Frequently Asked Questions

It's easy! Select 'Book Appointment' at the top of the screen and select 'Gender Assessment - First Appointment'. You will be prompted to complete a referral form and, once completed, you can book and pay for your appointment. Depending on availability your first appointment could happen within a couple of weeks.

Appointments can take place in person or over Zoom as a video call. We find that most people are happy to conduct the majority of the assessment over Zoom and come to an in-person appointment towards the end of the process. For those under 18, at least one of the appointments would need to be in person. We currently have offices in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Dublin.

Gender assessment length varies depending on the age and circumstances of the client. For those under the age of 18, the assessment process is typically made up of six sessions which take place over a six month period. These offer an opportunity to explore the young person's holistic development from birth to the present day. Sessions take gender identity development into consideration as well as family life, friendships, school life, mental health, neurodiversity, sexuality, general health and significant life events. If indicated, time is also given to considering gender-related medical interventions. For those aged 18 or older, the process involves fewer appointments, typically two.

A report is written at the end of the process, which may include a diagnosis and/or referral to the Gender Plus Hormone Clinic, as appropriate.

Psychological support sessions are client-led and driven by the goals of the young person and their family, or in the case of those over the age of 18, the adult. These may include exploring and making sense of their relationship to their social world or peer group while considering factors such as sexuality, gender, or other relevant factors. It may also include developing strategies and interventions to manage any associated anxiety or distress. Support sessions can consider the emotional, relational and practical implications of living as trans, non-binary or cis. These sessions tend to take place on a more frequent basis such as weekly or fortnightly.

Psychological support sessions are different from assessment sessions in that the cost only covers the time spent meeting with the clinician. If any liaison work or report writing is required, in addition to the psychological support meetings, they will be charged at a separate rate. Assessment sessions on the other hand have the cost of liaison and report writing incorporated into the fee.

Depending on the age of the individual, the assessment process can involve a different number of appointments. For those under 18, the full assessment process typically involves six appointments over a six month period, although this can vary. For those aged 18 or older, the process requires fewer appointments, typically two.

The first appointment is a space for you to ask any questions you may have about the assessment process, share your hopes and worries, and start to build an understanding of your gender identity development. For the first session with young people under the age of 18, it is helpful for at least one parent or guardian to attend.

The clinician meeting with you for your assessment will want to learn about what brought you to Gender Plus and your hopes for the future. If you are someone who becomes very anxious about meeting people for the first time, it is a good idea to speak to a loved one beforehand. Writing down what you want to cover, or ask about, in your first appointment is also a great idea. We know it can take time to build trust with a clinician. It helps if you can be open about your experiences. We will work hard to make you as comfortable as possible and agree on the best way to support you. If you have preferences of how you want a clinician to speak or communicate with you, please let them know. 

While there is no formal agreement between Gender Plus and the NHS, we write NHS equivalent assessment reports and most of our clinicians have worked in gender services in the NHS. Our clinicians are known and trusted by clinicians working within the seven NHS Gender Identity Clinics, so our hope is that the Gender Plus assessment would be taken into account.

Yes and no – the process is different for everyone who accesses our service, because we treat people as individuals. We understand that many gender diverse people are also neurodivergent and we can make reasonable adjustments to accommodate any additional needs. Please let us know if you have any communication preferences, such as using the chat function.

In-person availability can change so is not always visible through our booking system. If you would like your first appointment (or all of your appointments) to be in person, get in touch with us. We can arrange this.

Our booking system automatically generates a Zoom link for all appointments, which allows the link to be used if plans change without you needing to rebook. If you would prefer an in-person appointment please select the option when booking. Your appointment confirmation email will include 'IN PERSON' in the subject line.

Most of our slots are available during working hours, however you can get in touch to request appointments slightly earlier or later than those you see in our booking system and we may be able to accommodate your request. Evening appointments are not available.

If you click on the green 'Change/Cancel Appointment' button in your confirmation email and then 'Reschedule' you will see your clinician's available appointment slots.

To discuss individual concerns please contact: admin@genderplus.com.