Narrative Exposure Therapy for Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Among Transgender Youth of Color With Selective Mutism.

This article focuses on the use of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), a trauma-focused intervention, to treat post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in transgender and non-binary (TGNB) youth with comorbid selective mutism (SM). It presents two case studies of transmasculine Latiné adolescents who experienced complex trauma, gender-based discrimination, and communication challenges related to SM. Adaptations to NET, including the use of written and artistic expression and telehealth modalities, supported engagement and led to reductions in PTS symptoms, remission of SM, and increased resilience and psychological well-being sustained at six-month follow-up. The findings suggest that NET can be effectively tailored to address trauma and communication barriers in TGNB youth, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming, culturally responsive care that explicitly addresses gender-based trauma.