Application: Case Study – Sexual Dysfunction and Gender Dysphoria

Application: Case Study – Sexual Dysfunction and Gender Dysphoria

For many beginning psychologists, one of the most difficult topics to broach with a client is the topic of sex: sexual behavior, sexual identity, or sexual problems. By using professional sensitivity and consideration of other personal factors such as cultural awareness and client privacy, psychologists may produce a comfortable environment in which to lead the client into discussion.

For the first part of this Application, you review the client in the case study in the Learning Resources. Give a DSM diagnosis for the presenting problem. Include an assessment of the client’s ability to function in daily life. Be sure to pay particular attention to symptoms of the disorder and the influence of the disorder on the client as well as the client’s significant other.

For the second part, imagine a 13-year-old female client is brought by her parents to see you. Her parents are concerned because they report their daughter is very unhappy with being a girl. She is increasingly being teased at school because she looks, dresses, and tries to act like a boy. She is an active athlete, but will only play contact sports with boys. The client states she does not like her breasts and wishes she could have them removed. She reports that she has always wanted to be a boy for as long as she can remember. Give a DSM diagnosis for the presenting problem. Include an assessment of the client’s ability to function in daily life. Be sure to pay particular attention to the symptoms of the disorder and the influence it has on the client, as well as the client’s family.

The Assignment (5–6 pages)

• A DSM diagnosis of each client
• An explanation of your rationale for assigning these diagnoses on the basis of the DSM
• An explanation of what other information you might need about each client to make an accurate diagnosis
• A brief description of additional individuals you might include in your assessment and explain why
• Discuss how you would produce a comfortable environment to lead your clients to discuss their issues