Anxiety and Related Disorders
Signs and Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances. The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social interactions, school, and work.
- Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:
- Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
- Being irritable
- Having muscle tension
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
- Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Anxiety, exposure therapy
Panic disorders
People with panic disorder have recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. Attacks can occur unexpectedly or can be brought on by a trigger, such as a feared object or situation. During a panic attack, people may experience:
- Heart palpitations, a pounding heartbeat, or an accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking
- Feelings of impending doom
- Feelings of being out of control
People with panic disorder often worry about when the next attack will happen and actively try to prevent future attacks by avoiding places, situations, or behaviors they associate with panic attacks. Worry about panic attacks, and the effort spent trying to avoid attacks, cause significant problems in various areas of the person’s life, including the development of agoraphobia (see below).
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Anxiety, exposure therapy
phobia Related disorders
A phobia is an intense fear of—or aversion to—specific objects or situations. Although it can be realistic to be anxious in some circumstances, the fear people with phobias feel is out of proportion to the actual danger caused by the situation or object.
People with a phobia:
- May have an irrational or excessive worry about encountering the feared object or situation
- Take active steps to avoid the feared object or situation
- Experience immediate intense anxiety upon encountering the feared object or situation
- Endure unavoidable objects and situations with intense anxiety
There are several types of phobias and phobia-related disorders:
Specific Phobias (sometimes called simple phobias): As the name suggests, people who have a specific phobia have an intense fear of, or feel intense anxiety about, specific types of objects or situations. Some examples of specific phobias include the fear of:
- Flying
- Heights
- Specific animals, such as spiders, dogs, or snakes
- Receiving injections
- Blood
Social anxiety disorder (previously called social phobia): People with social anxiety disorder have a general intense fear of, or anxiety toward, social or performance situations. They worry that actions or behaviors associated with their anxiety will be negatively evaluated by others, leading them to feel embarrassed. This worry often causes people with social anxiety to avoid social situations. Social anxiety disorder can manifest in a range of situations, such as within the workplace or the school environment.
Agoraphobia: People with agoraphobia have an intense fear of two or more of the following situations:
- Using public transportation
- Being in open spaces
- Being in enclosed spaces
- Standing in line or being in a crowd
- Being outside of the home alone
- People with agoraphobia often avoid these situations, in part, because they think being able to leave might be difficult or impossible in the event they have panic-like reactions or other embarrassing symptoms. In the most severe form of agoraphobia, an individual can become housebound.
Separation anxiety disorder: Separation anxiety is often thought of as something that only children deal with; however, adults can also be diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder. People who have separation anxiety disorder have fears about being parted from people to whom they are attached. They often worry that some sort of harm or something untoward will happen to their attachment figures while they are separated. This fear leads them to avoid being separated from their attachment figures and to avoid being alone. People with separation anxiety may have nightmares about being separated from attachment figures or experience physical symptoms when separation occurs or is anticipated.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Anxiety, exposure therapy
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
Signs and Symptoms: People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships.
Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include:
- Fear of germs or contamination
- Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm
- Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
- Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:
- Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing
- Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
- Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked or that the oven is off
- Compulsive counting
- Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things sometimes.
But a person with OCD generally:
- Can't control his or her thoughts or behaviors, even when those thoughts or behaviors are recognized as excessive
- Spends at least 1 hour a day on these thoughts or behaviors
- Doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviors or rituals, but may feel brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
- Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors
- Some individuals with OCD also have a tic disorder. Motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements, such as eye blinking and other eye movements, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Common vocal tics include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.
Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or worsen. People with OCD may try to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves. Although most adults with OCD recognize that what they are doing doesn’t make sense, some adults and most children may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary. Parents or teachers typically recognize OCD symptoms in children. If you think you have OCD, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. If left untreated, OCD can interfere in all aspects of life.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Anxiety, exposure therapy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Anxiety Disorders Overview. Retrieved from NIMH » Anxiety Disorders (nih.gov)
HOW IS Anxiety DIAGNOSED?
If you think you may have anxiety, schedule an appointment with a licensed mental health provider to be assessed and begin treatment. If your symptoms do not meet criteria for an anxiety diagnosis, you may benefit from brief counseling services to help you manage stress related to life transitions. You can also talk to your health care provider. Primary care providers routinely diagnose and treat anxiety and refer individuals to mental health professionals, such as licensed professional counselors and psychologists.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Anxiety, exposure therapy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Anxiety Disorders Overview. Retrieved from NIMH » Anxiety Disorders (nih.gov)
Depression
What is Depression?
Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass with a little time. Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is different. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. It is an illness that can affect anyone—regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression. Depression may occur with other mental disorders and other illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. Depression can make these conditions worse, and vice versa. Sometimes medications taken for these illnesses cause side effects that contribute to depression symptoms.
What are the different types of depression?
Two common forms of depression are:
- Major depression, which includes symptoms of depression most of the time for at least 2 weeks that typically interfere with one’s ability to work, sleep, study, and eat.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), which often includes less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, typically for at least 2 years.
Other forms of depression include:
- Perinatal depression, which occurs when a woman experiences major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).
- Seasonal affective disorder, which comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in late fall and early winter and going away during spring and summer.
- Depression with symptoms of psychosis, which is a severe form of depression where a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions (disturbing, false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not see or hear).
Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression or manic-depressive illness) also experience depression.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT
What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
Common symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and that do not ease even with treatment
- Suicide attempts or thoughts of death or suicide
THINKING OF SUICIDE WITH A PLAN AND INTENT TO HURT YOURSELF IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
PLEASE CALL 911 TO RECEIVE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT. TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST TO STAY SAFE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.
CALL: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
TEXT: the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741)
LIFELINE CHAT: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
How is depression diagnosed?
To be diagnosed with depression, an individual must have five depression symptoms every day, nearly all day, for at least 2 weeks. One of the symptoms must be a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities. Children and adolescents may be irritable rather than sad.
If you think you may have depression, schedule an appointment with a licensed mental health provider to be assessed and begin treatment. You can also talk to your primary health care provider. Primary care doctors routinely diagnose and treat depression and refer individuals to mental health professionals, such as licensed professional counselors and psychologists.
During the visit, your provider may ask when your symptoms began, how long they last, how often they occur, and if they keep you from going out or doing your usual activities. It may help to make some notes about your symptoms before your visit. Certain medications and some medical conditions, such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same depression symptoms. Your provider can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests.
Read NIMH’s Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider to help prepare for and get the most out of your visit. For additional resources, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Depression Overview. Retrieved from NIMH » Depression (nih.gov)
Women's Mental Health
PREMENSTRUAL Mood Disorder & PERIMENOPAUSAL transition
Mental disorders can affect women and men differently. Some disorders are more common in women such as depression and anxiety. There are also certain types of disorders that are unique to women. For example, some women may experience symptoms of mental disorders at times of hormone change, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, perimenopause-related anxiety and depression, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).
When it comes to other mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, research has not found differences in the rates at which men and women experience these illnesses. But women may experience these illnesses differently – certain symptoms may be more common in women than in men, and the course of the illness can be affected by the sex of the individual. Researchers are only now beginning to tease apart the various biological and psychosocial factors that may impact the mental health of both women and men. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Learn more about taking care of your mental health.
Warning Signs
Women and men can develop most of the same mental disorders and conditions, but may experience different symptoms. Some symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness
- Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Excessive fear or worry
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Extremely high and low moods
- Aches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear cause
- Irritability
- Social withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts
Mental disorders can be treated: If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor or visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage. Communicating well with your health care provider can improve your care and help you both make good choices about your health. Read about tips to help prepare and get the most out of your visit. For additional resources, including questions to ask your health care provider, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately. You can call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Women's Mental Health Overview. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/women-and-mental-health
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
DEPRESSION DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
A woman with PPD might experience feelings of anger, sadness, irritability, guilt, lack of interest in the baby, changes in eating and sleeping habits, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hopelessness and sometimes even thoughts of harming the baby or herself.
ANXIETY DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
A woman with PPA may experience extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of the baby. Some women have panic attacks and might feel shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, a feeling of losing control, and numbness and tingling. Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Post partum adjustment, depression and anxiety counseling
OCD DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
Women with PPOCD can have repetitive, upsetting and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions), and sometimes they need to do certain things over and over (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by those thoughts. These moms find these thoughts very scary and unusual and are very unlikely to ever act on them.
OBSTETRIC TRAUMA
PPTSD is often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth or past trauma, and symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event. Most often, this illness is caused by a real or perceived trauma during delivery or postpartum. These traumas could include:
- Prolapsed cord
- Unplanned C-section
- Use of vacuum extractor or forceps to deliver the baby
- Baby going to NICU
- Feelings of powerlessness, poor communication and/or not enough support and reassurance during the delivery
BIPOLAR MOOD DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
Many women are diagnosed for the first time with bipolar depression or mania during pregnancy or postpartum. Bipolar mood disorder can appear as a severe depression; women need informed evaluation and follow-up on past and current mood changes and cycles to assess whether there is a bipolar dynamic.
