4 Ways to Support Your Trans Clients Pre- and Post-Op

July 26, 2018

This post was originally published on this site

https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/

Our clients come from diverse communities with varying needs and rich backgrounds. We may not always know how best to support them in their journey to wellness. In this article, I hope to specifically address the ways in which you can support your trans and gender nonconforming clients. Educating yourself on working with trans and gender nonconforming individuals will not only benefit your business but also your clients’ lives.

Being an advocate for underserved communities is a lifelong passion of mine. I have had the privilege of serving members of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as folks in larger bodies virtually my entire time as a coach. By sharing some of my experience and things I’ve learned along the way, I hope this information supports you in your work as well as your personal life.

The more you learn and practice being an effective support person, the more you’ll notice how truly needed you are.

Depending on where you live and how diverse your area is, you very well may be the only service provider your client encounters who has any competency whatsoever working with gender diverse clients.

1. Update Your Intake Forms

Language is important — the terms you use on your forms as well as your conversational terminology absolutely need to be in alignment with your clients’ terminology. If you haven’t already updated your forms to include trans-inclusive language, now is the time.

For example: are you currently asking your clients their “sex” or “relationship status?” If so, why?

Consider what it is that you’re hoping to learn by gathering this information. Instead of asking about one’s “sex,” try asking for their pronoun * instead. While “gender assigned at birth” is the preferred terminology for “sex,” remember that if you’re not directly working with an individual’s sex organs, you don’t need this information.

Clients will disclose information when and if they deem it necessary. Note that when you ask about surgeries in your intake, your client may or may not disclose any gender confirmation procedures they’ve had.

You can offer opportunities for clients to share more about themselves and feel more comfortable by offering open-ended questions when possible instead of checkboxes. You don’t need to prepare a form for every possibility; you can allow your clients to choose the language that suits them best!

2. Respect Confidentiality

Clients gender identity, gender assignment at birth, or sexual activities are absolutely no one else’s business. They are in fact only our business if it directly affects our ability to serve them.

If a colleague asks you any personal questions about your clients (for example, trying to “figure out” their gender identity), it is your responsibility to respect their privacy and potentially use it as a teaching moment for your colleague. While trainers aren’t required by law to follow HIPAA standards, it’s certainly respectful, adds to the integrity of the coach-client relationship, and is likely to be recommended by your certifying body’s code of ethics.

3. Understand the Medical Procedures

There are several procedures that individuals may receive and I’m going to discuss the two most common procedures. I will include resources at the end of the article as well for you to refer to if you would like more information.

It is important to note that not all trans or gender nonconforming people choose to pursue surgery as an option.

Even when surgery is something that an individual would like to pursue, accessing surgery may not be an option due to the cost, lack of insurance coverage and lack of providers in the area.

When people do not have access to a surgical procedure that they need in order to feel comfortable in their body, it can drastically change their relationship with their body, their feelings of safety, and their ability to feel comfortable in fitness or wellness spaces.

The two most common procedures are vaginoplasty and mastectomy with chest reconstruction [1].

Considerations When Working With Individuals After Chest Reconstruction

When working with folks who have had a chest reconstruction it is common, but not always the case, that the individual may have a history of chest binding. This is a process that folks use to minimize the appearance of breast tissue and some may have done this process for years.

Because binding is restrictive there is likely some work to be done to encourage your client to breathe deeply and fully, and to address restriction along the sides of the chest and lats both pre- and post-chest reconstruction. It’s also not uncommon to see an exaggerated kyphotic curve (i.e., rounding of the upper back) with these clients.

In attempting to correct any postural dysfunctions, it’s important to be gentle and understanding — realize that your client’s gender identity and safety may be in play with this posture. I strongly encourage my clients to spend some time on their own, in a safe space, working on their breath, filling their chest and belly fully, allowing their chest to expand.

I also work with them on increasing mobility in the lats and armpit areas as well as their upper back with a roller or lacrosse ball. This will greatly support them in increasing their range and freedom of movement. Often with these clients, I focus work the back muscles more than the chest muscles.

In addition, when using tactile cues (touching to cue) always ask permission first, no exceptions. Trans and gender nonconforming individuals are more likely to have experienced physical violence in their lives than their cisgender counterparts [2].

Considerations When Working With Individuals After Vaginoplasty

When working with folks who have a had a vaginoplasty, there are a few important things to know, starting with what it entails, both in terms of the anatomy involved and the potential exercise indications both pre- and post-vaginoplasty.

A vaginoplasty is a extensive two- to six-hour procedure that removes one’s existing penis, testicles and scrotum and creates a vaginal canal and sensate clitoris.

I would suggest any client seek out a trans-competent pelvic health physical therapist one month prior to surgery and then again about two weeks post-surgery. Ideally, their surgeon will have an appropriate referral for them, but it’s always a good idea as a coach to have your own referral network.

Individuals may take four to six weeks off of work to recover from this surgery. This surgery will make walking difficult for quite a while, though short repeated walks can help in the healing process. All bodies are different, of course, but you can expect to not work with your client for several weeks to two months post-surgery.

When work with the client resumes, be aware that walking and sitting on any kind of cardio equipment (such as a bicycle) may still be uncomfortable. Also note that with a vaginoplasty comes the risk of prolapse, therefore it is important to avoid the valsalva maneuver or holding one’s breath while lifting [3]. I always cue to exhale on exertion, and my suggestion would be to address core stability, breathing and pelvic floor before anything else.

There are several articles already on the GGS blog about isolating and training the pelvic floor muscles; this includes strengthening as well as learning how to relax the pelvic floor muscles. Those recovering from a vaginoplasty will need to learn how to intentionally relax the pelvic floor when they start dilation procedures, which will start one to two weeks post-surgery.

Dilation is a process of post-operative care that involves inserting a dilator inside the vaginal canal to preserve its shape and depth, and that should be continued to some degree for the duration of the person’s life. With this in mind, it’s important that your client has the capacity to intentionally relax their pelvic floor muscles.

4. Stay in Your Scope of Practice and Refer to Trans-Competent & Body Respecting Providers

In any given session I may find that my client needs a service I am not qualified to provide. It could be a mental health counselor, a Health at Every Size dietitian, physical therapist, and the list goes on and on. I do not try to fit myself where I do not belong. I am a strength and life coach and that’s where my expertise ends. I am always trying to expand my list of referral partners.

I work with populations who are consistently underserved and finding other trans-competent providers isn’t always easy and I consider it a part of my job as coach. This means doing the work of calling or visiting an office and making an appointment to speak with someone about their practices and experience serving trans and gender nonconforming patients.

If you think this is time-consuming or a challenge for you, imagine what it’s like for your clients.

Do yourself a favor and do the work. Your clients will appreciate it immensely and you will make yourself known as a coach who truly cares about your clients.

The author would like to thank Daniel Dugi III, MD and Sandi T. Gallagher, P.T. of OHSU Transgender Health Program for their help in reviewing this article.

References

Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People, 7th edition, The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/SOC%20v7/SOC%20V7_English.pdf
Hate Violence Against Transgender Communities Fact Sheet, Anti-Violence Project, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, National Advocacy for LGBTQ Communities, https://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ncavp_transhvfactsheet.pdf
Meltzer, T, MD, Vaginoplasty procedures, complications and aftercare, Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/vaginoplasty#recovery