GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
At Companion Planting Counselling, we’re rooted in creating accessible care through community support.
Our Gender-Affirming Care offers a collaborative space to nurture your growth and affirmation — helping you feel grounded, supported, and free to grow into your fullest, most authentic self.
WHAT IS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE?
Gender-affirming care is about helping you access, explore, and celebrate your gender in ways that feel right for you.
At Companion Planting Counselling, these sessions create a collaborative space to connect with a practitioner about your gender journey, affirming goals, and the supports you already have, want, or feel you need next.
Sessions can be individual, or may include members of your support system — depending on how your practitioner offers sessions and what feels most affirming for you. Together, you’ll co-create an approach that centers your comfort, autonomy, and care.
What Does A Gender Affirming Care Session Look Like?
Sessions Can Include:
Completing forms or letters for access to hormone therapy and/or gender-affirming surgeries
Talking through what transition (any or all types -social, family, personal, physical etc.) means to you — your hopes, expectations, and values
Exploring support systems, including family, peers, or affirming community networks
Finding gender-inclusive resources, providers, and spaces
Accessing the free Rainbow Closet (affirming clothing & gear swap)
Providing a counselling space that affirms your gender
About Gender Affirming Hormones and ⚕️Surgeries In BC Canada
You can find detailed information about hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries available in British Columbia through TransCare BC.
Their site includes up-to-date guides for accessing hormone care, surgical pathways, recovery resources, and after-care supports.
At Companion Planting Counselling, practitioners offering gender-affirming care follow the standards outlined by both TransCare BC and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care (Version 8).
In alignment with these guidelines
🌱 Companion Planting Counselling practitioners who provide paperwork or recommendations are able to offer documentation for:
Hormone Therapy
Upper Chest Surgeries
Gonadectomies (removal of internal reproductive organs)
These assessments can be provided for both:
Adults, and
Youth meeting Tanner Stage 2, with signed consent
How To Book a Gender-Affirming Care Session
You can start by booking a consultation through our Contact Page.
Select “Gender-Affirming Care” when booking, and we’ll connect you with a practitioner who can best support your goals.
If the provider you reach out to is unable to take new clients, we’ll help match you with another Companion Planting Counselling practitioner who offers this service.
When booking, please feel free to share what you’re specifically looking for — whether that’s:
Hormone or surgical paperwork
Exploration or transition planning
Advocacy and navigation support
Access to affirming clothing or gear
If your care includes finding gender-affirming wear such as binders, trans tape, or accessories, please visit our Rainbow Closet page to browse or book a viewing in Victoria, BC.
💚 If you’d like to help support others, you can donate affirming wear directly to the Rainbow Closet Through the page linked above or contribute funds through our Pay-It-Forward page — just tag your donation as “Rainbow Closet – Gender-Affirming Wear.” and we will forward it to buy these items and send you a message noting our intent to do so.
Our Commitment to Affirming Practice
All Companion Planting Counselling practitioners who offer gender-affirming care:
Maintain ongoing education and peer consultation in gender-affirming care and community practice
Integrate affirmation, autonomy, and consent into all types of sessions and gender affirming care
Resource both internally (within our CPC team) and externally (through community networks, clinics, and organizations) to stay grounded and informed in our work