Being Transgender or Gender Nonconforming Is a Matter of Diversity, Not Pathology

Gender nonconformity refers to the extent to which a person’s gender identity, role, or expression differs from the cultural norms prescribed for people of a particular sex (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Gender dysphoria refers to discomfort or distress that is caused by a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and that person’s sex assigned at birth (and the associated gender role and/or primary and secondary sex characteristics) (Fisk, 1974; Knudson, De Cuypere, & Bockting, 2010b). Only some gender-nonconforming people experience gender dysphoria at some point in their lives.

We offer individualized treatment to assist people with such distress to explore their gender identity and find a gender role that is comfortable for them. What helps one person alleviate gender dysphoria might be very different from what helps another person. This process may or may not involve a change in gender expression or referral for medical treatments. Gender identities and expressions are diverse and therefore so are the range of treatments to assist people with achieving comfort with self and identity.

We follow The World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care for treatment.

Counselors you might want to check out…

• Dr. Heather Alesch

• Interns