A WPATH assessment at PPC is a collaborative discussion between yourself, your clinician, and any other relevant supports, which typically occur over the space of a series of appointments. In these sessions we will discuss your life history, your experiences of gender development and exploration, and your mental health, to get a well-rounded picture of who you are as a person and how your gender identity complements this.

This information will then be compiled into a brief letter or report, depending on the requirements of your surgeon. At all times, your assessment will be conducted by clinicians trained in gender affirming care, and in line with the WPATH Standards of Care Version 8 (SOC-8) which can be found here.

WHAT DOES A WPATH ASSESSMENT NOT INVOLVE?

• Direct access to hormones – psychologists are not medical doctors, and cannot prescribe medication. We encourage you to visit your GP if you are looking to engage in gender affirming hormone therapy for further advice.

• ‘Reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy – not only is this practice against the advice of SOC-8 and other medical governing bodies, but it is also strongly against the ethos of Tailoring Therapy and its practitioners. Trans and gender diverse people have the right to exist in the manner of their choosing, and we at PPC are privileged to be able to support you.

• Therapy (kind of!) – a WPATH assessment is an assessment in its own right, and is typically separate to therapeutic interventions. Some WPATH assessments may suggest therapy as a support for you to better engage in the process of gender affirming medical care, or to be able to consent to your chosen procedure, but this would be discussed with you during the process. You are more than welcome to engage in therapy before, during, or after your assessment, either with us or with another chosen provider, but it is not a mandatory requirement for the WPATH process.

• Us telling you what your gender identity is, or isn’t! There are many ways to exist in the world as a trans or gender diverse person, and while figuring out who you are and what you need as an individual may seem overwhelming, it is inappropriate for a mental health provider to make assumptions and project this onto you.