PSY 638 Module 10 Week 10 Discussion

Also, the acknowledgment that women with a male sexual organ and men with a female sexual
organ can actually exist and do exist in our society has changed a lot in how therapy is conducted
(Bento, 2018). As such, as a therapist, I know I do not have to diagnose a man with a female
sexual organ as having a gender disorder. I also do not need to provide help for them to try and
identify with the gender identified at birth. In sed, as a therapist, what I can actually do is to try
and talk to parents and family members so that such an individual can be socially accepted.
DSM changes have helped stop the discrimination and pathologizing of a minority
community (Lev, 2013). It has also helped ensure that these groups get the support they need.
Also, according to Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, parents model and reinforce gender-
related stereotypes. They buy gender-specific toys, dress children in specific colors according to
the gender, and even encourage behaviors that are associated with their child’s gender while
discouraging cross-gender behaviors. Such issues occur deliberately and insentiently, and they
could affect a child’s gender identity. As a therapist, talking to parents not to compel their
children into identities that they do not associate with can help ensure that children who associate
with the LGBT community are not discriminated against and that they get the necessary support.
Overall, I have learned quite a lot, and this course has greatly impacted me and contributed to
shaping my future professional career.

References

Bento, B. (2018). The review process of the DSM 5: is gender a cultural or diagnostic
category. Sociol Int J, 2(3), 205-213.
Lev, A. I. (2013). Gender dysphoria: Two steps forward, one step back. Clinical Social Work
Journal, 41(3), 288-296. doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1007/s10615-013-
0447-0