ColumbiaDoctors Psychiatry Opens Columbia Gender Identity Program

In August 2018, ColumbiaDoctors Psychiatry is launching the Columbia Gender Identity Program, providing compassionate, personalized, and expert care to children, adolescents, adults, and families across the gender and sexuality spectrum.

Led by Program Director Dr. Walter Bockting and Lead Clinician Dr. Melina Sevlever, the experts at the Columbia Gender Identity Program are known across the country for competent and sensitive counseling and care geared to the needs of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals and their families.

“We are very excited to be providing this new program,” said Jeffrey Lieberman, Lawrence C. Kolb Professor Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. “Gender and sexual identity are an important part of everyone’s journey, and there are often many challenges facing those who are exploring their gender and sexuality. The Columbia Gender Identity Program is here to help those who need it.”

Services offered by the program include psychotherapy, medication management, and referral coordination for hormone therapy and surgery. The program’s experts also provide education and support for families of all backgrounds related to questions that can arise regarding gender identity in order to help create safe and affirming spaces in all aspects of a patient’s life.

Lourival Baptista, MD, MPH is Vice Chair of Clinical Services in the Department of Psychiatry and states that “This new program reflects the commitment of ColumbiaDoctors Psychiatry to offering a diverse, comprehensive clinic that is able to provide the highest level of mental health care in the New York Area.”

To learn more about the Columbia Gender Identity Program or to schedule an appointment, please call 212-305-6001 or visit our website.