🌈Pronoun Series: A Practical Guide for Mental/Medical-Health Providers, Allies, & community Members

Introduction

Pronouns are foundational to communication, identity, safety, and belonging. For LGBTQPIA2S+ people, allies, and especially mental-health and medical providers, understanding pronoun series is essential for trauma-informed, as well as anti-oppressive positionalities and identity-affirming practice.

A pronoun series is the full set of pronouns a person uses—but each part of that series should include only ONE pronoun, not repeated versions of the same pronoun. This is a small but meaningful detail that prevents confusion, reduces harm, and strengthens communication.

This guide explains what pronoun series are, why they matter, and how to use them respectfully—while following the practice of listing only one pronoun per part of the series.

What Is a Pronoun Series?

A pronoun series is a person’s selected set of pronouns, written in a clear, simple format.

Correct examples (one pronoun per position):

• they

• she

• he

• she / they

• they / she

• he | él

• she | ella

• xe | xem

• they | elle

Incorrect examples (DO NOT USE):

• ❌ she/her/her/her

• ❌ they/them/theirs/them

• ❌ he/he/him/his

• ❌ repeating any pronoun inside the series

Why?

Because repeating the same pronoun multiple times:

• Creates confusion

• Implies the person is using more pronouns than they are

• Takes focus away from what the person is communicating

• Reinforces harmful patterns where people skim only the first pronoun and creates an erasure for people who use more than one pronoun series

The rule is simple:

👉 One pronoun per position. Always.

Why Pronoun Series Matter — Especially in Healthcare & Mental Health

1. They affirm identity and reduce harm

Using correct pronouns is foundational to creating safety. When providers honor pronoun series correctly, it affirms personhood and helps counter systemic harm.

2. Misgendering & mispronouning can be traumatic

Even accidental misgendering/mispronouncing is transphobic and can trigger shame, fear, dysregulation, and avoidance of care. Using someone’s pronoun series correctly is a basic action toward trauma-informed practice.

3. Proper pronoun usage builds trust

Clients and patients watch how we show up. When providers model respect, they create space for vulnerability, self-expression, and healing.

4. It demonstrates cultural humility

Pronoun practice is ongoing, evolving, and shaped by language, community, and culture.

How to Correctly List Pronoun Series (ONE pronoun per position)

✔️ Rule #1: Only write ONE pronoun in each part of the series

Correct examples:

• she

• they

• he / they

• she | ella

• they | elle

• xe / fae

Incorrect examples:

• ❌ she/her/her

• ❌ they/them/them/theirs

• ❌ él/él

✔️ Rule #2: Respect order (the first pronoun is usually primary)

• She / they → primarily she

• They / she → primarily they

• He | él → the order reflects context and/or language

Never reorder someone's pronoun series.

✔️ Rule #3: Honor multilingual pronoun series

Pronouns can cross languages, cultures, and contexts.

Correct examples:

• they | elle

• il | elle

Each part still includes only one pronoun.

✔️ Rule #4: Avoid assumptions

Never guess someone’s pronouns based on name, appearance, or voice.

Share:

“My pronoun series is (insert your pronoun series).

Ask:

“What pronoun series should I use for you?”

Using Pronoun Series in Practice

1. Intake & Consent Forms

Include a simple line:

“Pronoun series (example: they; she; he | él): ____________”

2. Clinical & Medical Documentation

Use the word client or patient and avoid using pronoun series, DO NOT default to they. They is not a neutral pronoun series, it is a specific pronoun series for folx who use it. It would be like defaulting to he for everyone or she for everyone.

3. Email Signatures & Introductions

Model inclusion:

Van Levy, LMFT, LPCC (they | elle)

Modeling correct pronoun usage increases safety for others and actively combats transphobia by communicating that just because your internalized transphobia reads my identity and pronoun series a certain way, does not mean that, that is correct.

4. Everyday Conversations

Normalize ALWAYS sharing:

“My pronoun series is/are…”

Normalize asking:

“What pronoun series should I use today?”

“How would you like me to list your pronoun series?”

Never force anyone to share. Offer, don’t require.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

❌ Mistake 1: Listing the same pronoun multiple times

Example: she/her/her/her

This is confusing and communicates misunderstanding.

❌ Mistake 2: Using only the first pronoun listed

Example: someone writes she / they, and a provider uses only “she.”

This erases part of their identity.

❌ Mistake 3: Assuming pronouns based on appearance

Always ask.

❌ Mistake 4: Treating pronouns as “optional” for providers

If providers aren’t modeling pronoun clarity, it is harder for clients or patients to trust the process.

❌ Mistake 5: Sharing someone's pronouns without consent

Especially in medical or legal settings.

Always check:

“Should these pronouns be used everywhere or only in certain spaces?”

Safety first.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What if someone uses more than one pronoun?

Use pronoun series in the order listed.

One pronoun per position.

What if I make a mistake?

Correct yourself in the moment and demonstrate you made the change briefly, apologize once, and move on.

What about neopronouns?

Use them exactly as shared.

Example: xe

Still one pronoun per position.

Practice when the person is not present to reduce mispronouncing someone.

It can be helpful to practice to list a pronoun series over the series you are learning.

Ex:

She Her Hers

They Them Theirs

If I were to say she is going to the store, then I would say they is going to the store for a singular person versus they are which would be plural.

What about mixed-language pronouns?

Follow the person's order.

Example: she | elle or he | él

Why This Matters

For LGBTQPIA2S+ people, affirming pronouns isn’t “political”—it’s survival.

• Affirmation reduces suicide risk.

• Respect reduces shame and trauma responses.

• Clarity reduces misgendering.

• This is foundational to equitable, ethical care.

Using one pronoun per position in a pronoun series is a small but powerful way to communicate:

“I trust you know you. You matter. Your identity is respected here.”

Conclusion

Pronoun series are essential for building inclusive, trauma-informed, identity-affirming environments. Listing only one pronoun per series ensures clarity, reduces harm, and communicates genuine respect.

Whether you are a provider, ally, or part of the LGBTQPIA2S+ community, using pronoun series correctly is one meaningful actions toward dignity, belonging, and safety for all.