Untangling: Gender Dysphoria and The Art of Therapy

Abstract

This paper proposes art therapy as a supplementary treatment option for patients diagnosed by gender dysphoria due to its benefits of creative expression, emotional support and research suggesting the decrease of distress and symptoms of the gender dysphoria diagnosis. In this paper, it explores the topics of gender and art therapy separately, and then the later discusses the intersection of the two. It reviews past research done with art therapy and patients with the gender dysphoria diagnosis, the efficacy of art therapy with these individuals, and particular art activities that would be helpful.