TRS Assessments
As you may know, on March 1, 2016, the Ontario government made a regulation change that expanded who is able to complete assessments to support OHIP-funding applications for those seeking transition-related surgeries.
As a psychologist with extensive past experience conducting assessments through a gender identity clinic, I am qualified and competent to provide these assessments in the “second assessor” category for those seeking transition-related orchiectomies or vaginoplasties, hysterectomies, metaoidioplaties or phalloplasties. Over the last 10+ years, I have likely conducted more than 1000 such assessments and will be the most experienced psychologist in the province currently working in this capacity. As is my clinical training, I work with adults (and not children or youth).
Basic service structure includes:
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1.5- 2 hours of clinical interviewing (generally over two separate visits) where in a focussed life history taking, I will ask questions designed to assess the diagnostic, eligibility and readiness criteria according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care.
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If needed, 1 hour of document review and/or contact with your past and current relevant medical and mental health providers. I work as part of a circle of care and you will be asked to sign consents so that I can speak with them and/or obtain clinical reports.
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1 hour dedicated to report writing. While assessment reports always take longer than this, I will not charge you more unless there are extenuating circumstances, which I would discuss with you in advance.
Cautions
If you are not intending to get surgery in the near future, it is your responsibility to find out from the surgeon how recent the report needs to be.
Psychologist services are unlike lawyer services, where you essentially pay someone to argue your case favourably. In psychological assessments, you are paying for a clinical opinion, regardless of its nature. The outcome may be in support of surgery at this time and it is possible it may not be.
Like any other kind of assessment, the report is not a negotiated document. I do not alter clinical impressions or selectively include/exclude diagnoses. I will amend factual errors, missing information or typos in a report. It is within your rights to ask me not to send the report to the intended referral source.
If the outcome is a non-recommendation at this time, I will explain why and if possible, offer next steps that may assist you in meeting the criteria in the future. However, I recommend you come for assessment when you are sure and informed about the medical intervention you are seeking, have the resources to move forward, and are in a stable place in your life.