Online Gender Therapist | Transgender Counseling Near Me

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Looking for a therapist?

Dealing with a mismatch between your assigned sex and your gender identity can be extremely stressful.

Gender therapy helps you answer questions about your gender identity and/or the transition process, and is usually performed by a therapist who specializes in gender issues. An online gender therapist can give you accessible help for an affordable price, from the comfort of your own home.

This article will compare two of the top online gender therapy services available at the moment. We’ll also cover gender therapy more broadly, so you can learn more about treatments for gender dysphoria, and help you discover your gender identity.

Want to skip right to the suggestions for online gender therapists? Here are our 2 recommended therapy solutions:

  1. BetterHelp
  2. Talkspace

Best online gender therapy services

Looking for a gender dysphoria therapist who can help you over the internet?

Below, we’ve looked at two of the best online gender therapist services, that can provide professional advice.

1. BetterHelp

Explore emotional well-being with BetterHelp – your partner in affordable online therapy. With 30,000+ licensed therapists and plans starting from only $65 per week, BetterHelp makes self-care accessible to all. Complete the questionnaire to match with the right therapist.

Note: We collaborate with top-tier mental health companies and receive advertising fees from purchases through the BetterHelp links.

BetterHelp is the world’s largest e-counseling website. You can choose if you want to be matched with a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ+ topics, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender issues, queer issues, and more.

With BetterHelp, you can get access to online video counseling, as well as chat or messaging sessions at your convenience – or you can get in touch with a traditional phone call.

As you sign up, BetterHelp will ask you to fill out an online form about your therapy needs, preferences in a therapist, and your demographics. After, they help to match you with one of their therapists specializing in gender issues. You can always choose to change your counselor at any point in time.

BetterHelp will also ask a few questions in the form of an online questionnaire about your gender, sexual orientation and your preferred pronouns. The answers usually give you the option to select “I don’t know” or “other” if you’re unsure.

The best thing about BetterHelp is they match you with a therapist who specializes in supporting LGBTQ+ communities. This ensures that you get connected with a professional who understands how best to provide mental health care in your situation – you might like to speak to a therapist who is experienced with lesbian issues specifically, for example.

BetterHelp pricing is subscription-based. You pay $65-$90 per week to use the platform, based on the type of help you need, and where in the world you are located.

Given that they also provide a financial assistance program for certain socioeconomic groups, such as students, BetterHelp can be quite an affordable choice when compared to in-person therapy.

2. Talkspace

Tailored to individuals, couples, teens, and offering psychiatry services, Talkspace plans kick off at a wallet-friendly $69 per week. What’s more, many health insurances also cover their services, enhancing accessibility and affordability. Complete a questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Find-a-therapist readers get $100-OFF with a code SPACE.

Talkspace is another platform that provides therapy for LGBTIQ people from licensed mental health professionals.

Their service is primarily focused on providing support through the TalkSpace mobile app. They’re a great option if you’re looking to get in contact via live chat, or text message – you can make contact whenever you’d like to speak with your gender therapist. However, you can also schedule phone calls and video calls as well.

Both platforms offer a similar service, however Talkspace forces you to make an account before gaining access and seeing what questions they ask you. This makes it a bit more difficult to evaluate the service.

Another key difference between the two platforms is how they match you with a gender identity therapist. While BetterHelp has you fill out an online therapy questionnaire, Talkspace has you speak to a matching agent, who follows a script and asks you questions. Later, you will be given a number of mental health professionals to choose from.

This system works well, but can be a bit daunting when first beginning to get counseling. If you’d prefer to avoid too much interaction to begin with, BetterHelp might be worth exploring first.

Is online therapy right for me?

Research has shown that online counseling can be as effective as getting face-to-face gender dysphoria therapy. It can help you avoid waiting lists, and might also help you find better-quality support, since it can be hard to find good gender counselors in certain areas.

Plus, choosing online counseling allows you to have a conversation from the comfort of your own home – you can choose to interact over chat or email if you’d prefer. For some people, this makes it much easier to talk and get help.

The disadvantage of online gender therapy is it might not be covered by your health insurance, although online sessions are generally very affordable.

If you have a serious problem and are looking for urgent help, rather than seeking advice to improve your quality of life, it is generally best to see someone in person.

Sex and gender: explained

Person holding knuckles with LGBTQIA+ painted on them.

