Non-binary people may face specific challenges in psychological settings. Psychotherapists often display a lack of preparation for non-binary gender identities, resulting in overt or subtle forms of prejudice that compromise the therapeutic alliance. The present study aimed to provide data on non-binary clients’ positive and negative experiences within therapeutic relationships. Twenty-five interviews were conducted with non-binary people in the age range of 19–35. Using codebook thematic analysis, the researchers identified three main themes: (1) the self of the psychotherapist, consisting of the impact of the therapist’s personal (i.e., sexual identity) and professional (i.e., competence) characteristics on the therapeutic experience; (2) the practice of the psychotherapist, emerging as affirmative (validation and microaffirmations) or negative (gender identity change efforts, manifest aggressions, and microaggressions) approaches toward non-binary identities; (3) the therapeutic relationship, referring to the alliance, rupture, and reparation based on the therapists’ openness toward non-binary identities. To provide a safer setting for non-binary clients, psychotherapists should incorporate issues related to gender minority identities in their training, acknowledge clinical errors when they occur and adopt an active predisposition to learn through the client’s experience, giving value to their unique contribution.

Body dissatisfaction in individuals with Gender Incongruence (GI) represents a primary source of suffering. Several studies have highlighted how this suffering has psychological, physical, and biological implications. This work aims to explore experiences related to body dissatisfaction and investigate the issues associated with living in a body perceived as incongruent for individuals with GI. Thirty-six individuals, aged between 18 and 30 years old and at stage T0 of hormone treatment, participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and experiences related to it were investigated using the Clinical Diagnostic Interview. The Consensual Qualitative Research methodology was applied to the transcripts of the interviews. Several themes emerged: experiences with GI development, experiences with puberty and bodily changes, perception of one’s body, psychological problems and complex behavioral patterns related to body dissatisfaction. Results pointed out the complexity implied in the relationship with one’s body for individuals with GI, highlighting specific aspects of body dissatisfaction among these individuals (e.g., eating disorders, sexual difficulties, social withdrawal). This study underlines the need for a deeper understanding of some aspects of GI to better define guidelines for a correct assessment of it. In this way it will be easier to avoid negative outcomes for the psychological and general health of transgender people.

Nonbinary people experience their gender as falling outside the gender binary of man or woman. The experience of gender identity and expression among the nonbinary population is notably heterogeneo...

Background: Recently, the variability and heterogeneity of gender presentations in transgender youths have gained significant attention worldwide. Alongside this, specialized gender services have reported an increase in referrals of youths reporting non-binary identities. In Italy, studies investigating gender identity and expression in gender non-conforming youths are lacking, as are data regarding the non-binary population.Aim: The present study aimed at dimensionally exploring how transgender and non-binary Italian adolescents identify and express their gender.Outcomes: Gender expression in trans binary youths and non-binary youths.Methods: The Gender Diversity Questionnaire (GDQ; Twist & de Graaf, 2019) was used to investigate gender identity, gender fluidity, and gender expression in a sample of 125 adolescent patients from the Gender Identity Development Service (SAIFIP) in Rome and the Gender Incongruence Unit of the Careggi Hospital in Florence, between April 2019–June 2021.Results: The majority of participants (74.4%) identified as trans* binary and the remaining (25.6%) participants identified as non-binary. Trans binary participants reported a stable gender identity, whereas non-binary participants reported a more fluid gender identity across time and contexts. Almost all participants rated external appearance as important to their gender expression, yet trans binary participants attributed more importance to the body in this respect. Body discomfort and pubertal stage emerged as the most influential factors in participants’ experiences of gender. Participants who were assigned male at birth expressed significantly more desire for puberty blockers, whereas those who were assigned female at birth had a stronger desire to engage in breast/chest surgery. Non-binary participants sought different medical interventions relative to trans binary participants.Clinical Implications: These results may be useful for clinicians working with transgender youths as they provide awareness regarding the features of young people who identify within and outside of binary constructions of gender.Strengths & Limitations: This study provides useful data in gaining insight into understanding the variety of experiences and challenges of gender non-conforming youths. However as the sample was recruited from specialized services, it may not represent the entire gender non-conforming population in Italy.Conclusion: The results describe the range of gender identities and expressions among gender non-conforming youths attending gender specialized services in Italy, thereby improving our understanding of the variety of identities experienced and the specific medical needs of both trans binary and non-binary adolescents.

The present study examined the attachment patterns distribution of 60 lesbian mothers, 50 gay fathers, and 42 heterosexual parents through assisted reproduction and their 76 children, using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Friends and Family Interview (FFI), respectively. The study also explored the intergenerational transmission of attachment through reflective functioning (AAI-RF). All families lived in Italy and children were aged 6-12 years (M_years = 8.11, SD = 2.17; 48.68% assigned female at birth). The AAI patterns distribution was similar across family types and did not significantly differ from international and national normative data. Similarly, children's FFI attachment patterns were evenly distributed between family types, and no significant differences emerged in comparison to international and national normative data referring to middle childhood samples. Mediational models revealed that, in all three family types, parents with greater AAI coherence of mind exhibited higher AAI-RF, which, in turn, was associated with increased FFI attachment security in children. Furthermore, parents' AAI coherence of mind directly influenced children's FFI attachment security. The results support and expand hypotheses regarding the intergenerational transmission of attachment in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction, while offering unique indications to support these families during middle childhood.