Is Gender-Affirming Care Important?

Personal identity has been politicized in the tense current climate of the United States. In turn, the umbrella of Gender-Affirming Care has been generalized and mischaracterized to encourage division and fear. Conversations in the public arena raise concerns regarding medication and surgical interventions. However, a vital component of Gender-Affirming Care is psychological support - in other words, recognizing, acknowledging, and honoring the gender identity of clients in therapeutic spaces.

It is disingenuous to ignore the increasing hostility towards transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals. As state governments and federal agencies push for restrictions on gender-affirming care, particularly in minors, the complexity of how this care is handled and its important role in the support of individuals who seek to explore aspects of their identity becomes muddled. 

To date, a number of states have passed laws to prevent or criminalize medical gender-affirming care in minors. There are very little statistics regarding the number of surgical interventions for transgender minors or on the long term effects of medications such as puberty blockers. Medical intervention becomes easy to condemn out of fear and other important factors of gender-affirming care are disregarded. In fact, numerous studies have illustrated that psychological interventions, such as affirmation and socialization, profoundly improve the mental health of minors.

Most of the dialogue surrounding gender-affirming care consists of only surgical procedures. Studies that attempt to simplify the mental health outcomes based solely on physical interventions makes it difficult to assess the overall transgender and non-binary experience and its causal effects on mental health. That is why the cognitive function of gender-affirming care, both in mental health spaces and social relationships, are essential to the overall support of transgender individuals.

What is Gender-Affirming Care?

A connection between the terms “transition” and “transitioning” arises during discussions of gender-affirming care. These terms describe the process one takes to align with and affirm their gender identity. While transitioning is an individualized process and is not one-size-fits-all, social, legal, and medical transitions are typically seen as gender-affirming. Social transition can look like using a preferred name and pronouns or changing hairstyle, clothing, vocal tone, to align with one’s gender identity. Legal transition refers to legally changing one’s name or gender markers on documents such as birth certificates, IDs, immigration documents, and more. Medical transition relates to healthcare treatment such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, surgery, and more. 

Gender-affirming care does more than simply “tolerate” a person’s identity. Instead, it acknowledges a person’s inherent value as an individual and supports them in a manner that makes a difference to their unique therapeutic journey.

What does Gender-Affirming Care look like?

Many people seeking out gender-affirming care must go through an assessment from medical and/or behavioral health professionals. With the national increase in hostility and restrictions against transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals, a lack of cultural competence from providers can exacerbate stigmatization and be a barrier to accessing affirming, and often medically necessary treatment.  

Experienced gender-affirming providers, like our clinicians at B’well Counseling Services, center therapeutic processes around the needs of the individual rather than mechanical standards. By working one-on-one with a therapist, clients are able to explore methodologies that best serve their needs, pursue self-discovery, and focus on aspects of their lives like community and relationships that serve to strengthen their inner selves.

But what if someone seeking gender-affirming care “isn’t sure”?

It’s an unfortunate misconception that gender-affirming care pressures individuals into a gender identity. In fact, its goal is the opposite - gender-affirming care gives people a private space to discuss and explore their thoughts and feelings about gender without judgement or pressure. It is an individualized process based on where the person is in their exploration of gender and what their future goals are. 

Some people who seek gender-affirming care may already know what gender (if any) they most identify with, and are looking for guidance on how to transition in their social or private lives. Some may still be searching for what their identity looks like for them. No matter where a person is on their journey, gender-affirming care can help individuals approach these often complicated, life-altering discoveries with support and recognition.

If you want to learn more about gender-affirming care for health professionals, check out the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

For information about how to change a name and/or gender markers on legal documents, you can review the process here.  

If you want to know more about us and our services, reach out for a complimentary consultation today.