A Critical Look into the Working Alliance between GSRD Autistic Individuals and Their Healthcare Providers

Authors

Abstract

Sexuality, gender, and relationships are integral aspects of life and well-being. Moreover, sexual, gender, and relational health are crucial components of healthcare, regardless of whether a person has the experience or desire to conceive or birth children, is sexually active, has current or previous relationship partners, or has a medical provider they trust. Nonetheless, there are many barriers that individuals may face as they seek healthcare pertaining to sexuality, gender, and relationships. Healthcare systems often assume cisheteronormativity and neuronormativity, which impacts the presentation and function of healthcare for the intersectional identities of gender, sexual, and relationship diversities (GSRD) and Autistic persons. Additionally, the relationships or working alliances between healthcare providers and GSRD Autistic individuals can impact affirming or nonaffirming healthcare as the relationship informs interactions that may be collaborative or adversarial. Therefore, this chapter explores the working alliance between GSRD Autistic individuals and their healthcare providers, with a particular focus on GSRD Autistic youth from my experience and perspective as a GSRD Autistic psychotherapist.

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