Variations in Sex Development : Medicine, Culture and Psychological Practice

The first book to explore psychological practice in healthcare for those impacted by developmental presentations that do not map clearly onto social categories of female and male. It explores why this field of healthcare is contested and encourages ethical, inclusive and pragmatic care to better support individuals and families.

Biological variations in sex development, also known as intersex, are greatly misunderstood by the wider public. This unique book discusses psychological practice in healthcare for people and families impacted by a range of ''intersex'' variations. It highlights the dilemmas facing individuals and their loved ones in the social context and discusses the physical and psychological complexities of irrevocable medical interventions to approximate social norms for bodily appearance and function. It exposes the contradictions in medical management and suggests valuable theoretical and practice tools for psychosocial care providers to navigate them. Uniquely featuring theory and research informed practice vignettes, the book explores interpersonal work on the most salient psychosocial themes, ranging from grief work with impacted caretakers to sex therapy with impacted adults. An indispensable resource for working ethically, pragmatically and creatively for a variety of healthcare specialists and those affected by variations in sex development and their families and communities.