POST PARTUM PSYCHOSIS (PPP)
PPP sufferers sometimes see and hear voices or images that others can’t, called hallucinations. They may believe things that aren’t true and distrust those around them. They may also have periods of confusion and memory loss, and seem manic. This severe condition is dangerous so it is important to seek help immediately.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
Postpartum Support International. (2021) Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) Retrieved from Learn More | Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Infertility stress
Struggling to become pregnant and participating in fertility treatments can be stressful for both partners. Counseling can support communication and stress management to help couples get through what can be a challenging time.
Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 or older). Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile. About 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Infertility is not always a woman's problem. Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of infertility cases are caused by women's problems. Another one third of fertility problems are due to the man. The other cases are caused by a mixture of male and female problems or by unknown problems.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a group of different methods used to help infertile couples. ART works by removing eggs from a woman's body. The eggs are then mixed with sperm to make embryos. The embryos are then put back in the woman's body. Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:
- Age of the partners
- Reason for infertility
- Clinic
- Type of ART
- If the egg is fresh or frozen
- If the embryo is fresh or frozen
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to a 2014 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a live birth were:
39 percent in women under the age of 35
30 percent in women aged 35-37
21 percent in women aged 37-40
11 percent in women aged 41-42
ART can be expensive and time-consuming, but it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. (2021). Infertility Overview. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility
Pregnancy loss
Pregnancy loss is a harsh reality faced by many expecting couples. If you have lost your baby, you know how devastating and painful this loss can be. You might wonder if you'll ever have a baby to hold and call your own. But surviving the emotional impact of pregnancy loss is possible. And many women go on to have successful pregnancies.
As many as 10 to 15 percent of confirmed pregnancies are lost. The true percentage of pregnancy losses might even be higher as many take place before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. Most losses occur very early on — before eight weeks. Pregnancy that ends before 20 weeks is called miscarriage. Miscarriage usually happens because of genetic problems in the fetus. Sometimes, problems with the uterus or cervix might play a role in miscarriage. Health problems, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, might also be a factor. After 20 weeks, losing a pregnancy is called stillbirth. Stillbirth is much less common. Some reasons stillbirth occur include problems with placenta, genetic problems in the fetus, poor fetal growth, and infections. Almost half of the time, the reason for stillbirth is not known.
After the loss, you might be stunned or shocked. You might be asking, "Why me?" You might feel guilty that you did or didn't do something to cause your pregnancy to end. You might feel cheated and angry. Or you might feel extremely sad as you come to terms with the baby that will never be. These emotions are all normal reactions to loss. With time, you will be able to accept the loss and move on. You will never forget your baby. But you will be able to put this chapter behind you and look forward to life ahead. To help get you through this difficult time, try some of these ideas:
- Turn to loved ones and friends for support. Share your feelings and ask for help when you need it.
- Talk to your partner about your loss. Keep in mind that men and women cope with loss in different ways.
- Take care of yourself. Eating healthy foods, keeping active, and getting enough sleep will help restore energy and well-being.
- Join a support group. A support group might help you to feel less alone.
- Do something in remembrance of your baby.
- Seek help from a grief counselor, especially if your grief doesn't ease with time.
Give yourself plenty of time to heal emotionally. It could take a few months or even a year. Once you and your partner are emotionally ready to try again, confirm with your doctor that you are in good physical health and that your body is ready for pregnancy. Following a miscarriage, most healthy women do not need to wait before trying to conceive again. You might worry that pregnancy loss could happen again. But take heart in knowing that most women who have gone through pregnancy loss go on to have healthy babies.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. (2021). Pregnancy Loss Overview. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/pregnancy-loss
complex pregnancy options
Options Counseling for Unplanned Pregnancy
Unplanned pregnancy is common. About 1 in 2 pregnancies in America are unplanned. Ideally, a woman who is surprised by an unplanned pregnancy is in good preconception health and is ready and able to care for a new child. But this sometimes isn't the case.
If you have an unplanned pregnancy, you might not know what to do next. You might worry that the father won't welcome the news. You might not be sure you can afford to care for a baby. You might worry if past choices you have made, such as drinking or drug use, will affect your unborn baby's health. You might be concerned that having a baby will keep you from finishing school or pursuing a career. If you are pregnant after being raped, you might feel ashamed, numb, or afraid. You might wonder what options you have.
