Considering the problems with acceptance that many trans people face, you likely won’t be surprised to learn that transgender adults and youths are at risk for developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

In fact, one recent study showed that anywhere between 17.5 to 45 percent of transgender adults meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even for those living in places with full legal and social protections, the pressures of living in a primarily heterosexist society can produce unique stresses that can undermine mental and physical health.

Certainly, recent research bears this out by showing that transgender adults and youths are hyper-alert to potential danger since the risk of transphobic abuse is never that far away.

Even in supposedly “safe spaces” such as hospitals and doctor’s offices, there is often significant discrimination in the kind of health care received, something that can cause many trans people to avoid seeing doctors altogether.

What Kind of Problems Might Lead Trans People to Seek Counseling?

There is no shortage of issues that might lead transgender people to seek counseling for mental health issues.

Even the use of the term “transgender” can be a source of tension since many community members might prefer terms such as “gender fluid,” “non-binary,” “two-spirited,” or even “genderqueer.”

Regardless of the term used, the kind of problems that trans people face can vary depending on each person’s life experience and the sort of support they receive from family, friends, or the community at large.

And that can also depend on where a trans person might be in the process of coming out.. According to one recent study, some of the most common problems include:

• Being rejected by friends and family
• Trauma resulting from transphobic abuse, including physical and verbal abuse
• Internalized transphobia
• Symptoms of PTSD
• Dealing with depression, anxiety, and related issues such as substance abuse
• Coming-out stress

Do You Need A Transgender-Positive Therapist?

Unfortunately, simply being a trained counselor or psychotherapist doesn’t necessarily main having the kind of sensitivity or knowledge needed to treat trans people.

While professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association provide professional guidelines to increase trans awareness among therapists, there is still a very strong heterosexist bias among trained therapists.

As a result, such therapists may not have the necessary training or experience in dealing with transgender clients, and far too many may try imposing their own values and judgments on the clients coming to them for help.

Not only might this lead to transgender clients not getting the help they need, but it may also lead to trans clients giving up on counseling altogether.

This is why it is so important to find a therapist who can understand what you are facing and who can provide a “safe space” when seeing clients to ensure proper trust and confidentiality.

Does Counseling Work for Transgender Clients?

While extensive research shows that psychotherapy and counseling can be extremely valuable in helping people come to terms with mental health issues, almost all of this research is geared to heterosexual clients.

Only in the past ten years have we seen research studies looking at how effective transgender-positive counseling can be.

Still, recent research has shown that the right kind of counseling can be extremely valuable in helping transgender clients learn to overcome emotional problems and become more resilient.

But what if you aren’t comfortable dealing with a counselor face-to-face or can’t find a counselor with the right training in your immediate area? If you want to avoid traveling long distances to see a counselor in another city, getting the counseling you need may just be a video link or a phone call away.

As anyone seeking medical help during the recent pandemic knows, more health care practitioners than ever are turning to virtual treatment sessions, whether in the form of video chats or even phone sessions, to talk with patients.

And electronic counseling is already starting to revolutionize mental health care, with millions of clients worldwide getting the help they need online.

If you are wondering if online counseling might work for you, consider the Pride Counseling option to contact a therapist who cares.

Explore Pride Counseling

Pride Counseling is a new and unique solution for all your transgender counseling needs.

Designed as a platform that lets clients and therapists communicate effectively, Pride Counseling’s mission is to maintain an active roster with trained and experienced counselors from across the country.

Not only are our counselors caring and professional, but we use state-of-the-art security to provide complete confidentiality.

Getting started with Pride Counseling is as simple as clicking on the link at the top of this article. After answering confidential questions about your mental health and medical history, the pronouns you prefer, and how a therapist can contact you, the rest will be up to us.

We will find a qualified therapist matched to your specific needs who will then contact you directly.

Every one of our therapists is extensively trained in the latest therapy techniques and along with years of experience in gaining your trust and helping you move towards a better future.

The choice is entirely up to you on how you want this therapy to be conducted. Whether it is by online chat, messaging, phone sessions, or video calls, you are the one who gets to decide!

And it doesn’t matter whether you have never seen a counselor before or had bad experiences with another therapist. Any counselor we provide will be completely open and accepting. Complete Full confidentiality is guaranteed!

How Much Does It Cost and How Long Can I Continue with Pride Counseling?

The cost of therapy through Pride Counseling usually ranges from 65-87 USD per week and is billed every 4 weeks. Therapy sessions can continue until you and your therapist mutually agree that your treatment is complete, but you are still free to cancel your membership at any time.
As for how long the counseling will last, everyone is different, so there is no way to tell how long the treatment process will be. Whatever problems you have, you and your therapist can decide on the treatment that will work best and bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. Also, other issues might come up during the course of treatment that might make it last even longer. You and your therapist might also agree to have you referred to another counselor better trained to help. Every case is different.
So contact Pride Counseling today and get started on the road to better mental health.