Graduate Studies

 

First Advisor

Debra A. Hope

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Committee Members

David Hansen, Katie Edwards, Sarah Gervais

Department

Psychology

Date of this Version

4-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Major: Psychology

Under the supervision of Professor Debra A. Hope

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2025

Comments

Copyright 2025, Sage A. Volk. Used by permission

Abstract

Though literature has documented that TGD individuals may face unique challenges when attempting to develop healthy romantic and sexual relationships (Hill-Meyer & Scarborough, 2014), research has also identified that intimate partners can serve as an immeasurable source of support and resilience for their TGD partners (Coppola et al., 2021; Galupo et al., 2019). While there is strong evidence to support the importance of TGD individuals developing healthy intimate relationships, there is little guidance in the literature for mental health providers wanting to discuss these domains with TGD clients in psychotherapy (Spencer and Vencill, 2017).

The present study addresses this gap in the literature by interviewing TGD young adults and TGD-affirming mental health providers in Midwest states about TGD experiences in intimate relationships and the ways in which psychotherapy may be able to benefit TGD clients seeking to develop healthy intimate relationships. Utilizing semi-structure interviews and a reflexive thematic analysis approach, the present study was able to identify themes across interviews while centering TGD voices and experiences. These themes were generated through multiple in-depth reads of the transcripts and application of a codebook developed by the research team. They illustrate a cohesive set of recommendations for mental health providers working with TGD clients on navigating intimate relationships.

Three overarching themes were identified including: Knowledge and Curiosity, detailing the ways mental health providers should practice cultural humility and affirmation; TGD Intimate Experiences, describing the unique experiences of TGD individuals within intimate relationships; Clinical Approaches, illustrating practical suggestions for discussing these domains in psychotherapy. These recommendations align well with general approaches to cultural humility and recommendations for working with TGD individuals while expounding upon the nuances present in the unique domain of intimate relationships. The findings of the present study also provide important insights about the future of research in this domain, clinical implications, and the current sociopolitical climate within the United States.

Advisor: Debra A. Hope

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