Navigating Your Transition Journey with Confidence

You’ll need a gender dysphoria diagnosis from a registered psychologist or psychiatrist. Understand the risks—scarring, sensation changes, and possible revisions. Research the WPATH Standards of Care and ensure your referral is dated within 12 months of surgery. Financial, legal, and recovery planning are also essential.

To proceed with gender-affirming Surgery, a single referral letter from a qualified clinician is required. It’s crucial to work with independent practitioners who understand the intricacies of gender dysphoria and can provide the necessary documentation. These professionals are not affiliated with us but are experienced in supporting individuals through their transition journey. Beginning a gender transition can be a deeply personal and emotional process. It often involves long waiting times and uncertainty—especially within the NHS, which is currently overwhelmed and unable to meet demand. As a result, many people now turn to private healthcare providers for timely access to gender-affirming treatments.

What Therapists Look For (Based on SOC8 Criteria)

To issue a referral, therapists typically assess whether you meet the following criteria:

• Persistent and well-documented gender incongruence or dysphoria (This applies to trans men, trans women, non-binary people, and eunuchs.)
• Capacity for informed consent You must be able to understand the risks, benefits, and implications of treatment.
• Age of majority You must be legally recognised as an adult in your country. If younger, SOC8 provides separate guidance for children and adolescents.
• Stable physical and mental health Any significant health conditions should be reasonably well-managed.

Inclusive Guidance from SOC8

SOC8 recognises and affirms a wide spectrum of gender identities, including:

• Trans men (assigned female at birth, identify as male)
• Trans women (assigned male at birth, identify as female)
• Non-binary people (identify outside the male/female binary)
• Eunuchs (individuals who identify with a gender identity historically or culturally associated with castration or lack of sexual characteristics; SOC8 includes a dedicated chapter acknowledging this identity and its healthcare needs) 

Importantly, SOC8 promotes a depathologized approach—meaning a psychiatric diagnosis is no longer required to access gender-affirming care

Surgery Referral Requirements

• Top Surgery (e.g., chest masculinization or breast augmentation): Requires one referral letter from a qualified clinician.
• Bottom Surgery (e.g., phalloplasty, vaginoplasty): Requires two referral letters.

⚠️ Please note: We do not issue referral letters ourselves. You will need to obtain these from independent clinicians.

Independent Practitioners

Below is a list of private therapists and clinicians who are not affiliated with us but are experienced in working with transgender and gender-diverse individuals and may provide referral letters after an assessment. These are parctitioners that Mr Vahidi has had quality referrals from previously. It is not an exhaustive list.

⚠️ Please note: We insist that any referrals list the qualifications of the clinicians signing reports.

All the clinicians work under the clinical supervision of Dr Dmitri Popelyuk, a practising psychiatrist focusing on the treatment of adults suffering from mental health conditions, including general adult psychiatry, psychosexual problems and gender dysphoria.

Email : 

Phone: +44 (0) 207 099 5383

Website: The Gender Clinic

Online Enquiry Form: Initial Gender Clinic Enquiry

The Gender Clinic
70 Harley Street
London
W1G 7HF

Dr Pasterski is a Gender Specialist with more than 20 years of clinical and research experience. She earned a PhD in Behavioural Neuroendocrinology in 2002 from City, University of London, and completed a further two years of postdoctoral training in Gender Identity Assessment with the Psychoendocrine Clinic, Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. She has been a member of various multidisciplinary networks throughout Europe and within the NHS, an Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, and is a Recognised Gender Specialist by the UK Ministry of Justice Gender Recognition Panel.

Email : 

Phone: +44 (0) 207 467 8325

Website: Harley Street Gender Clinic

Online Enquiry Form: Registration Form

Harley Street Gender Clinic
10 Harley Street
London
W1G 9PF

What is GenderCare?
GenderCare is not a clinic in the sense of being a single building or location or organisation. We’re a network of individual specialist clinicians committed to providing excellent quality gender care. We’re independent practitioners but are experienced at working with each other and with external providers, including your GP.

Contact GenderCare

By post
Check the postal address on the individual clinician’s correspondence.

By email
Firstly, choose a clinician and email them directly.

Website: Gender Care

Please do the following:

Check the Gender Care FAQ page – your query may be answered there.

Title your email ENQUIRY.

Your selected clinician will ask a number of screening questions. Check their individual page and, if in doubt, email and ask them.

Try to be patient! We will get back to you by email as soon as we can but, during especially busy periods, this may take several days.

By telephone
Check the telephone number on the individual clinician’s correspondence.

Guidance and medical support for all stages of the transition pathway with respect for all aspects of identity. Consideration of a person’s background, circumstances, life choices and desired goals.  Expert assessments for adults with gender dysphoria who may wish to consider medical transition. We offer informed, balanced and compassionate assessments for those starting hormones or seeking surgical referrals.

Phone: +44 (0) 207 467 8325

Website: Gender Doctors

Online Enquiry Form: Registration Form

Gender Doctors
The Thames View
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8R

For a number of years, I worked at the NHS Adult Gender Identity Clinic in London. I have supported over 600 trans, non-binary, and gender questioning individuals to make sense of their circumstances, providing practical strategies to deal with issues such as: managing dysphoria, coming out, fears of being ‘clocked’, internalised transphobia, and so on. I am aware of the difficulties that transitioning can bring not only to the person that is questioning their gender and/or sexuality, but to those around them and for this reason, I also facilitate family and couple/relational therapy.

Email : 

Website: Laura Scarrone

Dr Aidan Kelly is Clinical Director at Kelly Psychology. He is a Clinical Psychologist by training and is registered in the UK with the Health & Care Professionals Council (PYL32755) and has also had his Clinical Psychology qualifications validated by the Department of Health in Ireland. He is a member of the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK and the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Dr Kelly first began working in the NHS in 2009 as a graduate psychologist working in both inpatient and community settings with adults and children with a range of mental health difficulties. He then moved to Australia where he completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney (2012-15).

After returning to the UK in 2015 Dr Kelly worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in East London. In particular he gained experience working with young people who had become socially isolated and were non-school attending as well as with young people who attended specialist provision educational settings. These young people tended to have complex needs such as significant anxiety, depression, familial or relational difficulties, social communication difficulties, histories of trauma as well as sometimes presenting with challenging behaviours.

Away from work Aidan enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as being outside in nature.

Email : 

Website: Kelly Psychology