The referral pathways guide
Read with intention
Meet the cliniciansAffirming care, on your terms.
Your identity is not something to fix. Affirming care means you can talk about what matters to you with a clinician who respects who you are and the words you use.
Respect, built in.
What you can expect from the clinicians listed below:
Your words, your pronouns
Your clinician uses the name, pronouns and terms you use, and asks if they are not sure.
No conversion practices
Practices that try to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity cause harm, and they are banned in NSW. We never offer them.
You lead
You choose what to talk about. Identity may be central to why you come, or not part of it at all.
Private and confidential
What you share stays confidential, within the limits your clinician explains at the first session.
Whatever you bring.
- Coming out, or thinking about it, at your own pace
- Exploring gender identity, affirmation and transition
- Relationships, family and community
- Stress from discrimination or stigma, alongside anxiety, low mood or anything else
Ask for a clinician who lists LGBTQIA+ affirming support, or tell us what matters to you when you book. QLife (1800 184 527) offers anonymous LGBTQIA+ peer support from 3 pm to midnight every day.
How it usually runs.
Sessions are 50 minutes, in Parramatta or by telehealth.
- 1
Getting to know you
Your clinician asks what brings you in and what you would like to be different. You share only what you are ready to.
Early sessions - 2
Working on what matters
Sessions draw on evidence-based approaches, shaped around your goals.
The sessions that follow - 3
Reviewing together
You check in on how things are going and change the plan whenever you need to.
Ongoing
Clinicians who can help.
These clinicians list LGBTQIA+ affirming support, gender affirmation or sexuality among their areas of practice.
Bülent Ada
Principal Psychologist & Director
English · Turkish
Sijal Ansari
Clinical Psychologist
English · Hindi · Urdu
Taline Bardakjian
Consultant Psychologist
English
Mohan Shankarappa
Clinical Psychologist
English · Hindi · Kannada
Michael L. T. Cheung
Consultant Psychologist
English · Cantonese · Mandarin
Shahim Ahmad
Clinical Psychologist
English
Fees and other options.
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare pays a rebate for each individual session and there is usually a gap. Our fees are set out before you book.
Check in with yourself.
Free, private tools to try before or alongside sessions. They are not a diagnosis.
Free · 5 to 10 min
Take the Mind Health Check
Short questionnaires, scored privately in your browser. We have ticked the ones most related to this page, and you can change them.
Fact sheet: Loneliness and connection
A plain-language guide with practical steps. Free to download.
Try this week
- Spend time this week with a person or community where you feel accepted.
- Write down one thing you like about yourself.
- Save QLife's number, 1800 184 527, in your phone.
Need help now? Our urgent help page has who to call, day and night.
Before you book, answered.
What does affirming care mean?
Do I have to talk about my identity?
What if I am questioning, or not sure about labels?
Can I bring a partner or family member?
Is what I say confidential?
Do I need a referral?
Can I have sessions by telehealth?
What if I need help now?
Take the first step, at your pace.
Tell us a little about what you are looking for. We will suggest a clinician and a time.
