Understanding Gender Therapy: What is a Gender Therapist?
Gender therapist is not actually a well-defined term. Usually though, it’ll refer to an approach taken by a mental health professional that focuses on helping clients explore and navigate issues related to gender identity, gender incongruence, gender expression, and gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria (GD) occurs when a person experiences distress or discomfort due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth. Dysphoria is the opposite of euphoria (see Dysphoria, n.d). This distress may be experienced as emotional, psychological, or physical discomfort. Not all transgender or non-binary people experience GD (see gender incongruence), and experiencing dysphoria does not mean a person has a mental health disorder.
Ideally, a gender therapist is a mental health professional who is trained and experienced in working with clients who are questioning their gender identity, experiencing gender dysphoria, or other gender-related distress. Depending on their training or experience, gender therapists might work with clients of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
Just because someone identifies within the broader LGBTQ+ community or as an ally doesn’t mean that they have the relevant knowledge or expertise to effectively work with transgender and questioning clients. A study by Snow and colleagues (2022) suggested that many therapists who advertise themselves as “trans-affirming” and “trans competent” often conflated experiences of trans/nonbinary folks with sexual minority experiences, were overconfident in their expertise, and manipulated their clients. Participants in the study felt that some of their therapists engaged in harmful gate-keeping to retain the client, utilized therapy to get advice and insight on how to help other transgender clients they may have been seeing, or felt that their therapists were tallying up the number of transgender clients they worked with in order to better market themselves (rather than feeling like the therapist was there to help them).
What Does a Gender Therapist Do?
A gender therapist provides a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their gender identity and expression. They may use a variety of therapeutic approaches and techniques, depending on the needs and preferences of the client.
Some of the services a gender therapist may provide include:
Assessment and diagnosis: A gender therapist can help clients explore and understand their gender identity, and provide a diagnosis of gender dysphoria if appropriate. This may involve exploring past experiences, current feelings, and future goals related to gender identity and expression.
Support and advocacy: A gender therapist can provide emotional support, guidance, and advocacy for clients as they navigate social, legal, and medical systems related to gender identity and expression.
Referrals and coordination of care: A gender therapist can help clients access appropriate medical and mental health care, including hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgeries, and other treatments.
Family and relationship counseling: A gender therapist can help clients and their loved ones navigate issues related to gender identity and expression, including communication, understanding, and acceptance.
What is the Gender Affirming Model?
This model emphasizes the importance of providing care that is sensitive to the unique needs and experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming people, including the provision of gender-affirming treatments and interventions.
The gender-affirming model is a framework for providing healthcare and mental health services that is based on the principle that people should be supported in their gender identity, expression, or gender exploration process without judgment or coercion. This approach is grounded in the recognition that gender identity is a fundamental aspect of a person's identity and that gender-affirming care is essential for the health and well-being of transgender and non-binary people.
The Gender Affirming Model is largely based on the following:
Respect for Gender Identity: Client’s should be respected and affirmed in their gender identity and expression, regardless of their assigned sex at birth. If someone is uncertain about their gender or questioning, then they should also be given the space to be affirmed in that process.
Informed Consent: Client’s should be provided with accurate information about the risks and benefits of gender-affirming treatments and interventions, and given the autonomy to make decisions about their own healthcare.
Multidisciplinary Care: Gender-affirming care should be provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including medical providers, mental health providers, and support staff, who are trained and experienced in working with transgender and gender-nonconforming clients.
Holistic Care: Gender-affirming care should take into account the physical, emotional, and social aspects of an individual's health and well-being.
Non-Discrimination: Healthcare and mental health services should be provided without discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or other factors.
Via the gender affirmative model, gender identity is defined as the gender which the child or adult articulates and communicates via their gender expression (Hidalgo et al., 2013). This model supposes that health providers or parents cannot presume a particular gender identity or trajectory and must allow the child or adult to explore and define gender identity for themselves.
How to Find a Gender Therapist
Finding a gender therapist can be a challenging process, but there are several resources available to help individuals connect with qualified mental health professionals who specialize in gender issues.
One resource is the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which offers a directory of WPATH members and providers and you can search by state. WPATH develops the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People and offers a comprehensive certification program that members can complete.
Other resources include local LGBTQ+ community centers, online directories (e.g., PsychologyToday.com and filter by specialty), and recommendations from LGBTQ+ support groups.
Conclusion
Gender therapy and gender therapists can play a critical role in supporting clients as they explore and navigate issues related to gender identity, expression, and discrimination. If you or someone you know is questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender-related distress, seeking the support of a qualified gender therapist can provide a safe and supportive space for exploration, understanding, and growth.
Contact
If you are trying to find a Las Vegas gender therapist and think we may be a good fit for you or your child, then let’s get in touch. I serve all of Nevada as well as Portland, OR, and all of Oregon statewide (in addition to 33+ PsyPACT states). You can learn more about my background and credentials on my About Me page. You may call me at (702) 530-6134, schedule an initial consultation, or use the contact form to take the first step.
My experience includes over 7 years of working with transgender and non-binary clients and their families. I received training conducting evaluations within a multidisciplinary transgender health clinic. I am an active member of WPATH and a former WPATH board member. I am a WPATH Standards of Care 7 (SOC7) Certified Member and a WPATH SOC7 Certified Mentor. I am a co-author of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8.
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Coleman, E., Radix, A. E., Bouman, W. P., Brown, G. R., De Vries, A. L. C., Deutsch, M. B., … Allen L. R., ... & Arcelus, J. (2022). Standards of care for the health of transgender and gender diverse people, version 8. International Journal of Transgender Health, 23(sup1), S1–S259. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644
Dysphoria. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysphoria
Hidalgo, M. A., Ehrensaft, D., Tishelman, A. C., Clark, L. F., Garofalo, R., Rosenthal, S. M., Spack, N. P., Olson, J. (2013). The gender affirmative model: What we know and what we aim to learn. Human Development, 56, 285–290. https://doi.org/10.1159/000355235
Snow, A., Cerel, J., & Frey, L. (2022). A safe bet? Transgender and gender diverse experiences with inclusive therapists. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92(2), 154–158. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000599
St. Amand, C. M., & Ehrensaft, E. (2018). The gender affirmative model: An interdisciplinary approach to supporting transgender and gender expansive children. American Psychological Association.
