 |
 |
|
The
Support Group
The
purpose of the support group is to provide a safe environment for those
who, at one time or another, have felt the desire to adopt the felt-gender
role either temporarily or on a full-time basis. Therefore group members
may include those who cross-dress intermittently and for a variety of
purposes, as well as those with the expressed intention of living in the
felt-gender role on a permanent basis whether or not they are seeking
sex reassignment surgery. The group is intended to provide a venue for
all those with cross-gender feelings to share their experiences with other
individuals in the same or similar situation.
The
group is not intended to influence its members either to repress their
cross-gender feelings or behaviours or to express them more extensively.
Rather the goal is to help each individual determine what level of adaptation
to their gender role works best for them. Group members are expected to
help one another recognize ways of expressing cross-gender feelings, which
facilitate personal growth in a positive and constructive manner.
Group
members should be prepared to actively participate in discussions and
to offer constructive feedback to others to help them examine whether
they are being realistic or self-deceptive in terms of their current gender
behaviour or future plans. The group should provide an emotionally supportive
environment where members can express their gender-related anxieties,
longings, frustrations and successes without fear.
Although
the emphasis of the group is on mutual help between members, all group
sessions will be led by a staff member affiliated with the Gender Identity
Clinic. The group is open to those individuals who have had a prior consultation
with clinic staff and have been recommended to attend the group. The group
is open to those who identify as cross-dressers or transgendered as well
as to both female-to-male and male-to-female clients. Please note that
only those who have had a formal consultation by the Gender Clinic are
eligible for consideration. It is not an open community drop-in group.
The support group meets weekly from September to June at the College Street
site. There are no summer group meetings.
Criteria
for Those Seeking Surgery
Please
note these criteria only apply to those seeking full surgical
reassignment. The Gender Identity Clinic subscribes to the criteria
of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Standards
of Care, 1998. The International Standards of Care represent minimum standards.
The Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
uses these standards as guidelines, however, in terms of the real-life
experience our clinic uses a two year period of cross-living in the felt-gender
role prior to consideration of a recommendation for sex reassignment surgery.
During
this period individuals seeking such surgery are expected to fulfil the
real-life experience criteria as outlined below and in the Standards of
Care. These criteria include being able to demonstrate successful adaptation
in the felt-gender role by sustaining either full-time employment, full-time
student status or the equivalent of full-time voluntarism, or any combination
of these three criteria.
Our
clients become "eligible" for hormone therapy after one-year
of completion of living full-time in the felt-gender role. In term of
"readiness" clients must demonstrate psychosocial stability
as defined by the Standards of Care. These standards state that clients
must be able to show that "the patient has made some progress in
mastering other identified problems leading to improved or continuing
stable mental health (this implies an absence of problems such as sociopathy,
substance abuse, psychosis, suicidality, for instance)." The clinic
also uses objective criteria to assess each individual’s adaptation
in the felt-gender role. These include altering identifying documentation
such as legal name change, name on your social insurance card, drivers
license and health card.
The
clinic recognizes that the decision to adopt the felt-gender role should
never be taken lightly. There may be serious consequences affecting every
sphere of a person’s life from family relationships to employment,
which must be considered. A Clinic staff member is available to discuss
the consequences of transition to the felt-gender role. For those who
proceed with transitioning to the felt-gender, the clinic offers advice
in altering their documentation in order to facilitate the real-life experience
as far as possible.
Finally
as of October 1, 1998 the Government of Ontario has delisted coverage
for sex reassignment surgery as a benefit of the Ontario Health Insurance
Plan. Other Canadian provinces that cover
the costs of surgery include Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland.
Traditionally this has been conditional on their residents obtaining approval
from the Gender Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
In addition, most surgeons require approval or recommendation from a recognized
psychiatric or psychological professional. British Columbia residents
should contact the Gender Dysphoria Program located at Vancouver General
Hospital.
Gender
Identity Clinic Patient Referral Letter
Please
note that the Gender Identity Clinic
sees patients who are experiencing any degree of gender confusion or dysphoria.
Patients who are confused about their sexual orientation should
be referred to the Sexual Behaviours
Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Clarke Site.
Please download, print and mail into the clinic with an original signature.
Please note that we cannot accept referrals submitted by e-mail.
Links:
http://www.annelawrence.com/
http://www.symposion.com/ijt/
http://www.hbigda.org/
http://www.ifge.org/
http://www.themenace.net
References:
Articles on Gender Reorientation and Sex Reassignment
Surgery Follow-Up
Blanchard, R., & Steiner, B. W. (1983). Gender reorientation,
psychological adjustment, and involvement with female partners in
female-to-male transsexuals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 12,
149-157.
Blanchard, R., Clemmensen, L. H., & Steiner, B.
W. (1983). Gender reorientation and psychosocial adjustment in male-to-female
transsexuals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 12, 503-509.
Blanchard, R. (1985). Gender dysphoria and gender reorientation.
In B. W. Steiner (Ed.), Gender dysphoria: Development, research,
management (pp. 365-392). New York: Plenum Press.
Blanchard, R., Steiner, B. W., & Clemmensen, L.
H. (1985). Gender dysphoria, gender reorientation, and the clinical
management of transsexualism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology, 53, 295-304.
Blanchard, R., Legault, S., & Lindsay, W. R. N.
(1987). Vaginoplasty outcome in male-to-female transsexuals. Journal
of Sex & Marital Therapy, 13, 265-275.
Blanchard, R., Steiner, B. W., Clemmensen, L. H., &
Dickey, R. (1989). Prediction of regrets in postoperative transsexuals.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 43-45.
Blanchard, R., & Sheridan, P. M. (1990). Gender
reorientation and psychosocial adjustment. In R. Blanchard & B.
W. Steiner (Eds.), Clinical management of gender identity disorders
in children and adults (pp. 159-189). Washington, DC: American
Psychiatric Press.
|
|
|
|
(416) 535-8501, ext. 4077
