You're not alone.
Gender Affirming Surgery Support and Letters
Experience the support you deserve.
Seeking gender-affirming surgery can come with frustrating barriers, especially when access to supportive care is limited. I am a registered social worker (RSW) who has experience guiding clients through this process.
I am here for you.
What to expect in a surgical planning visit?
Surgery can be an important step in your gender-affirming journey, and preparing for it can involve more than choosing a procedure.
Surgical planning visits give you dedicated time to explore your goals, understand what to expect, and think through the practical, emotional, and social aspects of surgery.
Over 2–4 sessions, we’ll work together to build a comprehensive picture of your needs and plans.
Your visits are collaborative and individualized to where you are in your journey.
We may talk about:
-
Your gender-affirming journey: Your experience of gender dysphoria, social transition, hormone therapy, and other aspects of your transition that are relevant to your surgical goals.
-
Your surgical goals: The procedure or procedures you are considering, why you are pursuing them, what you hope will change, and what you expect your experience and outcomes to be.
-
Your health history: Relevant medical and surgical history, medications, allergies, mental health history, and substance use.
-
Your support and circumstances: Housing, relationships and support networks, finances, work or school responsibilities, transportation, and other factors that may affect your preparation or recovery.
-
Your options: We’ll discuss surgical approaches that may be relevant to your goals, as well as potential benefits, risks, side effects, and considerations such as fertility preservation.
-
Preparing for recovery: Together, we’ll consider what you may need before and after surgery, including a place to recover, practical and emotional support, activity restrictions, follow-up care, and other recovery needs.
-
Questions and concerns: You’ll have space to identify concerns, talk through uncertainties, and prepare questions for your surgical team.
The goal is to help you feel informed, prepared, and supported as you make decisions about your care.
We’ll meet you where you are—whether you are still exploring your options, have chosen a surgery, or are already moving toward a surgical date.
There is no single “right” way to prepare for gender-affirming surgery. Your planning visits will focus on your individual goals, circumstances, and needs.
I will collaborate with your medical providers and provide valuable guidance to facilitate your path to successful surgery.
I offer individual and family sessions as needed for folks considering, preparing for or recovering from gender-affirming surgeries.
I provide letters of support for your insurance or surgeon without you needing to worry about justifying your identity or over-explaining yourself to me.
