Broad Strokes: Alchemizing Archetypes and Attachment for Early Trauma Prevention in Sexual and/or Gender Diverse Youth

Abstract

This phenomenological, participant-based study explores the attachment experiences of sexual and/or gender diverse youth across regions of the United States. Guided by Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectionality-informed framework and grounded in archetypal psychology, the research seeks to formalize a protocol aimed at early trauma prevention for this population. The study emphasizes the preservation of the innate enthusiasm and creative potential described by Downing (1981) as central to the child archetype. Through qualitative interviews and accompanying art-based creative expression, the research examines participants’ reflections on attachment experiences, while also identifying underlying archetypal patterns. The central inquiry— “What does the experience of attachment look like for sexual and/or gender diverse youth?”—frames the exploration of how archetypal themes manifest within individual and collective experiences. Emerging archetypal patterns are examined through phenomenological reduction to reveal how cultural and relational dynamics shape internal imaginal realities and collective trauma. This study aims to deepen understanding of how attachment experiences influence the mental health of sexual and/or gender diverse youth, contributing to the development of affirming trauma-prevention practices.