Gender Affirming Care

Dallas Therapy Collective

Don’t know where to turn?

“Remember this, whoever you are, however you are, you are equally valid, equally justified, and equally beautiful.”- Juno Dawson (Author of “This Book Is Gay” and “What’s the T”)

You have likely witnessed the relentless anti-trans rhetoric from politicians which can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Yet, your strength and resilience empower you to face the future with courage and hope.
Maybe you’ve wanted to seek out therapy, but you’re concerned about the possible risks and consequences of seeking gender-affirming care in the current political climate. Remember, your well-being and authenticity are worth every step towards healing and self-acceptance.
You may have had had non-affirming experiences in therapy in the past, where you didn’t feel understood, accepted, or safe to show up as your full self or discuss concerns related to gender identity. Know that you deserve to be seen, accepted, and valued for who you truly are.
Maybe you are needing assistance navigating the process for seeking out letters of support which is often required by insurance for gender affirming surgery and/or gender affirming hormone therapy.

You deserve to feel empowered

Imagine finding a gender-affirming, knowledgeable therapist dedicated to creating a safe space where you can feel seen, understood, and affirmed as your full authentic self.

Whether your goal is exploring your identity, considering social or medical transition, preparing to come out to loved ones or at work, or seeking a letter of support for insurance coverage of gender affirming care, you deserve unwavering support and safety. At DTC, we are committed to providing you with the expert care and options you need and deserve.

Who is a fit for gender affirming care?

Many people who seek out gender affirming care identify under the transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse umbrella. These identities include folks who identify as transgender, non-binary, trans-masc, trans-fem, agender, gender queer, gender fluid, gender expansive, intersex, or two-spirit.
Others may find that none of those terms quite fit, or maybe no specific label fits all the time, and prefer to leave their gender(s) undefined. Gender identity is a fluid spectrum, and we are committed to creating a space that is validating and affirming no matter where you are on this spectrum.

What we offer

Depending on your specific needs, gender-affirming care might include a number of different therapeutic services, including:

Letters of Support: At DTC we have multiple clinicians who have specialized training to provide letters of support for gender affirming care and hormone therapy. Letter requirements can vary by insurance company and our clinicians are trained to help you navigate this process.
Ongoing therapeutic support: At DTC we strive to provide the highest quality of care. Our clinicians who have specialties and/or passion areas in working with transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse individuals are committed to creating an affirming and nonjudgmental space to process concerns related to not just gender identity, but also how gender identity can intersect with concerns related to depression, anxiety, shame, family of origin trauma, and religious trauma to name a few.
At DTC high quality care for marginalized individuals is at the core of our mission. We strive to be a space of cultural humility which allows us the honor of working with individuals across identities and concerns.

We are specialitsts

Finding a therapist with whom you feel safe and affirmed can feel incredibly overwhelming… and understandably so! The experience of being invalidated or misunderstood in therapy can be incredibly frustrating and painful.

Plenty of therapists on websites like Psychology Today have “LGBTQ+” or “transgender” listed in a hodgepodge list of specialties, but rarely do they mention the specific gender-affirming services they provide, let alone provide information about their training or experience providing gender-affirming care. How can you be sure that a therapist you’ve never met is actually gender-affirming and culturally competent? How can you be sure they’re actually safe?

You aren’t the only one with these concerns. In fact, even therapists here at DTC have had similar concerns in the past as they have sought out their own queer-affirming care. That’s why DTC strives to highlight gender-affirming therapy services.

Thinking of seeing a Gender Affiriming Therapist?

How do I know everything will be confidential? I’m concerned about this coming back to bite me given the state of politics in Texas.

On top of adhering to the laws protecting your privacy, gender-affirming therapists at DTC are mindful about ethical documentation for your safety/privacy, and are available to address any questions/concerns you might have about your medical record.

What if I’m not actually “trans enough” to seek gender-affirming care?

At DTC, we recognize there’s not one right way to be trans or gender-nonconforming. Many people face not only pressure to conform to gender norms from society at large, but can even face stigma and marginalization within the LGBTQ+ community itself. Our clinicians strive to provide a deeply affirming experience where you can explore your identity and mental health concerns in an environment where you know you are free to be yourself, exactly where you are.

How do I know this is a safe place and not some scam to convince me to de-transition?

You don’t know, and many within the LGBTQ+ community have been harmed after opening up to therapists who were not gender-affirming. It makes sense to be cautious—in doing so, you’re prioritizing your own well-being and doing what you can to keep yourself safe and protected in uncertain, often scary times. Being invalidated in therapy can be an extra painful experience, and we are glad you’re doing your due diligence by researching therapists to ensure you find someone with experience providing gender-affirming therapy.

At DTC, many of our clinicians are members of the LGBTQ+ community and/or staunch allies, passionate about providing quality mental health care to the trans/GNC community.

What Do I Need for Gender Affirming Surgery or Hormone Therapy?

We are so excited you are considering us to join you on this journey to your authentic self! Gender Affirming Surgery is a significant step to affirm your true self. If you are seeking gender affirming surgery to be covered by insurance most insurance companies will require 1-2 letters of support for any form of facial surgery or chest surgery and two letters of support for any form of genital/reproductive surgery.

These letters of support must come from two different mental health professionals not written more than six months apart. Most insurance companies, especially the larger providers (Aetna, BlueCross/BlueShield, Cigna/Evernorth, United Health Care, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente) require at least one letter to be written by a doctorate level psychologist (Ph.D./Psy.D.). If you are not utilizing health insurance for gender affirming surgery, most surgeons will require only one letter of support from a mental health professional either master’s or doctorate level that meets the requirements outlined by the WPATH Standards of Care.

Appointments for letters of support typically consist of an average of 1-3 one-hour sessions with one of our clinicians in which information about your medical history, mental health history, gender journey, experiences with gender dysphoria, and your preparedness for the surgery you are pursuing are gathered. At DTC we can provide letters of support for all types of gender affirming surgery including but not limited to; Facial Feminization/Masculinization Surgery (FFS/FMS), Chest/Top Surgery (Double Mastectomy, Breast Augmentation, Radical Breast Reduction), and Genital/Bottom Surgery (Orchiectomy, Vaginoplasty, Metoidioplasty, Scrotoplasty, Phalloplasty, Salpingo-Oophorectomy, and Hysterectomy).

Hormone therapy can be easily accessible depending on the provider that you seek out. Many medical providers who provide transgender and non-binary affirming hormone therapy no longer require a letter of support from a mental health professional and solely operate on an informed consent basis. While this is dependent upon the individual provider, if you do need a letter of support for hormone therapy any of your gender affirming care specialists who are trained to provide letters can assist you in this process and/or assist you in finding a medical provider to seek out hormone therapy with.

If you are wondering where to find gender affirming medical care please see our list of referrals below. This list contains providers who are all LGBTQ+ affirming and knowledgeable about providing care to transgender and non-binary individuals within their respected specialty areas.

Meet Our

Gender Affirming Care Specialists

Thank you for reaching out!

Q