Counselling for Gender Dysphoria: How Can Therapy Help Gender Dysphoria?

Sometimes people may not identify with the biological gender they were born with. When people have strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender, and discomfort with one’s own assigned sex, this is called gender dysphoria.

People with gender dysphoria desire to live as members of the opposite sex, and often dress and use mannerisms associated with the other gender. They may feel as though they have been born into the wrong body. For instance, a person identified as a boy may feel and act like a girl. This is distinct from homosexuality in that homosexuals nearly always identify with their biological sex or gender.

Identity issues may manifest in a variety of different ways. Some people with typical genitals and secondary sex characteristics of one gender privately identify more with the other gender. Some may cross-dress, and some may seek sex-change surgery. Others are born with ambiguous genitalia, which can raise identity issues.

Therapy can help explore the multitude of feelings around gender and identity, and to help become comfortable with yourself.