Table of Contents
Gender Diversity
At Therapy Duo, we understand that sex and gender are different concepts and that gender is a socially and culturally constructed and expressed part of a person’s identity.
Gender diversity is a part of the human landscape, and includes categories such as transgender, non-binary, agender, gender fluid/queer and other human experiences and expressions.
Explorations of Gender and Transgender Therapy
Personal therapy can be a wonderful tool and support for exploring and learning more about the expression of your gender, and the meaning of gender in your life. We see each person as a masterpiece, and the complexity of each individual is what makes them shine.
If you would like to explore more about what it is that is you, and how to be authentic in your experience and expression of life, we can offer unbiased and confidential exploration of gender and transgender therapy.
A Safe Place to Explore Gender Diversity and Sexuality
Unfortunately, discrimination and prejudice are widely experienced by people who are gender and/or sexuality diverse. The impacts of these negative societal forces can be significant and enduring.
Therapy can be a great place to explore what gender and sexuality are to you on your own terms, without fear of judgement or attack.
In therapy there is support to find ways of being completely yourself, and invite all of you to become active in your life.
Transgender and Transitioning
Gender Dysphoria
For some people, a transition results from a very painful experience of feeling themselves to be not ok. They do not feel right, or experience themselves as not looking like a true reflection of how they feel on the inside.
This can lead to depression, suicidal thoughts and a feeling of deep isolation. These feelings are important and need to be dealt with so that the person can lead a full and engaged life, and this is where therapy can be a powerful support.
Supporting Gender Affirmation
Becoming aware of one’s gender and gender diversity and making decisions about gender affirmation (sometimes called “transitioning”) is a deeply significant step in a person’s life.
There can be huge implications in one’s own life and in the lives of those with which one has close relationships.
Often a person may wish to have a safe place to explore what life might look like after transition. Some people even wonder if it is really necessary to transition to be happy.
Therapy can be a very helpful and supportive place to explore the range of thoughts, feelings and experiences one might have at different points throughout their journey.
We understand that affirmation and transition do not mean the same things to everyone, and that a person’s goals and beliefs may change over time, as they could about anything in their lives.
Coming Out and Support While Transitioning
The process of coming out can be explored in the safe space of the therapy room. Topics might include:
- Telling friends, family, and workmates that you are trans/non-binary/gender-diverse.
- Working through people’s reactions.
- Work-shopping what pronouns and presentation feel right and in which settings, as an evolving dialogue that might shift over time.
- Becoming part of LGBTQIA+ communities, if you weren’t before, or were differently, and meeting new groups of friends and/or partners.
- Playing with different ways of socialising in one’s affirmed gender, which could include mannerisms and social norms, and ways of communication.
- Evolving curiosity and understanding of one’s sexuality, likes and dislikes.
- Considering reactions of strangers in social settings and what safety and solidarity needs may come up and how they might be fulfilled.
- Celebrating and expressing trans joy and gender euphoria.
- Intersecting life experiences across areas such as culture, disability, class and race.
Support for Partners
When a person starts to affirm their gender, this can cause some conflict or concern in a relationship.
We can support couples where one or both partners are exploring gender and gender affirmation, whether that is at home or in the broader social context, and whether or not it includes medical transition.
For both partners, there will be many new things to consider and navigate – and some of it can be very joyful!
Some of the topics couples may bring to therapy are:
- Using the therapy room as the chosen place in which to come out.
- Navigating what this means for the relationship emotionally, intimately, socially, financially.
- If the relationship is going to change its shape and/or label, how to do this with care,
- How can children be supported, if that is a consideration?.
Looking At What is Required to Transition
When one is considering transition there are usually many questions about what the steps are along the way.
Therapy Duo is an affirming and empowering practice for people to consider and explore the many different pathways and expressions of personal, social and medical gender affirmation/transition that they might take throughout the course of their life.
- See also: Personal Therapy.