Working with a diverse range of clients, counselling professionals should have a basic knowledge about gender identities, sexual practices and issues, and relationship structures. It is also a good rule of thumb to at least match the level of knowledge available in the general culture. All told, with these basic terms, engaged counsellors usually follow “ask” etiquette. In other words, there is nothing to assume and much to consider as the client is the only expert on their experiences! Yet, when looking for information and support on gender and sexuality issues, the implications are also noted. Specifically, that the online literature and research can be problematic, for example, theorized or conducted by "straight" people, or conclusions drawn from small samples(1). One implication for counselling practice, then, may be to directly connect with non-binary gender serving organizations for information; that is, front-line sources.
As well, on the theme of cisgender (when a person's gender corresponds to their birth sex) difficulties often occur when people try to adhere to rigid cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity(1). I have seen this often; for example, when couples “buy-in” to stereotyped cultural scripts; they adopt prescribed gender roles and problems emerge. The implication for counselling; however, is that gender script scenarios may provide some explanatory value for the source of relationship problems. Judith Butler and Sandra Lipsik Bem are both excellent resources for gender theory and thoughts on non-binary identities.
Richards & Barker also explore a number of fundamental gender and sexuality issues, and discuss topics that fall under the umbrella of kink or BDSM. This may be helpful resource for individuals new to the topic as a 12-page glossary of terms is included. On the topics of gender, sexuality, and sexual practices, there is always new and emerging literature. Below are a few valuable resources.
References
BC Centre for Disease Control. (2016). Smart Sex Resource. Kink awareness for health care professionals. Retrieved from https://smartsexresource.com/health-providers/blog/201607/kink-awareness-health-care-professionals-part-1
Bem, S. (1993). The Lenses of Gender. New Haven: CT: Yale University Press.
Butler, J. (2011). Bodies that matter: On the discursive limits of "sex". New York, NY: Routledge.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble. New York, NY: Routledge.
Richards, C., & Barker, M. (2013). Sexuality & Gender for Mental Health Professionals. London: Sage.
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