Transgender, two-spirit, and nonbinary (TNB) people have increased risk for mental health concerns, including anxiety, trauma-based distress, depression, self-harm, and suicide.
To improve mental health outcomes for these individuals, a project led by the School of Education’s Stephanie Budge seeks to assess whether e-therapy (telehealth) interventions matching TNB clients with TNB therapists makes a positive difference.
Budge is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology.
The project is one of 15 chosen to receive grants through the through UW–Madison’s Understanding and Reducing Inequalities Initiative. Elliot Tebbe, an assistant professor in the UW–Madison School of Nursing is a co-investigator on the project.
The project is described as a pilot feasibility trial assessing psychotherapy process and outcomes of e-therapy (telehealth) interventions for TNB clients matched with TNB therapists. Over the course of 15 psychotherapy sessions, clients will engage in four overall assessments and a short assessment prior to each psychotherapy session.
A primary goal of the study is to center Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) clients and therapists, notes the project description. Three community partners will assist with study design, implementation, and dissemination of the results.
Therapists will be trained to use the Radical Healing Framework and interventions that focus on internalized stigma, the project description explains. Findings from the study could further support expanding insurance coverage for e-therapy services, and could also be used to improve culturally competent training for therapists nationwide.
Learn more about this project.