Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture
Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Honorable Mention

Genuine Compassion, Expert Understanding—Explore the New Edition of Understanding Gender Dysphoria

Few topics spark more debate today than gender identity, fueling intense discussions across social, political, and cultural spheres. Complex issues like gender dysphoria are often oversimplified into slogans and sound bites, overlooking the lived experiences of those affected and making understanding even more difficult in an increasingly divided discourse.

Mark Yarhouse, an expert in sexual identity and therapy, challenges the church to rise above the political hostilities and listen to people's stories. In Understanding Gender Dysphoria, Yarhouse combines Biblical principles and scholarly research to offer a Christian perspective on transgender issues that eschews simplistic answers and appreciates both psychological and theological complexity. The result is a book that engages the latest research while remaining pastorally sensitive to the experiences of each person.

In this updated edition, you'll find

  • updated sources and references,
  • language that reflects the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), and
  • new content on more recent trends, including rising numbers of young people identifying as transgender and non-binary.

If you are a pastor, counselor, or someone simply seeking to better understand individuals navigating questions of gender identity, now is the time to act with compassion and courage. Understanding Gender Dysphoria is an essential guide for those who wish to approach this topic with empathy and informed insight. Order your copy today and answer the call to come alongside those on the margins as they resolve their questions and concerns about gender identity.

About the Series

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

1120938808
Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture
Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Honorable Mention

Genuine Compassion, Expert Understanding—Explore the New Edition of Understanding Gender Dysphoria

Few topics spark more debate today than gender identity, fueling intense discussions across social, political, and cultural spheres. Complex issues like gender dysphoria are often oversimplified into slogans and sound bites, overlooking the lived experiences of those affected and making understanding even more difficult in an increasingly divided discourse.

Mark Yarhouse, an expert in sexual identity and therapy, challenges the church to rise above the political hostilities and listen to people's stories. In Understanding Gender Dysphoria, Yarhouse combines Biblical principles and scholarly research to offer a Christian perspective on transgender issues that eschews simplistic answers and appreciates both psychological and theological complexity. The result is a book that engages the latest research while remaining pastorally sensitive to the experiences of each person.

In this updated edition, you'll find

  • updated sources and references,
  • language that reflects the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), and
  • new content on more recent trends, including rising numbers of young people identifying as transgender and non-binary.

If you are a pastor, counselor, or someone simply seeking to better understand individuals navigating questions of gender identity, now is the time to act with compassion and courage. Understanding Gender Dysphoria is an essential guide for those who wish to approach this topic with empathy and informed insight. Order your copy today and answer the call to come alongside those on the margins as they resolve their questions and concerns about gender identity.

About the Series

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

29.99 Pre Order
Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture

Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture

by Mark A. Yarhouse
Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture

Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture

by Mark A. Yarhouse

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Overview

Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Honorable Mention

Genuine Compassion, Expert Understanding—Explore the New Edition of Understanding Gender Dysphoria

Few topics spark more debate today than gender identity, fueling intense discussions across social, political, and cultural spheres. Complex issues like gender dysphoria are often oversimplified into slogans and sound bites, overlooking the lived experiences of those affected and making understanding even more difficult in an increasingly divided discourse.

Mark Yarhouse, an expert in sexual identity and therapy, challenges the church to rise above the political hostilities and listen to people's stories. In Understanding Gender Dysphoria, Yarhouse combines Biblical principles and scholarly research to offer a Christian perspective on transgender issues that eschews simplistic answers and appreciates both psychological and theological complexity. The result is a book that engages the latest research while remaining pastorally sensitive to the experiences of each person.

In this updated edition, you'll find

  • updated sources and references,
  • language that reflects the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), and
  • new content on more recent trends, including rising numbers of young people identifying as transgender and non-binary.

If you are a pastor, counselor, or someone simply seeking to better understand individuals navigating questions of gender identity, now is the time to act with compassion and courage. Understanding Gender Dysphoria is an essential guide for those who wish to approach this topic with empathy and informed insight. Order your copy today and answer the call to come alongside those on the margins as they resolve their questions and concerns about gender identity.