When born, people usually show different anatomical and physiological characteristics. Our internal and external genitalia and hormonal and chromosomal makeup are used by doctors to assign us a sex, known as our “natal sex”.

Western culture and society often views this as a binary concept, with two distinct genders. Yet, it is shown that some babies develop differently (i.e. male babies with two x chromosomes, or atypical genitalia). We can conclude therefore that there are at least three biological sexes:

  • Male
  • Female
  • Intersex

On the other hand, gender refers to the identity, expression and societal norms of a person. For example, a cisgender person identifies with their natal sex.

What does it mean to be transgender?

Transgender people have a different gender identity (or expression) than the sex they were assigned at birth.

Non-binary or genderqueer people can also fall under this umbrella – these groups usually don’t identify with a gender. People identify as queer or non-binary when they identify with more than one gender, or they fluctuate between genders.

Some identify as a third gender – not all genderqueer people feel that the term transgender is a good fit for them.

What is gender dysphoria?

Person experiencing gender dysphoria.

The terms “gender dysphoria” and “transgender” are not the same thing. Gender dysphoria relates to the distress that can be caused by incongruence between your natal sex and gender identity.

The problem is not your gender identity, but the discomfort you are feeling. Not all trans people experience such a strong level of distress, and do not experience gender dysphoria. However, if you do feel distressed, a gender therapist can help you to overcome gender dysphoria.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines how gender dysphoria is officially diagnosed. For example, it states that the distress you feel should be present for more than six months. You should also feel the impact of your dysphoria in multiple aspects of your life, such as social, occupational, and mental factors. Getting a gender dysphoria diagnosis can help you get more access to treatment and health care options.

What are some symptoms of gender dysphoria?

Symptoms of gender dysphoria are a little different for adults than for children. For a diagnosis, adults should experience two or more of the following symptoms:

  • A mismatch between the expressed gender and their primary/secondary sex characteristics (or anticipated characteristics for teenagers).
  • Wanting to get rid of or prevent their biological sex characteristics (because of this incongruence).
  • Wanting sex characteristics of the other gender.
  • Wanting to be the other gender/an alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender.
  • Wanting to be treated as the other/alternative gender.
  • A sense of having typical emotions/characteristics of another gender.

Children usually express these symptoms slightly differently. They should show at least six or more of the following symptoms. The first symptom must be included in every diagnosis.

  • A desire or the insistence that they are of the other gender.
  • A strong preference for wearing only typical clothing associated with the other gender. Boys (assigned gender) prefer to cross-dress or simulate female attire. Girls (assigned gender) prefer to wear only masculine attire and strongly resist wearing typical feminine clothing.
  • A preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe or fantasy play.
  • A preference for the toys, games or activities stereotypical for the other gender.
  • A preference for playmates of the other gender.
  • A strong rejection of stereotypical toys, games and activities. Boys (assigned gender) also tend to strongly avoid rough-and-tumble play.
  • A dislike of one’s sexual anatomy.
  • A desire for the physical sex characteristics that match the experienced gender.

Causes of gender dysphoria

Rainbow flag.

The cause or causes of gender dysphoria are not yet clear. It is thought that the mental illness might be an interplay between the following factors:

  • Genetics.
  • Environment.
  • Hormonal influences during prenatal development.

We also know that gender dysphoria usually starts in childhood, when people first notice the incongruence between their assigned gender and their gender identity. Quickly, the child feels a mismatch between the gender that is expected of them (based on social interactions and their upbringing) and how they feel about their gender. This can lead to gender dysphoria.

Why do transgender people have an increased risk of mental health problems?

Research shows that trans children that get help in their transition are better off in the long run. Trans children who have undergone treatment have almost the same mental health risks as cisgender children (such as symptoms of anxiety and depression).

Intervening with the proper help is essential, as there is a stark difference in outcomes for these children and those that don’t get help, as shown by a 2013 study conducted at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Trans individuals can face many forms of stigma. They might be confronted with abuse, incarceration and/or economic and societal marginalization, depending on their sociocultural environment. These problems can lead to an increased risk of anxiety and depression, and other mental health concerns.

Family and peer assistance can help to support you during psychological stress you may be experiencing. In other words, managing stigma begins with you and your network. If your family is unsupportive for example, talking to someone who knows how to help, such as a transgender therapist, is generally a good idea.

Treatments for gender dysphoria

Person receiving therapy.

