Exploring Cheryl's Trapped In The Wrong Family

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Samantha Stiernagle Chapter 11 Case Study: Charles Cheryl is a 15-year-old, born to the name of Charles, who feels trapped in the wrong body. Ever since Cheryl understood the difference between boys and girls, she has felt trapped in the wrong body. She was born as a male; however, she identifies as a female. Her doctor referred her to a psychologist because they are looking to go forward with her treatment. Therapy is to make sure that Cheryl is psychologically healthy as she undergoes her adjustment to the opposite gender. Cheryl has been getting conflicting messages from her family—she has complete support from her sister, ambivalence from her mother, and confusion/anger from her father. Her father doesn’t seem to understand why she is doing what she is doing. He doesn’t know why she …show more content…

As her therapist, I could suggest a peer support group with other transgender youth that would help Cheryl overcome some of the difficulties that she has already or will face in the future. I think family counseling and psychotherapy would help assist Cheryl throughout this process. I think focusing the psychotherapy on reducing Cheryl and her distress related to the transition, as well as any other psychosocial difficulties, would be most effective because at a young age, it is extremely difficult to feel accepted by peer groups, which makes dealing with social situations a difficult task. I definitely feel that it is important that Cheryl have a lot of individual therapy because although she needs her family’s support, this is about her; it is important to make sure that she has the right mindset, minimal anxiety or stress about the situation, and a plan to move forward most effectively. During individual therapy, she will be able to focus on her own self, thoughts, and feelings without the input of her family members. These are just a few of the many possible techniques that could be used for Cheryl’s

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