Case Study: Creating Clinical Content That Centers Dignity

How I balanced clinical accuracy with community-centered language to create gender-affirming care guidance that moves beyond traditional gatekeeping models.

Gender Dysphoria Treatment Planning Published by Mentalyc | 3,200 words

The Challenge

Client: Mentalyc (Mental health practice management platform)Project: Comprehensive guide on gender dysphoria treatment planning for mental health professionalsThe Problem: Many mental health professionals lack specialized training in gender-affirming care, yet increasingly serve transgender and non-binary clients. Existing clinical resources often perpetuated outdated "gatekeeping" models that required clients to "prove" their gender identity rather than providing affirming, trauma-informed care.Unique Complexity: This topic required balancing clinical accuracy with community-centered language, addressing both novice and experienced providers, and moving beyond pathologizing frameworks to affirming approaches.

My Approach

Research Strategy:

  • Reviewed current WPATH Standards of Care and APA guidelines

  • Analyzed community feedback on clinical language and approaches

  • Drew on lived experience to identify gaps between clinical training and community needs

  • Consulted trauma-informed care principles to guide language choices

Key Language Decisions:

  • Reframed assessment from "diagnosis" to "understanding unique needs" - shifting from proving transness to exploring individual goals

  • Replaced "biological sex" with "sex assigned at birth" - using community-preferred terminology that acknowledges the social construction of gender categories

  • Emphasized "gender-affirming care" over "treatment" - positioning support as affirming existing identity rather than fixing pathology

  • Structured content to prioritize client autonomy - consistently centering client expertise about their own experience

Trauma-Informed Considerations:

  • Acknowledged systemic discrimination and minority stress explicitly

  • Provided specific examples of affirming vs. harmful practices

  • Emphasized creating psychological safety in clinical spaces

  • Addressed intersectional identities and multiple forms of oppression

The Result

What I Delivered:

  • A comprehensive 3,000+ word guide that moved beyond traditional diagnostic frameworks

  • Practical assessment questions that prioritize client autonomy over "proving" gender identity

  • Evidence-based therapeutic approaches specifically adapted for gender-affirming care

  • Clear guidance for creating psychologically safe clinical environments

Demonstrable Skills:

  • Successfully balanced clinical accuracy with community-centered language

  • Translated complex therapeutic concepts into actionable guidance

  • Addressed multiple audiences (novice and experienced providers) within one resource

  • Applied trauma-informed care principles throughout the content structure

What This Demonstrates

Cultural Responsiveness: My lived experience as a trans man combined with clinical training allowed me to identify and address gaps that cisgender writers might miss - such as the psychological impact of "proving" gender identity to access care.Trauma-Informed Communication: The same principles that guided this clinical writing - centering dignity, avoiding re-traumatization, and creating psychological safety - directly inform my approach to inclusive organizational communication.Complex Topic Navigation: Successfully balanced multiple stakeholder needs (novice vs. experienced providers, clinical accuracy vs. community values) while maintaining coherent, actionable content.Professional Authority: Created content that positions readers as competent, caring professionals while providing concrete tools for improvement - the same approach I use when helping organizations develop inclusive communication strategies.

Connection to Inclusive Communication Work:

The skills demonstrated in this clinical writing directly translate to organizational communications: understanding how language creates barriers or builds trust, centering the experiences of marginalized communities, and moving beyond surface-level changes to authentic inclusion. When I help organizations audit their language, I bring the same attention to psychological safety and trauma-informed care that guided this clinical resource.

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