Gender-affirming therapy
As defined by the American Psychiatric Association, gender-affirming therapy is “a therapeutic stance that focuses on affirming a patient’s gender identity and does not try to ‘repair’ it.” Gender-affirming therapy may also be called gender-affirming mental health care or LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy. Key components of gender-affirming therapy include gender affirmation, a safe space for processing, cultivating social support, and providing inclusivity and empathy.
Why is gender-affirming therapy needed?
Some members of the LGBTQ+ community experience something called gender dysphoria: strong feelings of dissatisfaction or distress as a result of their gender identity differing from their assigned sex at birth, and other people’s negative reactions to that. Gender-affirming therapy can help address these issues, and lead to an improvement in quality of life and overall emotional well-being.
Gender-affirming therapy works to ease feelings of dysphoria and provide support while the patient explores their gender identity and expression. Transgender and gender non-conforming patients may seek gender-affirming talk therapy in conjunction with medical treatment such as hormone therapy and surgery.
When is gender-affirming therapy used?
Gender-affirming therapy is used to treat LGBTQ+ people who need mental health care that supports and affirms their gender identity and expression. As noted in research by Ashley Austin and Shelley L. Craig, “transgender individuals report pervasive discrimination, microaggressions, and victimization across the life span.” These adverse experiences, which are often at the root of gender dysphoria, can lead to disparate rates of mental health conditions, including suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
How does gender-affirming therapy work?
Gender-affirming therapy helps patients address mental health challenges by creating an environment where they can safely and freely explore issues related to gender identity. A gender-affirming therapist may help unpack the mental and emotional stress that can result from experiences commonly associated with having a non-conforming gender identity, called gender minority stress.
They may also help patients build a support network, develop a plan for coming out and/or social transitioning, help build comfort with a new identity, and explore thoughts and feelings about gender-affirming medical care.
What is gender-affirming therapy like?
In gender-affirming therapy, patients engage in talk therapy with a therapist who’s educated in about issues relating to trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, or questioning identities and experiences. A gender-affirming therapist will work to ensure a safe, non-judgmental space free of homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism, while addressing concerns and challenges like social transition, trauma, depression, and self-harm.
Of course, in gender-affirming therapy, the client doesn’t necessarily need to be working on issues related to their gender. Rather, it’s care for any type of problem that provides a safe environment and affirms this part of their identity.
Is gender-affirming therapy effective?
Research has shown that gender-affirming therapy is indeed effective. This type of therapy can improve quality of life, reduce the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and even have a positive impact on patients’ physical health. With increasing attacks on transgender healthcare access and transphobia on the rise, gender-affirming therapy is more important than ever to ensure the mental health needs of the entire LGBTQ+ community are addressed.
How to find a gender-affirming therapist
If you think gender-affirming therapy might be right for you, it’s important to speak with a licensed and experienced clinician. There are many types of mental health care providers who practice gender-affirming therapy, including licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) and more.
On top of finding someone specializing in gender-affirming therapy, you want to make sure they meet your other needs. For example, if you’re struggling with trauma, you may want to find a gender-affirming therapist who also specializes in trauma. In addition, finding a therapist who accepts your insurance can make therapy much more affordable.
You can find a therapist who accepts your insurance and specializes in gender-affirming therapy by using Grow Therapy. After filtering for your location, insurance, and needs, you can then select “Gender-affirming therapy” from the “Treatment methods” drop-down.