Abstract
This portfolio contains a literature review and two research reports conducted during the course of completing the practitioner doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey. Using Foucauldian genealogical approach, the literature review examines how discourses relating to gender dysphoria have emerged and evolved since the 1960’s. This is followed by two research reports, the first of which explores the subjective experiences of therapy of five trans people using interpretive phenomenological analysis. This study found four major themes: ‘The Therapeutic Relationship’, ‘Integration: A Relational Process’ and ‘Context is Key’. The second research report focused on the stories of non-specialist therapists who have worked with trans clients as part of their routine clinical work. A rhizomatic-narrative analysis was employed which revealed two master narratives of ‘Emerging Knowledge’ and ‘The Relationship’. The implications for praxis are discussed in light of these findings.