Therapy to help with issues around gender identity and feminisation hypnosis - online and face to face

Confidential & respectful professional help for transitioning, gender-questioning, or crossdressing clients or their partners - one-to-one, online or in-person

We are here to help with the mental health issues around gender dysphoria - both direct (such as self-recognition and social transition) and indirect (such as anxiety, bullying, confidence and self-esteem). We recognise that partners and families also require support and advice. Additionally, a hypnotic feminisation service programme is available for the transitioning woman or crossdressing man (see below). We provide transgender hypnotherapy counselling in-person near Dundee & Perth, Tayside, Scotland and also online using Zoom or Skype.

What is gender dysphoria hypnotherapy counselling?

Gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort that may occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or their physical sexual characteristics. Transgender and gender-diverse people might experience gender dysphoria at some point in their lives, although others feel at ease with their bodies.

Although gender dysphoria is not a mental illness as such, poor mental health often results from the inner conflicts and life challenges that may be experienced by children, young people and adults. Some of the characteristic feelings are:

A ‘mismatch’ between gender identity and genitailia or secondary sex characteristics, such as breast size, voice and facial hair. For young people, this may be anxiety about acquiring secondary sex characteristics and therefore seeking to prevent their development or to get rid of them.
A strong desire to have the genitals and secondary sex characteristics of another gender.
A strong desire to be or to be regarded as another gender.
A strong sense of having the typical feelings and emotions of another gender.

Gender dysphoria may also cause significant distress that affects how you function in social situations, at work or school, and in other areas of life. Relationship problems are common and self-harm or substance misuse sometimes results.

Transitioning is when someone changes their gender presentation and/or sex characteristics to match their internal sense of gender. There are different ways of transitioning: social (changing name, pronoun, clothes), legal (changing legal name, legal gender) and medical (taking hormones, surgury). People do not by law have to undergo medical treatment or physical changes in order to qualify for a 'gender recognition certificate'. A first stage in the 'gender affirming' process is counselling. Hormone treatment may or may not follow.

Some people don't neatly fit into the categories of “male” or “female.” For example, some people have a gender that blends elements of being a man or a woman, or a gender that is different than either male or female. Some people don't identify with any gender. Some people's gender changes over time. People whose gender is not male or female use many different terms to describe themselves, with non-binary being one of the most common. Non-binary people are more likely to suffer abuse, violence and harassment and are more likely to be discriminated against in the workplace.

Transgender & non-binary - getting professional help

It is important that children and teenagers be referred by their GP to a specialist child and adolescent Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) to get a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. In Scotland, there are currently four NHS Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) – Glasgow Sandyford GIC (adults and young people), Edinburgh Chalmers GIC (adults), Aberdeen Cornhill GIC (adults), and Inverness Raigmore GIC (adults). There is also a private sector GIC for adults provided by Your-GP in Edinburgh.

People in the United Kingdom can engage with an Adult GIC once they are 17 years old although there are sometimes protracted waiting times (possibly years) in some areas. Indeed, the number of under 18s on the waiting list for Scotland's only GIC for children (Sandyford) has risen from 151 in 2017 to 903 in 2022. After an initial consultation, clients will work with their doctors to agree an action plan. In addition to psychological treatments, hormone / physical therapy options are available for some clients.

Read about how to find an NHS gender identity clinic

For more information about support from the NHS in England and Wales see here or from NHS Scotland see here. For information from Scottish Trans Alliance, see here. Private transgender healthcare and wellbeing services (including hormones, blood tests & counselling) are also available from The Gender GP - click here.

How can hypnotherapy help with gender dysphoria?

Hypnotherapists use techniques that bring about deep relaxation or 'trance' - a natural and everyday state similar to daydreaming – during which the client is very responsive to suggestions beneficial to their health and wellbeing. h2 Hypnotherapy uses integrative hypnotherapy in association with other techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and relaxation to help with a wide range of issues. We have experience helping many trans and questioning clients (and their partners). For the client affected by gender dysphoria, hypnotherapy can be used to complement treatment plans agreed with a GIC (or whilst awaiting their first appointment). It is of help both to the person affected and also their friends and family in the following ways

