Gender Dysphoria – Family Consultation Service

We provide a consultation and assessment service for parents and children who are experiencing gender dysphoria. Sometimes this is delivered as a package, but at other times it is more appropriate to approach the consultation process on a step-by-step basis.

We are a team of psychoanalytic therapists who have considerable experience working with children and young adults in a variety of mental health settings.

We offer the following services:

Parent consultation:

The initial parent consultation is with 2 psychoanalytic therapists for approximately 1.25 hours. This meeting will involve an in-depth discussion regarding the parent’s experience and knowledge of their child’s history and personality, together with other areas of their family and social life.  The aim is for the therapists to gain an initial understanding of the presenting difficulties, and this might also include the parents wish to explore their own experiences and understanding of gender dysphoria. The consultation also involves a process for the therapists and parent/s to begin to assess what the ‘next steps’ for either the parents and/or the child could be.

This 1^st parent consultation might progress to further parental consultations or to the 4 individual child sessions with one of the therapists, if deemed appropriate.

Child consultations:

If agreed to be appropriate, one of the team will offer 4 individual consultations with the child/young person (under 25). The therapist will explore their feelings, relationships, and any difficulties they are experiencing. These sessions usually take place during work hours of 9-4 and last 45 minutes. Following these assessment consultations, the team will develop a more complex, in-depth picture of each child. We then produce a formulation (a summary verbal report with sensitivity to confidentiality in agreement with the young person), to discuss with the parents. For 18-25 year-olds, in order to preserve confidentiality, we will convey to parents only our recommendations for further treatment. This feedback can be extended if the young person has given permission for further disclosure.

Follow up parental consultation

A further meeting with parents for discussion of assessment outcomes 1.25 hours

We are based in London and the south east, but during times of Covid restrictions the consultations take place on Zoom during daytime hours.  However, those living within the greater London areas can attend ‘in person’ appointments in central or south east London.

N.B. The first consultation is payable in advance and a weeks notice is necessary for any cancellation.