Understanding Gender Dysphoria: A Spectrum of Treatment Options!

Dr. Z discusses a spectrum of possibilities to help alleviate gender dysphoria. The reason she wants to talk about it as a form of spectrum is because she found lately when discussing it this way with individual clients, it helps people not only feel less terrified to take small steps, it also helps people have a better and fuller understanding, and it helps people realize there are options available to them—that going through full medical or surgical transition is not the only option.

Dr. Z especially likes this idea of treatment spectrum because, as you all know, a lot of times there is a myth being perpetuated not only by clinicians and providers but also by trans community itself: that unless you are going through the whole medical and surgical transition, not only are you not transgender but you're also invalid or lesser than. There's also a myth that the only way to fully transition (fully, again) is to go through all of those things, and the only way to deal with gender dysphoria is to step into all of those things—which in Dr. Z's experience, she's found it all to be deeply inaccurate.

For starters, the decisions people make in regards to which steps to take to alleviate the distress they feel is not one and the same or is not tied to trans identity.

Watch this video as Dr. Z addresses why treatment for gender dysphoria is a spectrum and why you don't have to go through all of it to feel better.