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And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took
to blossom -
Anais Nin
Therapy for Trans and Trans
Questioning Individuals: Transgender is an umbrella term used to describe the experience of people who feel that their gender identity,
or how one perceives their sense of being male or female, does not align with the sex they were one is born into. People come to therapy to address gender related
issues for many reasons, including;- Needing a safe place to discuss discomfort with ones natal sex
- Wanting to accept and express their true gender identity
- Wanting to disclose ones gender identity to ones
friends, family and employers
- Wanting
to bring ones gender expression into alignment with with ones gender identity
Below are some frequently asked questions and explanations
that trans, and trans questioning, people encounter when beginning the journey of gender exploration.
What is transition?
Transition refers to the process
of exploring ones “true” gender identity. Transitioning is often referred to, but not always, as the process of
pursuing some form of intervention e.g., hormonal and / or surgical options to align ones body with ones internalized sense
of gender identity. Transitioning may also refer to legally changing one's name and gender designation on legal documents,
e.g., driver's licenses, life insurance policies, mortgages, etc. There is also an interpersonal process to transitioning
that includes “coming out” to friends, families, and partners, employers and professional colleagues. Some people
choose to transition openly with the support of loved ones and trusted others. Some people choose to transition in "stealth",
keeping their past lives and natal sex hidden from others. Do I have to transition? No - Transitioning is a very personal decision
that only you can make. Some people choose to transition and never alter their bodies, living full time in the gender role
that best compliments their sense of gender identity. Others choose to alter their bodies through medical intervention such
as chest reconstruction or breast implantation, while some people choose to pursue full gender confirmation surgery. The extent
of your transition is your decision and is impacted by a variety of factors such as the degree of comfort with ones body and,
unfortunately, financial resources. Does my age impact my ability to transition? This is a complex question and one that requires a more detailed explanation.
However, the immediate answer is “Yes and no”. The “yes” part of this response is, if you are under
the age of 18, AND IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, you will need to have your parents approval for any form of counseling and / or medical
intervention. Once you have parental consent I will work with you, your family and other involved providers to determine the
“next steps”. For the parents of trans-gendered children, this can be a difficult process and I will work with
you to locate other parents, if you feel this would be helpful, who are at various stages in this process with their own children.
Older adults can transition successfully
if there are no medical conditions that would otherwise prevent hormone therapy or surgical intervention. However, as with
any medical procedure, one needs to be fully informed of the risks and benefits of these interventions.
I’ve heard that there
are guidelines that therapists follow to determine if someone is ready to transition? The World Professional Association for Transgender
Health has developed a document that is referred to as “The Standards of Care” or SOC. This document is designed
to guide clinicians working with trans and trans-questioning individuals to ensure that people are receiving quality care
before, during and after their transition. The SOC recommends a minimum of three months of psychotherapy, with no predetermined
number of sessions to evaluate the psychological well being of individuals exploring transition. So in this case, yes, there
are certain requirements that the clinician treating transgendered individuals is advised to follow. Resources:
These books may be helpful in answering
other questions that you have about gender, gender identity and trans issues. For even more information about gender and gender
identity please feel free to explore the resources page of this website. Bornstein, K. (1994). Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and The Rest of Us. Vintage
Books, USA.
Brown, M., L., Rounsley, C. (1996).
A. True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals. Jossey-Bass, San
francisco. Ca.
Cromwell. J. (1999). Transmen and
FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities. University of Illinois Press. Feinberg, L. (1998). Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink
or Blue. Beacon Press. Boston. Lev, A., I. (2004). Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working With Gender-Variant People
and Their Families. The Hawthorn Clinical Practice Press. New York. Lourde, A. (1984). Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches. The Crossing Press.
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