Gender-Affirming Services
I provide both gender-affirming therapy and gender-affirming medical care assessments for people aged 16 years and over. While these services can overlap, they have different purposes.
Gender-affirming therapy
Therapy provides a supportive, collaborative space to explore your gender, identity, relationships, transition, minority stress, wellbeing, other intersecting identities and aspects of your life.
Learn more about Therapy or book a therapy appointment below.
Gender-affirming medical care assessment
Some gender-affirming healthcare pathways require or request psychological assessment or documentation.
These assessments are sometimes referred to as WPATH assessments or letters, although assessment is informed by a range of professional standards, clinical guidance and relevant Australian legal requirements.
You deserve care that respects your identity, autonomy and lived experience. My role is to support you through these pathways and prepare appropriate clinical documentation in a collaborative, transparent and non-gatekeeping way.
What this can support
Gender-affirming assessment may support:
gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT)
psychological or psychosocial assessment requested by a treating medical practitioner
review of informed decision-making or capacity where relevant to the proposed treatment
surgical assessment and documentation prepared in accordance with relevant professional guidance
clarification of documentation requirements where these have been requested by another healthcare provider
This work is informed by relevant professional guidance, including WPATH Standards of Care Version 8 (SOC8), AusPATH guidance, applicable Australian standards and relevant legislation.
Who seeks assessment?
People may seek assessment if they:
have been asked by a GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, surgeon or other medical practitioner to obtain a psychological assessment or letter
require documentation as part of a gender-affirming medical or surgical pathway
have been asked to undertake a psychosocial or mental health assessment before commencing gender-affirming hormone therapy
would like support understanding and navigating available gender-affirming healthcare pathways
have experienced uncertainty or inconsistent information about assessment requirements
Assessment options
Gender-Affirming Care / WPATH assessment
For adults requiring psychological assessment or documentation relating to gender-affirming hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery.
The standard assessment package includes:
pre-assessment intake and consent information
review of relevant previous reports or documentation provided
one 90-minute assessment appointment
exploration of gender history, lived experience and goals for care
consideration of relevant psychosocial and mental health factors
review of informed decision-making where relevant
clinical review and formulation
gender-affirming care assessment report or WPATH-aligned letter, as clinically appropriate
Most adult assessments can be completed within the standard package.
Occasionally, further assessment time may be recommended where additional information is needed before a clinical opinion or report can be finalised.
If this is required, it will be discussed with you before an additional appointment is booked.
Additional assessment appointment, if clinically required: $280 / 50 minutes
Package fee: $700
Most assessments can be completed within the standard package.
Additional assessment appointment, if clinically required: $280 / 50 minutes
Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy assessment
For young people (typically aged 16–17) where a psychosocial or mental health assessment has been requested in relation to gender-affirming hormone therapy.
The standard assessment package includes:
pre-assessment intake and consent information
review of relevant previous reports or documentation provided
one 90-minute initial assessment appointment
exploration of gender history, lived experience and goals for care
assessment of relevant psychosocial and mental health factors
consideration of understanding and informed decision-making
consideration of decision-making capacity relevant to the proposed treatment
consideration of developmental and family context where clinically appropriate
clinical review and formulation
gender-affirming care assessment and diagnostic report, as clinically appropriate
Where clinically appropriate, developmental or collateral information may also be gathered from a parent, caregiver or another relevant person with appropriate consent.
Package fee: $700
Most assessments can be completed within the standard package.
Additional assessment appointment, if clinically required: $280 / 50 minutes
Assessment approach
The assessment approach is:
gender-affirming and autonomy-focused
collaborative and transparent
neuroaffirming and culturally responsive
developmentally informed where relevant
attentive to mental health and psychosocial context without treating gender diversity itself as a mental health problem
focused on facilitating access to appropriate healthcare rather than gatekeeping
informed by relevant professional standards and current Australian clinical and legal requirements
The assessment aims to:
support access to care within existing healthcare frameworks
centre your lived experience, goals and autonomy
support informed decision-making
consider relevant psychosocial and mental health factors in context
provide clinically appropriate documentation for your treating healthcare provider
This work is informed by relevant professional guidance including WPATH Standards of Care Version 8 (SOC8), AusPATH guidance and applicable Australian professional and legal standards.
For older adolescents
For young people, the assessment remains centred on the young person and their own lived experience, goals and preferences.
The process may also include consideration of:
developmental context
understanding of the proposed treatment
decision-making capacity
relevant psychosocial and mental health factors
family or caregiver context
support systems
applicable consent requirements
Where clinically appropriate, information may also be gathered from a parent, caregiver or another relevant person with appropriate consent.
Additional services
Where clinically appropriate or requested, additional services may be available, including:
additional assessment appointments
additional reports or letters
case conferences
professional liaison
review of extensive external documentation
Work outside the inclusions of the assessment package will be discussed with you before it is undertaken and is generally charged at the standard professional rate of $280 per hour.
Payment
Gender-affirming assessment package fees are paid in stages rather than as one upfront payment.
Important Information
assessments are provided via secure telehealth across Australia
psychologists do not prescribe medication or provide medical advice
the assessment provides a psychological clinical opinion and documentation only. Final decisions regarding medical or surgical treatment remain with the treating medical practitioner or surgeon
assessment or documentation does not guarantee access to a particular medical or surgical treatment
requirements may vary between healthcare providers and services
reports are prepared in line with current professional guidance and tailored to the requirements of your treating medical practitioner or surgeon.
reports are generally provided within 2–3 weeks of the final assessment appointment.
where further assessment or information is required, the report timeframe begins once the assessment process is complete.
Medicare
Being transgender or gender diverse is not a mental health condition and does not, in itself, make someone eligible for Medicare-funded psychological treatment under the Better Access initiative.
Where an appointment involves clinically indicated psychological treatment for an eligible mental health condition and relevant Medicare requirements are met, a Medicare rebate may be available.
Standalone gender-affirming medical care assessments and report preparation are not generally eligible for Medicare rebates.
If you are unsure whether Medicare may apply to the therapeutic component of your care, you are welcome to ask before booking.
Not sure which assessment is right for you?
If you are unsure whether a gender-affirming assessment is required for your situation, or what type of documentation your treating practitioner needs, you are welcome to make an assessment enquiry before booking.