What is Gender Affirming Care
By Victoria Cory
Gender- affirming care is a term that encompasses a range of services and treatments that support individuals in aligning their physical appearance, gender identity and social roles. It is a vital part of ensuring that people of all gender identities feel seen, understood and supported. Today I want to explore the different types of gender affirming care, what they involve, and what supports can guide individuals on their path of gender affirmation.
What is Gender Affirming Care?
Gender-affirming care refers to any services, support or interventions that help someone to navigate their gender identity and align it with their external characteristics. Gender affirming care aims to reduce gender dysphoria (the distress that can arise from a mismatch between gender identity and physical appearance/perception) and improve their overall well-being. This care is life-saving for many individuals who are transgender, non-binary or gender diverse as this gender dysphoria results in a much higher risk of self-harm and suicide. This care is individualized, and each person’s journey is unique and may require different steps and types of support. For some they may just change their clothing, while for others surgery is necessary.
What Does Gender Affirming Care Entail?
Gender-affirming care in not one size fits all and it is the individual that must decide what is right for them. Let’s look at what some of these options may be:
1. Psychological and Emotional Support: Counselling, therapy, and support groups are often part of the process. These services help individuals explore their gender identity, cope with societal and family pressures, and build resilience.
2. Hormone Therapy: Hormone treatments like testosterone (for masculinization) or estrogen (for feminization) are common medical interventions. These hormones help individuals achieve the physical changes that align with their gender identity, such as facial hair growth, voice changes, breast development, and more.
3. Surgical Interventions: Some individuals choose surgeries to further align their bodies with their gender identity. Common surgeries include top surgery (such as breast augmentation or mastectomy), bottom surgery (such a genital reconstruction), and facial surgeries (like brow lifts or rhinoplasty).
4. Voice and Communication Therapy: For some, adjusting their voice or communication style is an important part of their gender-affirming care. Speech therapists can help with this voice training and communication strategies.
5. Social Supports and Community Resources: Connecting with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and support networks can be vital for emotional well-being. Peer support groups and resources can help individuals navigate the challenges of transitioning or affirming their gender identity.
Where do I start?
Starting this process can feel overwhelming and scary. Having social support or more formal counselling can be really helpful in determining what your gender affirming journey will look like. Trans Care BC (https://www.transcarebc.ca/) is a great resource to get information about the different services, how you can access them and what is covered by MSP (BC medical service plan).
One of the first steps before accessing hormone therapies or surgery is a hormone/surgical readiness assessment. This is done by a medical or mental health professional to ensure that you are prepared and supported before, during and after your treatment. As a clinician who offers these assessments (hormone and top surgery readiness), my goal is to work with you to make sure you have informed consent about your care and ensure you have the supports in place for your journey. This is a collaborate evaluation and I strive to make sure that we take as much of the stress out of this part of the process as we can. This assessment is not designed to determine the validity of your gender or experience, but to instead ensure that you access the care that you deserve.
Further Resources
If you are an individual that is considering gender affirming care for yourself, or a family member or friend supporting your loved one, if can help to have more information. Here are a few resources that are really helpful in this journey.
TransCare BC- www.transcarebc.ca They are part of the Provincial Health Services Authority and provide a lot of great information on many topics for trans individuals.
Qmunity – www.qmunity.caThis is BC’s Queer, Trans and Two Spirit Resource Centre based in Vancouver. They have lot of great supports and resources that can be accessed in Vancouver and online.
WPATH – www.wpath.orgThis website has open access to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care. This is a lengthy read but important when understanding what standards health professionals and mental health professionals should be following when supporting trans individuals.
If you want to work with a counsellor to explore your journey or are looking for someone to conduct your readiness assessment, I would love for you to book a 20 min consult with me to explore if I could be a good fit for you.