What Is Full Spectrum Support for Gender Transition?
When folks ask me what I do as The Gender Doula, my line is, “I provide full spectrum support for folks who are exploring, questioning, or transitioning their gender, and for their loved ones.” This is a nice way to summarize what is an incredibly broad range of services that fall under my scope of practice, but it also creates a natural follow up question; “What is full spectrum support?”
Its a great question, but the answer certainly doesn’t fit into an elevator pitch. Doulas, in all the spaces that they operate, are generally united by the practice of being something of an all-purpose support (or curator of support) in the realm in which they practice. Full-spectrum birth doulas, for example, support and hold space for the processes of fertility, conception, miscarriage, abortion, birth, and then the vast range of postpartum, and for many other aspects that are involved within these larger experiences.
As a full-spectrum gender doula, I operate in a similar way. Gender is a massive category, and the support that I offer is suitably diverse. What that looks like, practically speaking, is support for folks who:
Do not identify as trans or non-binary in any way, but who are uncomfortable with all of the strictures of their gender role.
Are gender curious, and want to explore what gender means to them.
Are actively exploring their gender, and want to have someone to talk to about it.
Are interested in social transition steps, like changing their wardrobe, hair, name, or legal gender.
Are interested in medical transition steps, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or surgery
Are interested in non-traditional or nonbinary social or medical transition
Transitioned socially or medically in the past, and are now questioning their identity again in some way.
Previously transitioned, but are experiencing regret about aspects of that process.
Have scheduled affirming surgery, but are now having doubts.
Want to schedule surgery, but need support with the logistics of that process
Have transitioned, and need help navigating the world and the complications of being trans in this social climate.
Have transitioned, and have now realized that they have trauma/body image issues/struggles that were not resolved through transition and must now be addressed.
And so many more.
The thing that is predictable about gender doula work is that when I am supporting someone one on one, I must take time to understand them, how they operate, where they are at, what works for them, and what does not work for them. So what is consistent across all clients, and across all those different scenarios listed above, is that part of my process is meeting you where you are at.
In practice, this means in one day I might see 4-5 clients, talk to each of them about top surgery, and have 4-5 completely different conversations. I might spend one session helping a client find the right surgeon, while the next we’re dealing with insurance denial, while the next we’re talking about what to buy and when, while the next I’m helping them make the choice to cancel or postpone a surgery until they feel more ready, and then I might cap off the night with a top surgery ritual. And I could give even more examples just on that one type of surgery!
So describing “full spectrum” support can prove rather challenging. But what it always means is this; if you need support around your gender, I will do what I can to provide it. If I can’t support you in the way you need, I will do what I can to help you find the support you need. You wont be alone - we will be in this together.
And perhaps that’s the best way to describe full-spectrum support. Gender is big, thorny, confusing, intense. No matter where you are at with it, I will be there with you. I wont always have the answers, but I will grapple with the tough questions with you. I will hold the space for you without judgment and with deep compassion, so you can seek your answers without shame. This, more than anything else, is my role as a gender doula.
If you’re curious about booking me for 1:1 support, contact me here. If you are interested in workshops, classes, and other offerings, sign up for my mailing list and/or follow me on Instagram, TikTok, or Tumblr. If you want to work with another gender doula but don’t think I’m a good fit, contact me and I will see who I can put you in touch with.