Imagine alternative paths (Exercise)

• You will need: pen and paper
• Estimated time: 15 minutes

Think about your life, your journey and development, and come up with ideas about what would have been different through your childhood, adolescence and development, if you were a person identifying as LGBTQI+. If you are self-identifying as LGBTQI+, you can also choose an alternative LGBTQI+ identity.

After having some ideas in the previous imaginary excercise, take the following questions and try reflecting on them:

• When thinking about your life path and development, what kind of models or theories informed your thinking? Was it easy or difficult to think alongside these? Were they inclusive enough to grasp the experiences of LGBTQI+ persons?
• What assumptions do these models hold about “normal” gender identity development or the development of other identities? What assumptions do you have due to being trained in these models/theories?
• What are your beliefs about the time in which a person comes to understand their gender identity and sexual orientation?
• In what ways do you explore a client’s identity development during the onboarding process and ongoing care?
• What types of information do you need from a client that will help you to understand the challenges they have faced with regard to interruptions in their identity development?