The better a practitioner understands the challenges people face, the more comfortable people feel.
At a Glance
Finding a therapistcan feel arduous, but it doesn’t have to be.
Many systems help make the process easier than you might expect!
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That alone makes the need for a safe experience with mental health care so important.
Additionally, affirming medical care increases a trans person’s happiness and the likelihood of survival through life.
It needs to be a space in which a person feels safe.
Such care also helps people connect with social support, health care providers, and legal services.
It offers a safe space that embraces diversity, reflection, andempathy.
Evidence suggests that this therapeutic relationship is vital to treatment success.
This is particularly true of affirming care for children and adolescents.
However, this may not make it easier for you to find care in the short term.
TheAmerican Psychological Associationhas a guide for psychological practice with trans and non-binary patients.
It contains critical information about the importance of proper and affirming care.
This means that all mental health care professionals have access to learning how to best serve transgender people.
There are several ways.
In some cases, a provider may also state whether they are anLGBTQ+ therapiston their website or directory profile.
For example,Advekitaims to pair trans patients with appropriate providers.
This is a reassuring process that can make it feel success-oriented.
A group to share with could be a great bridge between individual therapy and community.
Some, such asTransgender Affirming Therapy, serve only trans patients.
If you don’t, you still should be able to find care that serves you.
Some websites offer discounted therapy sessions, such asopen path psychotherapy collective, which charges $30-60 per session.
Many therapists have asliding scale systemfor low-income patients.
Others might work with nonprofits that supplement session costs so that low-income people can afford them.
2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0243894.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243894
American Psychiatric Association.Gender-affirming therapy.
2021 Aug 12;385(7):57981. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2106314
