What constitutes successful treatment for clients with gender identity issues?

Successful treatment for clients with gender identity issues means understanding their struggle exists on so many levels. The struggle that comes from feeling they have been trapped in the wrong body. That there is often a complete mismatch between who they are on the inside and what they present to the outside world.

The emotional pain that accompanies this discrepancy may be so severe as to interfere with every aspect of daily functioning yet this pain is invisible to the outside world and remains a silent handicap. Because they are forced to remain silent, no one is aware of the depth of their own suffering.

Trapped within their own bodies and isolated by keeping their true identities a secret, they may become increasingly despondent, depressed and withdrawn.

Transexuals often face the confusion, distress, shock and sometimes angry reactions from others when they do summon the courage to share their secret with the outside world. This may include the reaction of family members they love deeply.

Transexuals are often deeply fearful of losing everything they may value most - spouse, children, career or become equally fearful over risking the loss of their newly found identities.

This conflict deserves time, respect and attention.