Support for the parents of a transgender child – helping them to deal with the anxiety, stress and depression which are commonly associated with Gender Dysphoria.
Coping with discrimination and oppression by building resilience.
Working directly with sufferers with a range of issues including anxiety, stress, depression, loss of identity, sexuality, relationship issues, confidence, performance anxiety, insomnia and other health issues.
Empowering the client by teaching them techniques such as relaxation, positive mental rehearsal and self-hypnosis to enable them to help themselves between sessions and achieve long term wellbeing once therapy has ended.
Enabling them to fully accept themselves and the integration of all aspects of their gender identity using Ego-state Therapy.
Support during the ‘social gender role transition’ period (they are typically required to first live in their preferred gender identity full time for at least one year prior to having permanent gender-confirmation surgery.
Hypnotic suggestions for ‘feminisation’ (see below) or ‘masculinisation’ behaviours.
Support dealing with the challenges of ‘coming out’ as transgender to family, friends and colleagues – finding the courage, self-confidence and resilience.

Support for wives & partners of crossdressers or transitioning

People who hide habits or aspects of their personality from their partner often do so out of fear of being judged, losing love or putting their relationship in jeopardy. Crossdressers are usually heterosexual men who find comfort in wearing in women's clothes. Unexpectantly discovering that a husband or boyfriend is a crossdresser can be a traumatic experience for a wife or partner. Inevitably, questions arise such as "does this mean he is gay (or bisexual)?" or "is he going to transition?". The future of the relationship may be questioned and the effect that crossdressing may have upon children, family and friends may need to be explored. It can be difficult to know where to turn to for support, advice, therapy or counselling.

There are also many misconceptions about men who crossdress, such as: they are gay (the incidence of homosexuality or bisexuality among crossdressers is same as in the population in general); they don't like women (most men who crossdress are married); they do it for sexual gratification (although crossdressing is a sexual fetish for some, for the vast majority it is simply an exploration of feminine self-expression that makes them feel relaxed and helps them with stress); they always wear women's clothes (most may only dress up occasionally); they can be "cured" (it is not an illness); that a crossdresser is on a journey to gender transition (the drivers for crossdressing are not the same as for those with a gender dysphoria).

However, for the partner and family it is not an easy thing to deal with and it is very common to experience feelings of despair, confusion and of have being deceived. The self-esteem of the partner may be impacted. It is therefore important to enable honest, open discussion and that partners are given help in terms of information and emotional support. The process of 'coming out' as a crossdresser is stressful for those concerned, however it is likely that this open disclosure has been the result of years of soul searching, frustration and anguish and has been made because of the love and trust that they have for the partner or loved-one.

h2 Hypnotherapy provides both face-to-face or online help, individually or as a couple. Initial telephone consultations are free of charge. We can also suggest other places that may be appropriate for further advice and support.

What is our feminisation hypnosis service?

Male to female feminisation hypnosis helps transgender women, crossdressing men or transvestites become more 'womanly'. Regardless if we were born male or female, we consist of both male and female parts. For those who may be born biologically male, or have a stronger male side in them, it can be easy to lose touch of the feminine.

Feminization hypnosis is not a way to change gender by hypnosis, but is a way to connect to your feminine self without necessarily undergoing drastic physical changes by way of hormones or surgery. Clients who use feminizing hypnosis for becoming more feminine might do so as part of the full gender affirmation process. Some clients might choose to practice feminisation hypnosis because they wish to adopt more feminine mannerisms, habits, posture and thought processes, even if they do not wish to pursue a full transition later on. It can help transgender, gender fluid and crossdressing men behave in more feminine ways automatically and unconsciously. Many crossdressers wish to express themselves by having the confidence to go out in public 'enfemme' or to be able to socialise in a comfortable and relaxed manner whilst dressed. Hypnotic triggers can be suggested that will shift the client's subconscious responses from male to female mode, for example when putting on a certain makeup or item of female clothing.

Hormone treatments and social conditioning alone often can't erase the lifetime of masculine mannerisms, thought patterns, beliefs, and habits that have already established. Feminising hypnosis seeks to replace these mannerisms, beliefs and thought patterns with more feminine ones. Hypnosis may also be able to assist with breast development for a more natural feminine figure. Feminising hypnosis works with the subconscious mind to implant hypnotic suggestions that can help the subject to think and behave in more feminine ways, without conscious effort. Even men who do not wish to undergo a full gender confirmation process may use this hypnosis technique to feel more comfortable with themselves and confident in their female persona.

Prices for Feminisation: please note that 'feminisation only' hypnosis sessions are provided at a reduced rate of only £65. Please also note: we do not operate a 'dressing service' for transvestites - such facilities are available elsewhere - although clients are encouraged to present at the sessions in whatever way they feel comfortable.