Counselling & peer support for transgender & gender diverse people
Tautoko whakamāherehere me ā-hinengaro mō te hunga irawhiti
Counting Ourselves (2018) showed that trans and gender diverse people in Aotearoa New Zealand often need support with their mental wellbeing. Coming out and transitioning can be difficult, and trans and gender diverse people often experience depression and anxiety.
Support from friends and whānau (family) is a huge help – see Support networks for transgender & gender diverse people & their whānau for more information.
If you're transgender, non-binary or gender diverse, questioning your gender identity or considering transitioning, it may be helpful to talk to someone about how you feel and get emotional or professional support.
You can get professional support through the public and private health systems.
Funded peer support and psychology is available in Canterbury for transgender, gender diverse, and questioning people of all ages in a programme called the Trans Wellness Package. This package is available by talking to your general practice team about it. It provides support with whatever is going on in your life, not just about your gender.
It's okay to ask if the professional you're contacting has experience working with gender identity and gender diversity issues. You may want to contact peer support groups to ask for recommendations of professionals with relevant experience. See Support networks for transgender & gender diverse people & their whānau.
If cost is a problem, you can ask your general practice team to help you apply for WINZ or other financial support.
OutLine
OutLine is a national support line service. Trained volunteers from the LGBTIQ+ communities answer calls. You can phone the support line on 0800-688-5463 or chat online from 6 pm to 9 pm any evening.
OutLine also offers face-to-face counselling at their Auckland and Wellington clinics. Outside those areas, it offers video counselling. There is a charge for the counselling.
Written by Ko Awatea gender-affirming care co-design group. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
Center for Primary Care Harvard Medical – School terminology related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and more, retrieved February 2019.
Clark TC, Lucassen MF, Bullen P, et al. The health and well-being of transgender high school students: results from the New Zealand adolescent health survey (Youth'12) (https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(13)00753-2/fulltext). Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 55, Issue 1, 93 - 99. July 2014.
Human Rights Commission NZ – Transgender enquiry report: To be who I am. 2007.
Intersex Awareness New Zealand – What is intersex? (http://www.ianz.org.nz/what-is-intersex/), retrieved February 2019.
Ministry of Health – Transgender New Zealanders (https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/transgender-new-zealanders/health-care-transgender-new-zealanders), retrieved February 2019.
Oliphant J, Veale J, Macdonald J, Carroll R, Johnson R, Harte M, Stephenson C, Bullock J. Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato, 2018.
Olson KR, Durwood L, DeMeules M, et al. Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities. Pediatrics. 2016;137(3):e20153223. March 2015.
Rainbow Youth – Useful Words (https://ry.org.nz/friends-whanau/useful-words/), retrieved February 2019.
Yogyakarta principles, retrieved February 2019.
Image and embedded video sources
Image of parent holding child by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash. April 2019.
Image of person having counselling from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.
Image of person writing on clipboard from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.
Image of medical person from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.
Image of two people hugging in front of a wall by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash. April 2019.
Image of two people in an office from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.
Image of two people reading from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.
Image of two young people having fun in outdoor area by Annie Spratt on Unsplash. April 2019.
Page reference: 615617
Review key: HISOG-53214