About the Series

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781514013519
Publisher: IVP Academic
Publication date: 11/25/2025
Series: Christian Association for Psychological Studies Books
Sold by: Bookwire
Format: eBook
Pages: 208

About the Author

Mark A. Yarhouse (PsyD, Wheaton College) is the Dr. Arthur P. Rech and Mrs. Jean May Rech professor of psychology at Wheaton College, where he directs the Sexual and Gender Identity Institute and serves as a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. His books include Modern Psychopathologies, Family Therapies, and Gender Identity and Faith.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Gender Identity, Gender Dysphoria and Appreciating Complexity
2. A Christian Perspective on Gender Dysphoria
3. What Causes Gender Dysphoria?
4. Phenomenology and Prevalence
5. Prevention and Treatment of Gender Dysphoria
6. Toward a Christian Response: At the Level of the Individual
7. Toward a Christian Response: At the Level of the Institution
Notes
Author Index
Subject Index

What People are Saying About This

Shirley V. Hoogstra

"This book is a must-read for pastors, educators and those who want to engage the cultural discussion around human sexuality. Yarhouse is a first-rate scholar, educator and therapist who also loves Jesus and Scripture. He deeply cares for people and the church. His approach to this complex topic is not to tell the reader what to think, but to teach the reader, who then can wisely discern how to apply the information to their particular context. This book educates so that people can lead wisely, pastor compassionately and build community that lives out the great commandment to love God and others."

Bill Hybels

"I deeply respect the work that Mark Yarhouse has done in this field and have benefited greatly from his thinking."

Jenell Paris

"It's hard to keep up with current words and acronyms for sexuality and gender, much less understand what they really mean. Even more challenging is evaluating and engaging these issues from a Christian perspective. Thank God—literally and truly—for Dr. Mark Yarhouse! Yarhouse articulates a goal many Christians will quickly claim as their own: to rise above political and ideological battles to provide ministry, pastoral support and compassionate care to all persons. Yarhouse helps us begin to put this ideal into practice by explaining gender dysphoria, transgender, and gender normativity and non-normativity, based on stories, professional counseling experience and research, some conducted by him and his graduate students. He treats all persons equally, asking of us all, 'How does gender permeate our lives—and how should it?' His voice is clear and serious, his perspective well-informed and studious, and his heart pastoral and concerned for the well-being of individual persons, especially those who seek support and community within Christian churches. If you've wondered how Christians and churches can support people with gender dysphoria who are seeking a meaningful story, lifeway and community, read this book!"

Andrew Marin

"Understanding Gender Dysphoria is a deeply practical and timely book. Many of the variables surrounding the transgender community are nuanced and intense, yet completely unknown to the evangelical world. Mark provides helpful working knowledge of key terms, concepts and relevant issues. And with humility and great care he directly addresses how individual Christians and the broader evangelical church can respond. Although this book is academic in nature, it should be required reading for all church leadership. This is my new go-to book for the Marin Foundation's work with evangelicals on the topic. Mark's research must be paid attention to."

Stanton L. Jones

"This work is a tour de force. With his unique combination of Christian evangelical theological sophistication, clinical sensitivity and compassion, and scientific acumen and mastery, Yarhouse establishes in this compelling book why he is the most important voice reflecting on the complex challenges of sexuality today."

Preston M. Sprinkle

"Mark Yarhouse has written yet another important contribution to the church's discussion about LGBTQ issues, this time focusing specifically on questions related to transgender people. This book is informed by studious attention to the Bible, sound theological reasoning and deep psychological wisdom, all of which is sifted through a compassionate heart that wants to see people experience the deep love of Christ. This book is a must read for any Christian who wants to think Christianly about what it means to be transgender. Mark's pastoral posture and commitment to biblical truth is a model for every evangelical Christian."

Andrew McQuitty

"Speaking as a pastor to church leaders, I enthusiastically commend my friend Dr. Mark Yarhouse for his unflinching courage, heartfelt compassion, biblical loyalty and rigorous scholarship in addressing the painfully complex and controversial issue of gender dysphoria. This book is an exquisite gift of understanding that I believe is absolutely essential to the church's crafting of ministry to hurting people that reflects the grace and love of Jesus. Unwrap and use it as soon as possible!"

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