Welcome to Therapy First
Psychotherapy as first-line treatment for gender dysphoria
Therapy First is a non-profit professional association of over 300 mental health providers worldwide who view psychotherapy as the appropriate first-line treatment for gender dysphoria. We aim to support psychotherapists working with gender dysphoric children, adolescents, and young adults in providing high quality, evidence-based mental healthcare, and to offer public education on mental health and psychotherapy.
The purest form of listening is to listen without memory or desire.
~Wilfred Bion
Start Here
Therapy First exists because we see a great need arising from the current oversimplification and politicalization of gender dysphoria in the field of mental health.
Therapists
Join a professional association of mental health providers who view psychosocial support and a whole person approach as the appropriate front-line treatment for gender-related concerns.
Clients & Families
If you or someone you care about is suffering from gender-related distress, we offer compassionate and evidence-based resources and can help connect you to a mental health provider.
Transition Regret
We offer resources and information for those who experience regret or grief related to transition, including therapists experienced in working with people who choose to detransition.
Join Therapy First
Therapy First’s professional association is open to licensed mental health providers. Once you become a member, you’ll join a community of over 300 professionals worldwide who actively support one another in exchanging ideas and sharing resources. You’ll also gain access to weekly peer supervision groups, get discounts to Therapy First webinars and trainings, and have the opportunity to list your practice on a public directory of psychotherapists.
Featured Webinar
The Relevance of ASD to Gender Dysphoria
Susan Bradley
Wednesday November 29th 4pm EST
Susan Bradley, BSC, MD, FRCP (C), is a Professor Emerita at the University of Toronto. She was the founder of the Gender Identity Clinic for Children and Adolescents at Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (1975), the Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Head of the Division of Child Psychiatry at the University ofToronto (1989 to 1999). She is the author/co-author of over 50 articles on various forms of psychopathology including gender identity disorders in children and adolescents. After stepping down as Psychiatrist-in-Chief at HSC, Dr. Bradley spent almost 20 years consulting to Children’s Mental Health Agencies around the Greater Toronto Area, with a special interest in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are high functioning.
Please note: To preserve and protect intellectual property rights and confidentiality, outside recording of the seminar is not permitted. However, a recording will be made available to Therapy First members.
Therapy First provides a range of trainings for mental health clinicians working with young people who are questioning their identity.Â
Download Therapy First’s free Clinical Guide for Therapists Working with Gender Questioning Youth. Developed by a team of clinicians with expertise working with gender dysphoric youth and their families, our clinical guide offers mental health providers an introduction to working with this growing population based on the latest research and a solid understanding of psychotherapeutic best practice.Â
Find a Therapist
We help prospective clients connect with therapists who agree with the tenets of Therapy First’s membership statement.
You can find out more about individual practices by clicking on the profile.
Latest podcast from GENDER: A WIDER LENS
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