improve mental health and quality of life and reduce the risk of suicide. Shown.
Scherer believes the rise in anti-trans rhetoric in the media and politics is taking a huge psychological toll on transgender people.
TACT's peer counseling aims to overturn the “transgender victim narrative” perpetuated by the media. Because it doesn't have to be “real” to the members of the community.
“Trans people can live joyfully and authentically when they are celebrated and have a community and place that welcomes them with open arms,” Scherer said.
They say participating in peer-to-peer counseling is “empowering” because there is “beauty” in helping other transgender people. By doing so for others, she says, “you're reaching out to parts of yourself that have felt similar pain and joy.
“My transition is one of the things that originally inspired me to do this work, and what sticks out for me is this memory of finally understanding who I am. It was scary and difficult. “There were times when that happened,” Scherer admits.
“But mostly, I felt joy and excitement about going inside myself. I had reactions like this [to coming out] It used to be: 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry.' That's going to be very difficult for you,' like being diagnosed with a terminal illness or something.
“That's not how it should be. Trans people are courageous and able to reject the gender norms that keep so many oppressed and constrained. There is great joy and expansion in being a person.
“Recognizing that I too am part of this process and being able to connect with others and help them find joy, those people have inspired me to expand my gender and I feel that it frequently teaches me to think about and celebrate my journey every day.”Basic. “
Scherer said transgender-led peer counseling becomes “a supportive network of chosen family members” that can help other members of the community find “a sense of belonging and safety.” Explain that it is.
