Questions people ask
Practical answers about working with Magdalena, and about how gender care works in the UK. If your question isn't here, just ask — no question is too small.
Working with Magdalena
Do I need a GP referral to get in touch?
No. This is a private practice, so you can contact Magdalena directly to arrange an appointment — by the enquiry form or by phone. A GP referral is the usual route into an NHS gender clinic, which is a separate process you can pursue at the same time.
Get in touchWhat is the difference between an assessment and therapy?
A gender dysphoria assessment is a structured piece of work exploring your history, identity and goals, which can support access to medical pathways or produce a written report where one is needed. Therapy is ongoing support — exploring your gender, easing dysphoria, managing anxiety or low mood, or preparing for and recovering from surgery. Many people have one, the other, or both.
See what's offeredCan you write the referral letter my surgeon asks for?
Magdalena offers surgical readiness assessments, which produce the written referral or support letter surgeons and gender clinics commonly ask for, prepared to recognised standards of care. What each service requires differs — some ask for one letter, some for two, and some only accept letters from their own clinicians — so check your surgeon's or clinic's requirements before arranging an assessment.
Surgical readiness assessmentWill I have to prove my identity to be believed?
No. Your identity is the starting point, not something to be tested. An assessment is structured but unhurried, and its purpose is to understand you and support your goals — never to gatekeep. You stay in control of your own story throughout.
More about Magdalena's approachDo you offer online appointments?
Yes. Magdalena works with people online as well as in person, which makes it possible to work together wherever you are in the UK.
Where are in-person sessions held?
In consulting rooms across the City of London, Surrey and Kent — Guildford, Croydon, Banstead, Brockham and Tunbridge Wells — as well as online. Ask when you get in touch which location suits you best.
Get in touchCan you prescribe hormones?
No. Psychologists are not prescribers — hormones are prescribed by doctors, through an NHS gender clinic, a private gender service, or a shared-care arrangement with your GP. Psychological support sits alongside that medical care rather than replacing it.
How transition pathways workGender care in the UK
How long are NHS gender clinic waiting lists?
Very long. Waiting lists in England often run to several years for a first appointment. That is widely documented and is not a reflection of you or your situation. Because the wait is measured in years rather than weeks, having steady support during it matters.
Accessing care in the UKCan you support me while I wait for an NHS clinic?
Yes — that is one of the most common reasons people get in touch. Regular sessions can hold steady ground through a long wait, help you prepare for clinic appointments, and protect your mental health in the meantime.
Support while you waitIs affirming therapy the same as conversion therapy?
No — they are opposites. Conversion therapy tries to change who someone is. Affirming therapy starts from the premise that your identity is yours, and works on what you want: easing distress, building confidence, and making sense of your own experience at your own pace.
How therapy helpsDo I need to be certain about my gender before starting?
Not at all. Therapy is a place to explore, not somewhere you have to arrive with conclusions. Questioning, uncertainty and changing your mind are all part of the process, and none of them make your experience less real.
Understanding gender dysphoriaStill have a question?