This document contains suggested competencies for use in counseling with transgender clients. These competencies are geared toward professionally trained counselors who work with transgender individuals, families, groups, or communities. These competencies are based on a wellness (e.g., Myers & Sweeney, 2005), resilience (Singh, Hays, & Watson, in press), and strength-based approach (e.g., Bockting, Knudson & Goldberg, 2007; Carroll, 2010; Lev, 2004; Vanderburgh, 2007) for working with transgender clients. The authors of these competencies come from diverse theoretical and professional backgrounds in working with transgender clients, advocating for transgender communities, and having relationships with transgender people.
