How to Find Trans-Affirming Mental Health Care

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Gender Affirming Mental Health Care MattersHow to Find Trans-Affirming Mental Health CareHealth Insurance ConsiderationsCost and Payment Issues

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Gender Affirming Mental Health Care Matters

How to Find Trans-Affirming Mental Health Care

Health Insurance Considerations

Cost and Payment Issues

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If you are transgender or gender nonconforming, it is important to find healthcare providers who understand your needs, including your mental health needs. The better a practitioner understands the challenges people face, the more comfortable people feel.

While some therapists are highly qualified to help patients through any issues they might experience, you’ll likely want a practitioner with whom you don’t have to explain basic facets of youridentitywhen you are moving through major life changes or issues.

At a GlanceFinding a therapistcan feel arduous, but it doesn’t have to be. Many systems help make the process easier than you might expect! If you’re looking for trans-affirming and gender-affirming mental health care, or you’ve offered to help someone in their search, read on to learn how to find it.

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! If you’re looking for trans-affirming and gender-affirming mental health care, or you’ve offered to help someone in their search, read on to learn how to find it.

What Are Puberty Blockers?

Why is it important that atransgenderorgender nonconformingperson has access to trans-affirming mental health care?Trans people face a plethora of hardships and disadvantagesthatcisgenderpeople do not: they are more likely to become unhoused, to be bullied, to be sexually assaulted, and to be discriminated against in health care.

Therapy is an intimate and vulnerable experience in which patients divulge their innermost thoughts, feelings, fears, and worries. It needs to be a space in which a person feels safe. The more affirmed and safe a person feels in this position, the more easily they can share personal information.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, trans- and gender-affirming care helps create a safe space for processing and understanding. 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.

Research has found that dealing with a therapist who does not understand a person’s gender identity can be a barrier to therapeutic satisfaction.Such understanding fosters a closertherapeutic alliance. Evidence suggests that this therapeutic relationship is vital to treatment success.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Knowing that trans people face additional challenges in life that cis people do not and can benefit long-term from affirming care, it only makes sense that trans-affirming mental health care would be an aligned need. Whether the practitioner is a cis person specializing in helping trans people, or is a trans person themselves, the in-depth knowledge of gender-related issues will create a safer experience for a trans patient.

Step 1: Know Your Rights

When looking for trans-affirming mental health care, your first step is to know your rights. TheTransgender Legal Defense and Education Fundhas a guidebook that details the rights of trans people to health care, specifically in relation to COVID-19. Some rights for medical care, whether mental health or physical health, that a trans patient and their loved ones should be aware of include the following:

If you live in a location where trans-affirming health care is under attack, it may be challenging to find the proper care. Know that advocacy organizations stop most discriminatory laws before they can take effect and that your rights exist on a broader scale regardless. 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.

Step 2: Know What to Search For

Now that you know you have the right to trans-affirming mental health care, you might be wondering how exactly to go about finding it. There are several ways.

Check With Your Insurance Provider

Search tools on your insurance provider’s website will usually have an option ofLGBTQ+-proficient providers. In some cases, a provider may also state whether they are anLGBTQ+ therapiston their website or directory profile.

Do Some Research Online

You can also use search engines outside your insurance website, whether or not you have insurance. For example,Advekitaims to pair trans patients with appropriate providers.

Melissa Mondesir, PR and marketing manager of Advekit, tells Verywell Mind that “when someone takes our detailed quiz on the site, one of the preferences taken into account is gender identity. They can choose if they would like a therapist that is either male, female, or non-binary, and they will only be matched with their preference.”

If that process isn’t successful for you or you aren’t happy with your results, Mondesir says, “if they can’t find exactly what they are looking for once their three matches are given, Advekit support will have someone help find a match right for them.” This is a reassuring process that can make it feel success-oriented.

Seek a Local LGBTQ Center

Another valuable place to find trans-affirming mental health care is through your local LGBTQ center. Commonly, larger cities have more resources than smaller towns, but you might be surprised at what yours offers. If they don’t practice pairing patients with therapists or have mental health workers on staff, they still might conductsupport groups, such as one for trans people, that meet regularly.

Having that sense of community could be hugely beneficial if you are in a difficult place emotionally, especially if it takes some time to find the right therapist for you. A group to share with could be a great bridge between individual therapy and community.

Look Into Transgender-Specific Therapy Services

Lastly, there are progressively more therapists who specialize in trans health issues and trans-affirming mental health care. Some, such asTransgender Affirming Therapy, serve only trans patients.

Other resources to help you find trans-affirming therapy include theNational Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network(NQTTCN) andTherapy for Queer People of Color(QPOC).

