20251105_1546_Symbolic Gender Dysphoria_simple_compose_01k99k3gzrfgc9yazmh76wkp50.png

GENDER DYSPHORIA TREATMENT AT PSYCHE CLINIC ON HARLEY STREET

At the Psyche Clinic we are lucky to have a psychiatrist who has specialised in the assessment and therapeutic treatment of adults with gender identity conditions and has published extensively in the area and has an international reputation for this work.

Dr Az Hakeem previously set up the UK’s only psychotherapy -only gender dysphoria service for adults at The Portman Clinic within the NHS which he ran for 12 years prior to leaving the NHS.

Dr Az Hakeem is ‘Gender Critical’ meaning he is critical of ‘gender ideology’ and does not believe that anyone is born in the wrong body “no body is wrong”. Instead through his extensive clinical work in the area he found that those presenting with a sense of confusion or unhappiness with their gender should have this considered as a symptom of an underlying primary problem rather than being the primary problem itself. In males presenting with the belief that they should be the opposite sex he found that 100% of these patients had signs and symptoms indicating an underlying autistic spectrum condition (ASD). In females presenting with gender dysphoria there may also be autism but also other primary difficulties such as trauma related to being the sex they are, or more overt sexual abuse, internalised homophobia or external homophobia such as pertaining to their culture, religion or society.

Book an Appointment

During his previous extensive specialist clinical work in the area Dr Az Hakeem found that exploratory therapy especially group analytic therapy was successful in disentangling the confusion or unhappiness related to a person’s biological sex

It is useful to note the difference between :

Biological Sex : bodies, genitalia and chromosomes XX female or XY male.

Intersex: extremely rare where there may be anomalies in chromosomes which are neither XX or XY such as XXY, XYY or XO and others. Or a bodily anomalous response to male or female sex hormones.

Gender: this is entirely a social construct based on what a certain society deems as behaviours or characteristics usually associated with one sex or other. This is essentially man made and not based in biology and varies from one society to another.

Transsexualism: now considered an ‘old term’ but pertained to people believing they should permanently be the sex which they are not

Transvestites: these are people (usually men) who get excited to varying extents by temporarily wearing the clothing ‘vestiges’ of the opposite sex which may extend to getting a sense of excitation from being in women’s only spaces. Unlike the ‘transsexual’ they do not believe their own body needs permanent change but the satisfaction is from temporarily residing in the exterior (or external spaces) of the opposite sex.

Autigynaephiles: a term first described by Blanchard, Az Hakeem has revised his use of this term to exclusively refer to biological men who have the sexual fantasy of having female bodily parts usually breasts and genitalia. There is an overt sexualisation of this fantasy.

ROGD: Rapid Onset Gendet Dysphoria: This refers to children (or adults) who have no former difficulty in relation to their biological sex but who suddenly report a sense of gender dissatisfaction. Dr Az Hakeem has likened this to a social contagion often occurring within groups of children eg in schools or college and suggests that this is best understood as a form of fashionable teenage subculture rather than a medical disorder requiring any physical interventions.

HOW WE TREAT GENDER DYSPHORIA

Whilst there are many clinics in the NHS and Private Sector offering physical treatments for gender confusion such as hormone blockers, cross sex hormones and breast/genital surgery, the Psyche Clinic does not offer this and neither do we refer patients in to such services.

We can recommend therapists who will offer an exploratory therapeutic space for children or adults presenting with gender related psychological distress rather than merely affirming a new gender which we believe prevents any exploration and may harmfully lead to patients making permanent physical changes to their bodies which they may later regret.

Due to the current political climate we do not offer psychotherapy for patients with gender dysphoria ourselves but can direct you to those who are happy to do so.

Dr Az Hakeem is happy to offer consultations to parents of children presenting with gender dysphoria to help them think about what may be happening with their child and how best to approach this very challenging situation.

Dr Az Hakeem is the author of a book which may be a helpful resource to those finding themselves confused or unhappy about their sex and gender or to parents or clinicians and other professionals working with a person with gender dysphoria.

media