Witnessing and Mirroring: A Fourteen-Stage Model of Transsexual Identity Formation

Authors:

Devor, A.H.

Source:

Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, Volume 8, Issue 1/2 (2004)

Abstract:

Coming to recognize oneself as transsexual involves a number of stages of exploration and analysis on both an interpersonal and intrapersonal level over the course of many years. A model encompassing fourteen possible stages is proposed: (1) Abiding Anxiety, (2) Identity Confusion About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (3) Identity Comparisons About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (4) Discovery of Transsexualism, (5) Identity Confusion about Transsexualism, (6) Identity Comparisons about Transsexualism, (7) Tolerance of Transsexual Identity, (8) Delay Before Acceptance of Transsexual Identity, (9) Acceptance of Transsexualism Identity, (10) Delay Before Transition, (11) Transition, (12) Acceptance of Posttransition Gender and Sex Identities, (13) Integration, and (14) Pride.