Ask yourself if this the right time for me to be responsible for a child? The options to resolving pregnancy are parenting, an abortion, or an adoption. And even though we might wish for another choice, these are the options we have when living through an unplanned pregnancy.
Family planning, Planned Parenthood, and reproductive or women’s health clinics usually have counselors on staff who offer options counseling. You should feel that they listen to you, treat you with respect, give you accurate information, and let you make up your own mind. This website has information and resources on parenting, abortion and adoption with exercises and decision tools to help you get started thinking about your options: www.pregnancyoptions.info
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. (2021). Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/unplanned-pregnancy
Caregiver stress
Caregivers care for minor children or someone with an illness, injury, or disability. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Stress from caregiving is common. Women especially are at risk for the harmful health effects of caregiver stress. These health problems may include depression or anxiety. There are ways to manage caregiver stress.
Most Americans will be informal caregivers at some point during their lives. A 2012 survey found that 36% of Americans provided unpaid care to another adult with an illness or disability in the past year. That percentage is expected to go up as the proportion of people in the United States who are elderly increases. Also, changes in health care mean family caregivers now provide more home-based medical care. Nearly half of family caregivers in the survey said they give injections or manage medicines daily.
Also, most caregivers are women. And nearly three in five family caregivers have paid jobs in addition to their caregiving.
Anyone can get caregiver stress, but more women caregivers say they have stress and other health problems than men caregivers. And some women have a higher risk for health problems from caregiver stress, including those who:
- Care for a loved one who needs constant medical care and supervision. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia are more likely to have health problems and to be depressed than caregivers of people with conditions that do not require constant care.
- Care for a spouse. Women who are caregivers of spouses are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol and are twice as likely to have heart disease as women who provide care for others, such as parents or children.
Women caregivers also may be less likely to get regular screenings, and they may not get enough sleep or regular physical activity.
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Women's Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. (2021). Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved from Caregiver stress | Office on Women's Health (womenshealth.gov)
LGBTQI+ Youth and Adults
LGBTQIA+ Youth and adults
Psychotherapy for LGBTQA+ Adults
Being a LGBTQA+ affirming therapist means I treat all of my clients with respect, dignity and affirmation for who they are and how they live. I believe love is love and our community is evolving to become more supportive and inclusive for all. Affirmative therapy is an approach to therapy that embraces a positive view of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) identities and relationships and addresses the negative influences that homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism have on the lives of LGBTQ clients.
Psychotherapy for LGBTQA+ Youth
Gender-diverse identities and expressions are not mental disorders, but suppressing gender identity or concerns can harm a child's emotional health and development and possibly contribute to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Support or rejection ultimately has little influence on the gender identity and sexual orientation of youth; however, it may strongly affect a young person's ability to openly share or discuss concerns about their identity and feelings.
The goal of gender affirmative care is not treatment of a disorder, it is to listen to a child and build understanding. Sometimes, disagreements can cause frustration. With some work, conversations can remain respectful and nurturing. Through strong, non-judgmental partnerships with clients and their families, counselors can help create a safe environment in which complicated emotions, questions, and concerns related to gender and sexuality can be appreciated and explored.
Here are some helpful terms to know:
Gender diverse: An umbrella term to describe an ever-evolving array of labels people may apply when their gender identity, expression, or even perception does not conform to the norms and stereotypes others expect.
Gender identity: One's internal sense of who one is, based on an interaction of biological traits, developmental influences, and environmental conditions. This may be male, female, somewhere in between, a combination of both or neither. Self-recognition of gender identity develops over time, much the same way a child's physical body does.
Sexual orientation: One's sexual identity as it relates to who someone falls in love with or is attracted to. A person who is transgender still identifies as straight, gay, bisexual or something else. Like gender identity, an individual's physical and emotional attraction to a member of the same or the opposite sex cannot be changed and is very difficult to predict early in childhood.
Transgender: Usually used when gender diverse traits remain persistent, consistent, and insistent over time.
Ally: A member of a majority group that works to end oppression. I am a proud LGBTQI+ ALLY!
Christy Caric-Ball, MA, LPC Anxiety and depression counseling, Counselor in Texas for LGBTQA+ affirming counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT
American Academy of Pediatrics (2021) Definitions. Retrieved from Gender-Diverse & Transgender Children - HealthyChildren.org