by Tamiko Teshima, M.A., CCC-SLP
Practice Owner & Speech-Language Pathologist
Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC
Gender-affirming care saves lives. It’s that simple and that profound.
Every person deserves to move through the world in a body and voice that feel like home. But for many trans and nonbinary folks, systems built around “norms” have made that safety hard to find. Gender-affirming care helps reclaim it.
It isn’t always just about hormones, surgeries, or voice work (though it can be!). It can also be care that meets someone where they are and believes them when they say who they are. Affirming care acknowledges that identity isn’t a disorder to be treated, but a truth to be honored!
Affirmation is mental health care
Gender-affirming care isn’t new, and it certainly isn’t fringe. It’s backed by decades of research and supported by nearly every major medical and mental health organization including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). These organizations agree that affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and often lifesaving.
Affirming communication is a lifeline
For too long, the lack of affirming care has left many people feeling unseen, unsafe, or silenced. The research is clear – access to gender-affirming services dramatically lowers depression, anxiety, and s*icidality. Beyond the data, it’s about peace of mind and the relief of being met with respect instead of resistance.
Speech, language, and communication sit at the heart of identity. The words we use, how we sound, and how we’re addressed all shape how the world responds to us. For trans and nonbinary folks, that response can mean the difference between isolation and belonging.
Affirming communication gives people tools to express themselves safely, and just as importantly, gives the rest of us tools to listen better.
Affirmation is for everyone
While gender-affirming care centers trans and nonbinary people (as it should), its message applies universally – everyone deserves to be met with dignity, empathy, and curiosity! In our clinic, affirmation means creating space for each person to show up fully as themselves and for others to learn how to meet them there.
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