UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Living In Our Natural Selves team (LIONS), a collaboration between Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and University Health Services (UHS) offers transgender care through counseling, treatment plans, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. LIONS consists of medical providers, mental health providers, and case managers dedicated to supporting transgender and gender diverse students contemplating gender-affirming therapies.
The LIONS team offers a variety of services to anyone who feels a mismatch between gender identity and gender assigned at birth. The team can help assist in exploring gender identity along with hormone and surgical treatments if desired. Following the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines and informed consent model, the LIONS Team provides holistic support through a mental health evaluation, case review and medical evaluation.
CAPS' mental health evaluation consists of a 15-minute phone call, a 50-minute consultation with a mental health professional, and a treatment plan. Treatment can include short-term counseling or a referral to community providers in the long-term. Students can expect to receive a medical evaluation along with working with a medical provider to develop a treatment plan based on the goals and needs of the individual. The goal of the evaluation is to access the current health of the student to see if gender-affirming hormone therapy is an option. The LIONS team collaborates on creating treatment plans to design the best support network possible.
There are no extra fees for the team-based, coordinated care provided by LIONS. The individual care a person receives from their treatment team members may have associated fees. The LIONS team values students’ privacy. Any information shared during the process will be held in confidence consistent with professional and ethical standards, and state and federal law.
To get started, call 863-0774 or go online to myUHS and schedule an appointment with the case manager.
For additional information about the LIONS team and what UHS offers, visit UHS’s Transgender and Gender Diverse Care website.