Treatment of individuals who suffer from gender dysphoria can be multi-faceted. Since gender dysphoria is a dynamic issue that affects different people in different ways, based on different hormonal and environmental factors, these treatments are typically adapted to meet your personal needs.

Psychological support

Individual treatment is firstly focussed on the distress accompanying the misalignment between your assigned sex and your gender identity. A specialized clinician can help you explore the gender identities and roles that you are comfortable with.

When selecting a mental health provider, whether online or in-person, it is essential to choose someone who is open-minded. Your gender dysphoria therapist should let you express your own thoughts and feelings, and should not have a preconceived opinion about what your gender expression should be.

Avoid healthcare providers that use gender conversion therapy, which focuses on converting you to be cisgender. Research shows that this can be extremely damaging to your psychological health.

Couples and family – affirming your gender identity or transitioning is not an easy process to go through by yourself. Your family and close friends might also need some extra help in how to make your transition easier.

Getting your network involved and teaching them how to be supportive can help your mental health in the long term. Parents or partners of transgender individuals can also benefit from therapy or peer support groups. For them, this might also be a big transition.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy can align your sexual characteristics with your gender identity. The following two options are possible:

  • Feminizing hormone therapy: suppressing testosterone, and boosting estrogens and progestogens hormones.
  • Masculinizing hormone therapy: suppressing estrogen, and boosting testosterone.

Gender confirmation surgery

Gender affirming surgery, gender confirmation surgery and gender reassignment surgery are all terms used to refer to the surgeries used to change one’s body to fit their gender identity.

The following types of surgeries are available:

  • Top surgery (i.e. mastectomy, chest reconstruction, breast augmentation).
  • Bottom surgery (surgical construction of a penis or a vagina).
  • Facial feminization surgery (for example shaving the Adam’s apple).
  • Vocal surgery (usually a last resort when trans women are not happy with the effects of their voice therapy sessions, which we’ll discuss below).

Voice therapy

Voice therapy sessions can help those that want to change the pitch of their voice. A higher pitch is usually associated with a more feminine voice. A lower pitch is usually associated with a more masculine voice. Voice therapy involves going through training and exercises to help you change the way you sound when speaking.

Other helpful resources

Further mental health care options you have as a transitioning individual include:

  • Social gender role transitioning (i.e. correct pronouns).
  • Peer support groups.
  • Legal affirmations (such as changing your name and sex).

Steps you can take yourself

Four happy people.

As mentioned above, research shows that connecting with others can help you address gender dysphoria and manage any potential stigma you may face.

Getting social support with your gender identity is the first step you can take yourself, assuming you have a supportive network. This can be in the form of your parents or friends. Further, it is shown that contact with like-minded people can help you with affirmation and reduce the distress you are feeling.

How a gender therapist near me can help

With counseling services like BetterHelp, a mental health provider can help you by providing advice via one-on-one phone calls, video calls, and chat sessions. These sorts of online sessions are best suited for those who want to improve their quality of life.

Relying on online counseling is not suited for those who are in an urgent situation. If you are in an emergency or need crisis care, you can always call 911 or a mental health service in your neighborhood. You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline on 1-800-273-8255.

Conclusion

Feeling safe and free from judgment is essential for trans people. For some, this means seeking external help from gender therapists.

Research shows that trying to convince people to be cisgender is an attack on their mental health. Not only is it unethical and ineffective, but these conversion efforts can also increase psychological stress and the likelihood of depression.

Trans people can experience stigma, discrimination, prejudice and violence, which is why talking to open-minded gender therapists, specializing in gender identity issues, can make your life and your potential transition process that much easier.

Additional Resources

Prioritizing our mental well-being is paramount in today’s fast-paced world. The digital age has redefined therapy and psychiatric care, making support more accessible than ever. To guide you towards a healthier state of mind, we’ve partnered with pioneering names in mental health.
Note: We collaborate with top-tier mental health companies and we earn a commission if you purchase services through our ads.

Online Therapy

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About the author

Inez Van Roy, MSc
Inez is a registered psychologist in Belgium, holding both a BSc and an MSc in clinical psychology. Additionally, she possesses a certificate in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a form of cognitive therapy that employs a mindfulness and value-based approach.

Her primary focus is on assisting individuals who find themselves feeling stuck or uncertain about their life goals. Inez aims to equip them with practical tools and information that can be integrated into their daily routines, empowering them to attain a greater level of autonomy and enhance their overall wellbeing.

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