Testing a Telehealth Peer-Led Program to Support Substance Use Recovery and Reduce HIV Risk in Transgender Adults

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate a new mutual-help group called the TLC Program, designed for transgender adults who use substances or are recently in recovery. The TLC Program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT, a type of counseling that uses mindfulness to help individuals connect with their values and improve mental health. The program was developed collaboratively by transgender and gender diverse community members, mental health providers, and researchers to address stigma and substance misuse among transgender adults, particularly related to HIV risk. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group will receive treatment-as-usual TAU following guidelines for risky alcohol and drug use and HIV prevention counseling. The experimental group will receive TAU plus the TLC Program, which is a telehealth, peer-delivered group intervention based on ACT. The TLC Program includes 12 weekly sessions, each about 1.5 hours long, delivered via videoconference, covering topics like gender affirmation, stigma, substance use, and values-driven self-care goals. During the study, participants will complete assessments at baseline, 12 weeks post-assessment, and 24 weeks follow-up. These include measures of internalized transphobia, healthcare empowerment, psychological flexibility, substance use, and HIV risk behaviors. Weekly patient-reported outcomes will also be collected. Researchers will evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention while monitoring participants mental health and substance use. The study is planned to run until July 2027.

The Trans-Led Care Study