COUNSELLING FOR GENDER + SEXUAL ORIENTATION

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I think of this work as Gender Doula support — walking alongside clients with care, validation, and practical guidance as they move through moments of exploration, decision-making, and transition.
 

As your counsellor or Gender Doula, I can offer you:

• Exploratory and gender affirming counselling if your considering questions about your gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
   
• Transition-related supports, including OHIP-covered “Second Assessor” surgical readiness assessments and letters. If you're only looking for a second assessor for readiness assessments and letters, this can typically take anywhere from 3-5 sessions.
   
• Referrals to Ontario-based gender-affirming medical, legal, and community resources.

My approach is informed by the Gender Freedom Model. This model was created by Rae McDaniel, LCPC, a gender and sex therapist, coach, and educator based in Chicago. The Gender Freedom Model emphasizes Play, Pleasure, and Possibility as core pillars of gender exploration. This means I don’t only focus on reducing distress or navigating systemic barriers, but also on helping clients discover what feels good, affirming, and expansive in their gender journey—making space for curiosity, joy, and envisioning liberatory futures. You can read more about this model and theory here. 

I also support clients in working through painful or traumatic experiences related to societal oppression, internalized transphobia/transmisogyny, or family/partner responses to coming out. Together, we build pathways toward self-compassion, self-acceptance, and liberation from patriarchal white supremacy.

When a client’s needs extend beyond the scope of my practice, I provide referrals to trusted counsellors, psychotherapists, and community agencies. I am always happy to share a list of trans, non-binary, and QTBIPOC therapists who also specialize in this work.

Over the past five years, I have worked with trans and non-binary communities in a variety of settings:

• Birth & Postpartum Doula: supporting trans and non-binary folx as they navigate the highly gendered world of fertility, birth, and postpartum care.
   
• Clinical Placement with the Canadian Mental Health Association: providing gender-affirming counselling to adolescents and adults questioning or transitioning, where I experienced on-going supportive supervision, training and professional development.
   
• Hospital for Sick Children, Gender Care Clinic: in my current role as a clinical social worker, I provide short-term and exploratory gender-affirming counselling and resource navigation for trans and gender-diverse youth and their families/caregivers. I work on a multi-disciplinary team with other Social Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Endocrinologists, Paediatricians and Psychologists. This work provides me with on-going training, supervision and professional development in area's related to both medical, social and emotional gender care.

In addition to my professional experience, I engage in continued learning and professional development to maintain and enhance my cultural competence in this area. Over the last 5 years I have completed the following trainings:

• Neuroqueer Complexities, CTYS, Finn Gratton & Alyssa Fenix
• Families in TRANSition Facilitator Training, CTYS
• Supporting trans & non-binary clients with transitioning, Gavrel Feldman
• 2SLGBTQ+ Foundations Course, RHO
• 2SLGBTQ+ Emotional and Mental Health, RHO 
• 2SLGBTQ+ Trauma Informed Care, RHO  
• Trans 101 - Children and Adolescents (up to 18 years), RHO
• Modifying Social Work Practices for Neurodiverse Operating Systems, Wendy McGuire
• Trans and queer affirming birthwork (Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings)

I bring both personal and professional experience to this work, and feel honoured to support 2S-LGBTQIA+ clients in my practice. Exploring gender identity and expression is a deeply personal journey—one that deserves care, affirmation, and space to unfold at your own pace. Whether you are questioning, transitioning, or seeking support in navigating relationships and systems, I would be honoured to walk alongside you. If this resonates, I invite you to reach out and book a consultation to see if we'd be a good fit together.

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If you are interested in exploring other options for Queer and Trans therapists across Canada, check out this robust resources that my colleague has put together: Queer and Trans Therapists Across Canada