As medical providers working in transgender healthcare, you understand the importance of providing comprehensive care to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients. While hormone therapy, surgeries, and mental health support are cornerstones of gender affirming care, there is an emerging resource that can further improve patient outcomes: gender doulas.

Gender doulas offer non-clinical, holistic support, guiding patients through the emotional, social, and practical aspects of their gender journeys. For medical prescribers, knowing when and how to refer patients to a gender doula can be a game-changer in offering well-rounded, patient-centered care.

What is a Gender Doula?

A gender doula supports individuals exploring their gender identity, providing an affirming, nonjudgmental space for reflection and planning. These professionals help patients:

• Explore Gender Identity: Offering support in understanding and expressing one’s gender.
• Develop Transition Goals: Helping to map out social, legal, or medical transitions, whether or not these include gender-affirming surgeries or hormone therapy.
• Coming Out Support: Guiding patients through the process of coming out to family, friends, or in professional environments.
• Confidence in Social Settings: Providing practical strategies to navigate gendered spaces, interactions, and potential societal challenges.

Gender doula work is rooted in caregiving traditions that predate modern medical systems. Historically, doulas have played an integral role in supporting people through life's transitions—whether birth, death, or rites of passage—in many cultures worldwide.

Why Gender Doulas Matter for Your TGD Patients

For transgender healthcare providers, gender doulas offer something that medical treatment alone cannot: a holistic approach that supports the full scope of a person’s gender journey. While your patients may seek you out for hormone prescriptions, surgery referrals, or mental health evaluations, gender doulas help bridge the gap between medical interventions and the emotional and social aspects of gender exploration.

Key Benefits of Referring TGD Patients to a Gender Doula:

• Complementary Support for Medical Interventions: Gender doulas enhance the care TGD patients receive from medical professionals. While prescribers focus on medical aspects like hormone therapy and surgeries, doulas assist with life planning, social navigation, and emotional support.

• Improved Mental Health and Well-Being: Given the increased mental health challenges that many TGD individuals face, including anxiety and depression​, gender doulas can offer emotional guidance and reduce feelings of isolation during the gender affirmation process.

• Better Patient Outcomes: By offering a referral to a gender doula, prescribers can help patients achieve a smoother transition, with less stress, more confidence, and a stronger support network. Studies show that TGD individuals often face barriers outside of medical settings​​—gender doulas help mitigate these challenges.

Meet Two Leaders in Gender Doula Work: Eli Lawliet and Rainbow Winnike

Eli Lawliet, Ph.D. (he/him), also known as The Gender Doula, is a pioneer in the field. With a background in education, research, and lived experience, Eli provides a unique blend of emotional and practical guidance to TGD individuals exploring their identity. Eli’s work empowers patients to navigate their gender journey on their own terms while feeling supported and affirmed.

Rainbow Winnike, MSW (they/them), also known as Bowie, is the founder of Rainbow Chrysalis Coaching, where they work with NeuroQueer clients—those who are both neurodivergent and queer. With a Master’s in Social Work from Gallaudet University and experience in supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Bowie’s practice offers trauma-informed, intersectional care that aligns with many medical providers' goals for their patients.

Why Referring to Gender Doulas is Important for Prescribers

As a prescriber, you play a critical role in your patients’ medical transition. However, many aspects of the transgender and gender-diverse experience extend beyond the scope of medical care. Social dynamics, emotional resilience, and identity expression are deeply intertwined with gender transitions, and this is where gender doulas provide vital support.

By referring your TGD patients to a gender doula, you give them access to personalized, continuous care that can improve their overall well-being during their transition journey. Doulas help patients feel seen and supported in ways that complement clinical care, ensuring that the patient’s needs—both medical and personal—are met holistically.

When to Refer a Patient to a Gender Doula:

• Patients expressing anxiety or uncertainty around their gender journey, even after medical interventions.
• Patients struggling with the social or emotional aspects of transitioning, such as coming out or navigating gendered spaces.
• Those who need help planning broader transition goals beyond the medical realm, such as legal name changes or social affirmation.

The Growing Importance of Holistic Care for TGD Patients

Transgender healthcare is evolving rapidly, and holistic care models are becoming increasingly recognized as essential to patient well-being. Organizations like WPATH emphasize the importance of considering the emotional and social needs of TGD patients alongside medical interventions​. By including gender doulas in your referral network, you help ensure your patients have access to the full spectrum of care.

How to Connect Your Patients with a Gender Doula:

If you believe your patients would benefit from gender doula support, here are two trusted practitioners to consider:

• Eli Lawliet, Ph.D. (he/him), The Gender Doula
• Rainbow Winnike, MSW (they/them), Rainbow Chrysalis Coaching

By making gender doulas part of your referral process, you can help improve patient satisfaction, emotional resilience, and overall outcomes for your TGD patients.