MacIntyre-Harrison, Jess; (2023) ‘This dance between hope and hopelessness’: Queer and/or trans clinical psychologists’ experiences of bringing their lived identities into their practice. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This conceptual introduction explores the institutional practices and psychological processes that may impact the development of a queer and/or trans ‘personhood’ as a clinical psychologist in the UK. It situates the profession’s approach to personal and professional development in the context of psychology’s underpinnings, and provides an overview of the profession’s historical pathologisation and violent treatment of sexual and gender minorities. The impact that these legacies of oppression have left on queer and/or trans psychologists are considered, as well as the structural processes that lead to queer and/or trans clinicians having to ‘risk assess’ whether it is safe to bring their subjectivities into their clinical work. The literature around therapist ‘disclosure’ of sexual orientation and gender identity is reviewed, before setting out the argument that this debate ought to be abandoned in order to consider how else queer and/or trans clinicians might employ a whole-person self-reflection as a potential location of empathy and connection. There is currently no research which addresses how queer and/or trans clinical psychologists bring their lived identities into their practice. Further research is needed to understand what might be ‘opened up’, and what might be ‘closed down’ through these lived experiences.

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