Mental Health Resources to Support the LGBTQIA+ Community

Outside of the basic rights for health care mentioned above, you have additional rights in relation to health insurance. According to theNational Center for Transgender Equality, these are some important ones:

To learn more about what your specific insurance plan covers, including Medicare, you can review theNCTE Health Guide Guide for Transgender People.

The amount you have to pay for mental health care is dependent on your insurance plan if you have one. 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.

They have search specialties of both transgender andnonbinaryspecialists and therapists who work with gender exploration, meaning you don’t have to scroll through anyone who isn’t a potential fit.

If you find a therapist you’d like to work with but who is out of your budget, it can still be worth reaching out to them. 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.

Does Health Insurance Cover Therapy?

Keep in Mind

All people have the right to a health care experience that is free of discrimination, and that moves them forward on their mental wellness journey. Trans people, like all others, can benefit greatly from therapists who know how to work with them and the issues they face.

Now that you know your rights, and you have some resources to start, you can be on your way to finding the right therapist for you.

The Most Inclusive Online Therapy Platforms We Tried and Tested

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cicero EC, Reisner SL, Silva SG, Merwin EI, Humphreys JC.Healthcare experiences of transgender adults: an integrated mixed research literature review.ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2019;42(2):123–38. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000256Carmichael P, Butler G, Masic U, Cole TJ, Stavola BLD, Davidson S, et al.Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK.PLOS ONE. 2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0243894. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243894American Psychiatric Association.Gender-affirming therapy.Rosati F, Lorusso MM, Pistella J, et al.Non-binary clients' experiences of psychotherapy: Uncomfortable and affirmative approaches.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):15339. doi:10.3390/ijerph192215339Baier AL, Kline AC, Feeny NC.Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change: A systematic review and evaluation of research.Clinical Psychology Review. 2020;82:101921. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101921Martin S, Sandberg ES, Shumer DE.Criminalization of gender-affirming care — interfering with essential treatment for transgender children and adolescents.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021 Aug 12;385(7):579–81. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2106314

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cicero EC, Reisner SL, Silva SG, Merwin EI, Humphreys JC.Healthcare experiences of transgender adults: an integrated mixed research literature review.ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2019;42(2):123–38. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000256Carmichael P, Butler G, Masic U, Cole TJ, Stavola BLD, Davidson S, et al.Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK.PLOS ONE. 2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0243894. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243894American Psychiatric Association.Gender-affirming therapy.Rosati F, Lorusso MM, Pistella J, et al.Non-binary clients' experiences of psychotherapy: Uncomfortable and affirmative approaches.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):15339. doi:10.3390/ijerph192215339Baier AL, Kline AC, Feeny NC.Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change: A systematic review and evaluation of research.Clinical Psychology Review. 2020;82:101921. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101921Martin S, Sandberg ES, Shumer DE.Criminalization of gender-affirming care — interfering with essential treatment for transgender children and adolescents.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021 Aug 12;385(7):579–81. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2106314

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cicero EC, Reisner SL, Silva SG, Merwin EI, Humphreys JC.Healthcare experiences of transgender adults: an integrated mixed research literature review.ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2019;42(2):123–38. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000256Carmichael P, Butler G, Masic U, Cole TJ, Stavola BLD, Davidson S, et al.Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK.PLOS ONE. 2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0243894. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243894American Psychiatric Association.Gender-affirming therapy.Rosati F, Lorusso MM, Pistella J, et al.Non-binary clients' experiences of psychotherapy: Uncomfortable and affirmative approaches.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):15339. doi:10.3390/ijerph192215339Baier AL, Kline AC, Feeny NC.Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change: A systematic review and evaluation of research.Clinical Psychology Review. 2020;82:101921. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101921Martin S, Sandberg ES, Shumer DE.Criminalization of gender-affirming care — interfering with essential treatment for transgender children and adolescents.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021 Aug 12;385(7):579–81. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2106314

Cicero EC, Reisner SL, Silva SG, Merwin EI, Humphreys JC.Healthcare experiences of transgender adults: an integrated mixed research literature review.ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2019;42(2):123–38. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000256

Carmichael P, Butler G, Masic U, Cole TJ, Stavola BLD, Davidson S, et al.Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK.PLOS ONE. 2021 Feb 2;16(2):e0243894. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243894

American Psychiatric Association.Gender-affirming therapy.

Rosati F, Lorusso MM, Pistella J, et al.Non-binary clients' experiences of psychotherapy: Uncomfortable and affirmative approaches.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):15339. doi:10.3390/ijerph192215339

Baier AL, Kline AC, Feeny NC.Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change: A systematic review and evaluation of research.Clinical Psychology Review. 2020;82:101921. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101921

Martin S, Sandberg ES, Shumer DE.Criminalization of gender-affirming care — interfering with essential treatment for transgender children and adolescents.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021 Aug 12;385(7):579–81. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2106314

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