LGBTQ+ Care
What is the effect of gender transition on wellbeing?
The international consensus in the peer reviewed literature is that gender transition, including medical treatments like hormone therapy and surgeries, significantly improve the overall wellbeing of transgender people.
Positive outcomes include improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem and confidence, and reductions in anxiety, depression, suicides, and substance use.
Factors that predict success in the treatment of gender dysphoria include adequate preparations and mental health support prior to treatment, proper follow up care from knowledgeable providers, consistent family and social support, and high-quality surgical outcomes.
When a transgendered person cannot access treatment for gender dysphoria or experience unsupportive social environments, they are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, suicide, and stress. In addition, just like other people trans people can experience common mood disorders that are found in the general population.
Behavioral health treatments are aimed at improving your psychological wellbeing, quality of life, stress due to prejudice and discrimination, self- acceptance, and self-esteem.
Dr. Poulakos is here to help you manage your mental health while you transition because mental health is vital to positive physical outcomes. Treatments are based on your goals and an evaluation of the risks and benefits.
Therapy can help you explore your gender concerns and find ways to help you feel comfortable with your identity and address relationships, education, and work as well as mental health. Therapy can include individual, couples and family therapy and group counseling.
Dr. Poulakos will recommend a behavioral health evaluation because it is valuable to assess your mood and mental health concerns, risk-taking behaviors and self-harm, sexual health concerns, and social support. Importantly, social support has a protective effect against depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, anxiety, and high-risk behaviors. Additionally, this will help to assess goals, risks, and expectations of treatment; and prepare you for treatment and the potential for experiences related to grief and loss that may be experienced during transition. Any life transition can create grief and loss.
He will work with your team of providers including primary care physicians, endocrinologists, and surgeons to support you during your transition. Dr. Poulakos is a culturally competent psychiatrist who will meet you where you are. He will recognize and respect your beliefs, perspective and values and make you feel understood. He will honor your willingness to be vulnerable with him. He doesn’t believe in one size fits all medicine; He will work with you to find solutions that meet your unique needs.
His goal is a healthy therapeutic alliance, one of the most important factors that determines how effective he will be and the treatments he will prescribe in helping you manage your transition.
The assessment will consist of a series of questions, interviews, and mental exams to diagnose active mental health concerns. Dr. Poulakos encourages your questions to establish that he can meet your needs. When a patient has a co-occurring mental health concern, he can diagnose and treat with medications and therapy.
Greenwich Village Psychiatry is committed to providing inclusive and affirming LGBTQ+ care. Our compassionate psychiatrists, located in Greenwich Village, see patients from Chelsea, Soho, Tribeca, and West Village. We offer personalized mental health support that respects and honors the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.
At a Glance
Dr. Paul Poulakos
- Attending Psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center
- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Past Clinical Assistant Professor of NYU Langone Medical Center
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