Gender-Affirming Care: What is it? (and what it isn’t!)

Psych Matters

In this episode Dr Jamie Speeden (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist/Paediatrician)
discusses the care of transgender people with leading clinical experts in Aotearoa/New
Zealand. The discussion covers what gender affirming care is (as well as what it isn’t!) and the primary-care-lead model through which it is delivered and provided across Aotearoa/New Zealand. The panel discusses their experiences of providing gender-affirming care, explores how the role of the psychiatrist has changed since depsychopathologisation, and they share why they find working with transgender people to be particularly rewarding.
Dr Jamie Speeden (he/him) is a dual-trained child and adolescent psychiatrist and
paediatrician working as part of a busy CAMHS service and private practice in Auckland. For many years he worked in a community Youth Clinic who saw primarily trans and gender diverse rangitahi. He is passionate about working from a youth development model and not just a medical diagnostic framework.
Dr Caitlyn Drinkwater (she/her) is a clinical psychologist based in the Auckland region. She has previously worked for the regional transgender health services in both Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, and has provided this care both to adults and to youth. Her doctoral thesis explored the experiences of people with non-binary gender identities.
Dr Rebecca Nicholls (she/her) is a Specialist General Practitioner who works in
Otautahi/Christchurch providing gender affirming care to all ages using an informed-consent model. She also works for Te Whatu Ora Waitaha and Pegasus health as the Clinical Lead for Transgender health and was a co-author of the Primary Care Gender Affirming Guidelines, 2023.
Dr Elizabeth McElrea (she/her) is a GP with a special interest in Gender Affirming Care
(GPSI) and has been working in this area since 2015. With support, she set up the Gender Care Service at Tamatea Medical Centre (Napier, Hawkes Bay). Beth sits on the executive committee of the Professional Association for Transgender Healthcare Aotearoa (PATHA) and is a member of the Ministry of Health advisory panel for projects supporting gender affirming care.
Resources:
Gender Minorities Aotearoa
Be There NZ
Storm Clouds & Rainbows (Resource for Parents of Gender Diverse Youth)
WPATH Standards of Care Version 8
NZ Primary Care Guidelines

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This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.