Transhealth Blog — Gender-Affirming Psychology by Fedora Laroza

Illustrative image Facial feminisation surgery (FFS) is the common terminology we use when referring to one, or usually a combination of, surgical procedures. These might include septorhinoplasty, orbital contouring, brow bone shaving, jawline reshaping, chin contouring, and a tracheal shave. The main goal is to feminise a person's facial bone structure. Being on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is not a requirement to undergo FFS, but it can be beneficial since it bri

Conceptual illustration of a global network for gender-affirming healthcare. The trans experience is not a modern phenomenon, nor is it confined to any specific culture. It has been a part of humankind since the very beginning. Because trans people exist everywhere, the care they receive should not be restricted by the country they happen to live in. Currently, we face a significant shortage of specialised professionals worldwide. This is why gender-affirming care must be tre

Gender-affirming care is for all humans: When people hear the term "gender-affirming care", the immediate assumption is that it is a concept exclusive to transgender individuals. But the truth is, almost every human being engages in it. It is, fundamentally, technology applied to human contexts to align our external presentation with our inner identity. Illustration depicting various gender-affirming resources, including hormone therapy, grooming tools, and medical consultati

Symbolic illustration If you’re a healthcare provider supporting someone through a gender-affirming surgical process, you may be looking for a qualified mental health professional to provide the required referral letter. This is one of the core services I offer — and a routine part of my clinical work. As a psychologist registered in Brazil (CRP 06/180170), I’ve been working in gender-focused care for years, providing online psychological services to clients across the UK, Eu

Symbolic illustration If you’re planning a gender-affirming surgery, you may have heard that a “referral letter” is required. This is a clinical document written by a qualified mental health professional to support your surgical care — and it’s one of the services I offer. Across the UK, Europe and many other parts of the world, clinics and surgeons often request this type of letter as part of their standard pre-operative protocol. In most cases, it’s not about questioning yo

I decided to start this blog to share some of my professional and personal reflections and experiences, which may be helpful to clients and to the wider community. Over the past years, I have supported people from many different cultures and backgrounds, and I feel it is now time to build this space as a way of offering additional resources.