Welcome to the Trans Support Service (TSS) provided by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. The following information outlines the service that we offer and where it fits into the local gender dysphoria pathway.
Our Trans Support Service supports transgender, and gender non-conforming people aged 18 upwards living in Liverpool, Sefton, and Knowsley, by listening to and informing them of available options to relieve their gender distress and empowering them to move forward with their lives. You can usually be referred to the service by your GP, but you may also self-refer via this website
The service is not a pre-requisite to access any other Gender Identity services and is not a medical service linked with transition pathways. Find out further information about Gender Identity Clinics (GIC’s).
The Transgender Support Service offers a safe therapeutic space to discuss issues directly related to gender identity only. It provides an assessment of your needs and up to a maximum of 12 sessions (including assessment) of therapy. This will be focused only on your gender needs and identity and will not directly treat any mental health needs.
Each person who accesses the service will have different hopes for what they might get out of their sessions. You might want to talk about your personal history, and how your gender identity has impacted upon your life, including the impact of transitioning upon partners, family and friends. You may consider your life goals, obstacles to progress, and strengths and resources that might be employed to overcome them. Your individualised plan will be co-produced between you and your therapist and will encompass some shared decisions.
The Transgender Support Service offers a safe therapeutic space to discuss issues directly related to gender identity only. It provides an assessment of your needs and up to a maximum of 12 sessions (including assessment) of therapy. This will be focused only on your gender needs and identity and will not directly treat any mental health needs.
Each person who accesses the service will have different hopes for what they might get out of their sessions. You might want to talk about your personal history, and how your gender identity has impacted upon your life, including the impact of transitioning upon partners, family and friends. You may consider your life goals, obstacles to progress, and strengths and resources that might be employed to overcome them. Your individualised plan will be co-produced between you and your therapist and will encompass some shared decisions.
You can access TSS service to:
- Discuss issues in relation to your gender identity, ie: gender questioning, gender, exploring gender, social transitioning in the process of or having completed transition.
- Seek psychological support and wellbeing advice to relieve gender distress
- Seek information about support groups available in the area
Please note, our TSS service is not:
- Part of the assessment process for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria
- A pre-requisite to access any other service relating to gender affirming treatment
- For medical advice regarding gender affirming medical interventions
- A crisis service, in case of emergency please ring emergency services on 999 or contact your G.P.
Please consider the following exclusion criteria prior to referral:
- If you are currently accessing psychological/counselling therapy*
- If you are currently undergoing medical interventions to transition**
- If you require support for you mental and/or physical health and it does non-gender related***
* If you are currently being seen by another NHS or private therapy, counselling, or psychological service, it would not be appropriate to be seen by our service concurrently
** Should you feel that you require psychological support, please discuss this with your current GIC service provider and/or G.P. who can review and advise as appropriate.
*** If you require support on matters relating to your physical or mental health, we encourage you to speak with your G.P. who can advise you on these matters.
You can also access support on matters relating to your health and wellbeing and there are excellent services dedicated to this, by offering peer support, learning and social prescribing, such as the Life Rooms, operated by Mersey Care NHS Trust and other 3rd sector services.
Due to significant waiting times to access Gender Identity Clinics, we would encourage you to seek a referral to your chosen GIC from your G.P. at your earliest given opportunity or again, you can also self refer to these.
Self refer using our online web form.
Or you can call us on 0151 247 6555, ask for the Trans Support service and we will arrange a time for one of our therapists to contact you.
- Trans Health Merseyside – https://sahir.org.uk/lgbt/
- Spirit-level Transgender Support group – information can be found on their facebook page
- LIV.FAST Network (Female to Male transgender support) – http://livfastnetwork.webs.com/meetings
- Sparkle – the National Transgender Charity www.sparkle.org.uk
- The Trans Support Service is only available to people aged 18 or over. If you are aged under 18, support is available from YPAS – https://ypas.org.uk/
Our patients matter
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens and responds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.
If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints Team
Telephone: 0151 471 2377
Freephone: 0800 328 2941
Email: palsandcomplaints
To request information in an alternative format or language please speak to a member of staff.
For information about the Cheshire and Merseyside Adult Genger Identity Collaborative, please look at their web page.