Gender Identity Counselling
Gender Identity is our innermost sense of who we are, whether that's male, female, both, neither or somwhere in between. It's how we see and understand ourselves, and it may or may not match the gender we were assigned at birth.
It’s important to know that gender identity is not the same as sexual orientation. Who we are attracted to and how we identify our gender are two distinct, equally valid parts of our overall identity.
Understanding Gender Identity
Society often imposes norms and expectations around gender. For many people, these can clash with their own lived experience, creating feelings of conflict, confusion, isolation or loneliness.
The pressure to “fit in” or conform can sometimes lead to:
- Internal struggles about identity and belonging
- Emotional distress or low self-esteem
- Feeling disconnected or misunderstood
- A sense of not being accepted by others or even by oneself
These challenges can have a profound impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing.
How Counselling Can Help
If you are struggling with questions or feelings about your gender identity, you do not have to face it alone. Speaking with a compassionate, non-judgemental counsellor or psychotherapist can provide a safe, supportive space to:
- Explore your identity at your own pace
- Build confidence and resilience
- Process the emotions that may come with external pressures or internal conflict
- Reconnect with a sense of belonging and authenticity
Taking the First Step
You may find it helpful to speak to your GP or reach out to a trained counsellor specialising in gender identity and LGBTQ+ support. At The Practice in Surrey, we are here to listen, support, and walk alongside you as you explore your identity and embrace who you are. Please call us on 0333 0096 321, fill in our contact form or email us to speak to a therapist who can help.
Useful Articles
Here's a list of articles we've found on the internet that you might find helpful.
Gender identity and the big questions that have yet to be answered
Why a person feels male when biologically female, or vice versa, is still unclear. But scientists are working to solve the puzzle.
Child gender identity referrals show huge rise in six years
The number of children referred to the NHS with gender identity issues has increased significantly in recent years, according to figures obtained by the BBC.
Why I Won't Accept the Politics of Gender Identity
Women are not oppressed based on our identities, we are oppressed on the basis of our female biology – a fact that is being erased by transgender politics, writes JENNIFER DUNCAN
TED Talk: iO Tillett Wright: Fifty Shades of Gay
iO Tillett Wright has photographed 2,000 people who consider themselves somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum — and asked many of them: Can you assign a percentage to how gay or straight you are? Most people, it turns out, consider themselves to exist in the gray areas of sexuality, not 100% gay or straight. Which presents a real problem when it comes to discrimination: Where do you draw the line?
Poems and Quotes to Inspire You
Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts given so freely by God to all of us. So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.
Andy Ripley – England and Lions rugby legend, often described as one of the most colourful personalities in the history of English rugby
Helpful articles often written by our fabulous practitioners.