The writer shares the course of treatment with a gender nonbinary teenager and their parents that utilized techniques from drama therapy, relational self psychology, sculpting, and family therapy. Following the rupture and attempted repair with the patient’s parents, work with the patient and their family finally led to a joint decision to terminate treatment. This case study discusses the clinical challenges and implications of working within a family system in which parents’ values misalign with the psychotherapist’s treatment goals.

Trigger warning

This paper contains misgendering that can emotionally trigger some individuals.