Transgender issues

Transgender people feel a mismatch between their internal sense of gender and the sex of their body.

Gender can be described as our sense of maleness or femaleness, or we may not feel particularly aligned with either. 

Trans people sometimes sometimes struggle with being treated as a different gender to the one they know they are. This can be extremely confusing and distressing, particularly in children who don’t yet have the knowledge or language to make sense of what they are experiencing.

Gender identity is separate from sexual orientation.

Living as a trans person

Living as a transgender person can be challenging. Before coming out they may experience:

  • confusion
  • hatred of their appearance
  • self-disgust
  • particular distress around bodily changes in puberty.

Coming out as trans may be a relief, but it also opens them up to:

  • bullying and abuse
  • discrimination at work
  • rejection by family or friends.

Some transgender people use hormones or surgery to alter their bodies to match their gender. Some do not, and some choose to change some parts of their bodies but not others. This is a personal choice.

For those who do wish to transition, the process can be long and distressing. Before being offered surgery, trans people are required to live as their true gender. NHS waiting lists for medical treatment are very long.

Our clients have reported great results!

Mr K
“I was attending sessions at One Therapy practice for about 1 1/2 years. I am very happy with the result, sessions there really helped me. I am really grateful to my therapist. Someone recommended him to me as a high professional and it proved right, thank you.”
Mrs M
“I can only provide positive comments on my sessions with (my therapist). This was my first experience with a therapist, and she managed to make me feel comfortable. And I must say that the sessions were helpful and efficient.”
Mrs E
“My therapist was extremely helpful, considerate and understanding. I felt she properly understood what the issues I had were, and their underlying causes, and I feel I benefited considerably from the sessions with her.”
Mrs N
“I immediately felt completely at ease as they were very professional while showing genuine care and interest in helping me. I was able to confront many issues which I had so far chosen to ignore despite their negative effects on my personal relationships and happiness. I would have no hesitation in recommending (One Therapy) to anyone looking to improve their relationships and self-esteem.”
Mrs L
“I learned a lot about myself and about the relationships I make with other people. I was able to see where I was going wrong and I now make better personal choices. Thank you, again.”
Mrs R
“I can’t thank you enough for the help and support I got from my appointments. I would highly recommend therapy to anyone now. Therapy helped me in more ways than I could have imagined. Please tell (my therapist) how grateful I am for her help.”

Counselling needs to be trans-aware

Awareness of trans issues in society is fairly low; many people don’t understand what’s involved or what language is appropriate. Understandably, many trans clients don’t want to spend their therapy sessions educating their therapist; they want to work with therapists who already understand trans issues. 

Many of our therapists are experienced in this area, and we have held internal training on working with trans clients. 

We also understand that trans people aren’t just trans! The issues that you bring to therapy may have nothing to do with being trans.

It shouldn’t need saying, but no therapist should ever try to change a trans client’s gender identity. None of ours would.

Getting started with trans counselling

Your first appointment will provide an opportunity to speak with a therapist about your concerns. Your therapist will help determine how we might best support you and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

If you are looking for a therapist experienced in working with trans clients, take a look through our profiles or contact us.

Appointments are usually available within one week of your initial contact.

What to expect in counselling

When I trained as a psychotherapist, me and my fellow students were given the assignment of doing something we’d never done before. The course tutors wanted us to get in touch with how scary it can be to do something new, to feel the fear of the unknown. I chose to …

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How does therapy help?

Over the years that I’ve worked as a therapist, I’ve been asked numerous times by prospective clients, “How does counselling help?”  And I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. Not because I’m in any doubt that it helps, but because the ‘how’ bit is so hard to articulate concisely…

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Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is on your mind.

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Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

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Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

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One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Faith Davis - Therapist
Faith Davis

Faith is a skilled and thoughtful psychodynamic counsellor with a postgraduate training from Oxford University She is passionate about creating a safe, non-judgemental and supportive therapeutic environment where clients can explore their most difficult experiences or parts of themselves Working at a pace that feels right for her clients, Faith’s perceptive but warm and...

Oxford Circus

Nina Jacobson - Therapist
Nina Jacobson

Nina is an integrative psychotherapist who creates a safe, non-judgmental space in which clients feel comfortable to explore their thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviour Nina recognises that it can be useful to talk to someone outside your circle of friends and family to gain an understanding of your challenges and emotions She helps clients think about their...

Oxford Circus

Damla Ciftcioglu - Therapist
Berrak Damla Çiftcioğlu

Damla offers psychodynamic psychotherapy in a supportive and confidential environment where you can explore the emotions, behaviours and challenges shaping your life Her approach focuses on understanding the deeper, often unconscious factors influencing your thoughts and experiences Whether you’re navigating a specific situation or grappling with long-standing personal...

Oxford Circus

Gregory Hamlin - Therapist
Gregory Hamlin

Gregory is a psychodynamic therapist offering both short-term and long -term therapy to individuals He appreciates how difficult it can be to seek help and therefore places great importance on creating a warm, empathic and safe space for clients to explore whatever is on their minds Gregory helps individuals uncover and understand the underlying patterns that shape...

Oxford Circus

Lara Vasey

Lara is an integrative therapist who offers short- and longer-term therapy to individuals Starting therapy can feel daunting, but Lara’s warm demeanour helps her clients feel more comfortable She creates a confidential and non-judgemental environment, which enables her clients to open up about their thoughts, feelings and experiences With empathy and curiosity, her...

Kensington / Notting Hill

Therapist Antonella Bonetti
Antonella Bonetti

Antonella is a psychodynamic therapist offering short- and long-term therapy to adults She also sees couples facing issues within their relationship Since obtaining her Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, Antonella has worked in different organisational settings (charities, NHS and university counselling services) helping people from...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Amrita Athwal
Amrita Athwal

Amrita works with adults in an integrative way, drawing on various therapeutic approaches tailored to meet the needs of each client She provides a safe space to help clients better understand themselves She offers short term and long term therapy Amrita has experience of working with clients on issues such as trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, relationship...

Bloomsbury

James Eve - Therapist
James Eve

James is a psychosexual and relationship therapist who has been in private practice for five years He works with individuals and couples on sexual and relationship difficulties, understanding that these can be significant causes of distress in one's life Prior to working in private practice, James worked for the psychosexual team at Croydon University Hospital He is a...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Janis Dellner
Janis Dellner

Janis offers an empathic, non-judgmental and safe environment where her clients can explore the issues that are currently troubling them  Janis works collaboratively to explore and challenge thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are no longer serving her clients’ wellbeing, interests and relationships with themselves and others  She believes it is through the...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Shelly Klein
Shelley Klein

As a psychodynamic therapist Shelley brings a wealth of experience to her work and supports her patients to talk about those aspects of their lives they are finding painful, upsetting or difficult to deal with, in a confidential, non-judgmental and peaceful setting Shelley is particularly interested in working with those who are experiencing depression, bereavement, high...

Bloomsbury