The Trans-Led Care Study
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The Trans-Led Care Study 〰️
Research Study
For transgender people who drink alcohol, use drugs, or are recently in recovery.
(PI: Arryn A. Guy, PhD; study protocol # IRB-2025-3)
What is the TLC Study?
Investigators from Illinois Tech are testing a new mutual-help group called “the TLC program” for transgender folks who use substances or are recently in recovery. The TLC Program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or “ACT” which is a type of mental health counseling that focuses on using mindfulness skills to connect a person to their values and improve their mental health.
The TLC Program was developed by transgender and gender diverse community members, mental health providers, and researchers. We performed an initial test of the program with 46 transgender adults. Now we’re ready to test the TLC Program compared to current standard of care. We are hoping to recruit 124 participants.
What does participation involve?
Over 6-8 months, your participation will involve:
Complete weekly, brief (5 min) online surveys for 16-22 weeks (we’ll text you a link)
Complete 3 online via Zoom (1hr) Survey Visits filled out with trained study staff
Complete 1 online via Zoom (1-2hr) Resource Connection visit with a trained study staff
If selected, complete the TLC Program on Zoom: a peer-led, mutual-help group (2 hours, weekly, 12 weeks; only half of participants will be selected for the TLC Program). TLC Program sessions will be audio recorded for quality purposes and deleted at the end of the study.
You can earn up to $320 in Visa Gift Cards for all study activities completed
Your participation is confidential and completely voluntary
Questions?
Reach out to us at craftresearchteam@illinoistech.edu or text us at 1(312)567-6757!
Ready to see if you might be eligible?
Fill out our screener here:
Here’s what past participants had to say about the TLC Group:
“I didn't realize how powerful it was going to feel – to have a group of other people completely understand you, you know, understand your perspective and respect everything you've had to do in your life to get by and everything that you do to get by now and encourage you to just do more and get better.”
“I realized that going through it [the TLC program], that it could apply to like, my real life. Even when I'm not using substances and stuff. […] It was about like reflection, self-reflection, which I really liked. I have a really hard time with self-reflection when I'm not in a therapy setting. So that was really helpful. You know, like actually interrogating my inner self.”
“I connected with everyone in the group in levels that I have not connected with other people in group therapy settings before, and especially with the facilitators too, I think, everyone being trans allowed us to be a bit more vulnerable and open up into what was really going on in our lives at a deeper level than perhaps other gay groups or like NA groups or AA groups and stuff like that ”
“I really love your workbook… That was something that was new that I hadn't really experienced in other groups that I've been in, like therapy groups and stuff, was like having a workbook that everyone has access to that, we're actually following, that's helping inform or guide us [through] different aspects of the session. I thought that was very, very helpful, at least for me. As someone who like who, my mind wanders and, you know, being able to color on the beautiful pages and take my notes.”
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