Knowing the research is not enough. Change happens when providers take what they learn and do something with it. This page is for allied health professionals, counselors, social workers, and students who want to move beyond awareness and into action. You do not have to overhaul your entire practice at once. Start with one conversation, one training, one policy question asked out loud in your workplace. That is how this changes.
1.Get Trained
Seek out continuing education specifically focused on affirming care for LGBTQ+ populations, kink-aware practice, and culturally humble documentation. The following programs offer structured training for providers.
2.Audit Your Practice
Look at your intake forms, your waiting room materials, and your language. Ask yourself who feels welcome when they walk in and who does not. Practical steps include adding gender identity and sexual orientation fields to intake forms, posting visible signs of affirmation, and reviewing your referral list to confirm resources are actually LGBTQ+ affirming.
3.Know the Standards
Familiarize yourself with the professional standards that govern affirming care in your field. These documents give you the language and the backing to advocate for better policies in your workplace.
4.Start the Conversation
Bring this resource to a team meeting, a supervision session, or a classroom. Advocacy does not always require a policy change or a formal initiative. Sometimes it starts with saying out loud that the current standard of care is not working for everyone and asking what your team is going to do about it.
Find an Affirming Provider
Not every patient has access to a provider who understands their full identity. This vetted provider list was compiled specifically to connect LGBTQ+ individuals and their families with clinicians who are committed to affirming, inclusive, and culturally competent care. Use this list to find a provider or to refer clients who need a safer option than what they currently have access to.
Primary Care Physicians, PA-Cs and NPs
Well Woven Health (previously RiverRock)
- Location:
- 670 Weaverville Rd Suite 1, Asheville, NC 28804
- Phone:
- 828-222-3782
- Email:
- info@WellWovenMedical.com
- Website:
- https://www.wellwovenheath.com/
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Catherine Lok
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming care, kink friendly, hormone therapy, attended conferences and on the job training. First appointment in person, all others can be virtual.
Avance Care Chapel Hill
- Location:
- 1512 East Franklin Street Suite 100, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- Phone:
- 919-240-7269
- Provider(s):
- Austin Gamache MHS PA-C, Jordan Walker PA-C
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming care, primary care.
- Note:
- Information provided by receptionist who stated the entire practice is gender affirming.
Revolution Family Medicine PLLC
- Location:
- 56 N Broad St E, Angier, NC 27501
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Jessica Sloan MD
- Offers:
- Primary care across the lifespan, gender-affirming care, continuing medical education in LGBT and transgender care, hormone therapy, letters for gender affirming surgery, direct primary care. Initial visits in person, subsequent visits virtual.
Horizons Health
- Location:
- 613 Shipyard Blvd Suite 106, Wilmington, NC 28401
- Phone:
- 910-202-3860
- Offers:
- Primary care for individuals 12 and up, staff trained in gender affirming care, affordable services, referral services as needed.
Promina Health
- Location:
- 1606 Physicians Dr Suite 102, Wilmington, NC 28401
- Email:
- info@prominahealth.com
- Website:
- https://www.prominahealth.com/
- Offers:
- Independent family practice, gender affirming care, sexual assault and domestic violence referral sources. All physicians trained in gender affirming care.
Atrium Health Primary Care Northcross Family Medicine
- Location:
- 9726 Sam Furr Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
- Phone:
- 704-801-3310
- Provider(s):
- Lauren Milbydaniel Brannon FNP
- Offers:
- Family medicine, telehealth, specializes in transgender and LGBTQIA+ care, hormone therapy.
Novant Health New Hanover Primary Care
- Location:
- 1960 S 16 St, Wilmington, NC
- Phone:
- 910-662-6000
- Website:
- https://www.novanthealth.org
- Provider(s):
- Dr. William McLeod DO, Dr. Constance Foreman MD, Dr. Riley Smith MD
- Offers:
- Family medicine, primary care, providers recommended for level of training and experience with LGBTQ+ community.
Novant Health PCP
- Location:
- 5145 College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412
- Phone:
- 910-662-6000
- Provider(s):
- Stephanie Horan DO
- Offers:
- Gender affirming primary care. Dr. Horan subscribes to gender affirming practices with many current LGBTQ+ clients. Staff well versed in appropriate practice.
Mission Health and Western North Carolina Community Health Services
- Location:
- 257 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Phone:
- 828-285-0622
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Jennifer Abbott
- Offers:
- Specializes in gender affirming care.
FastMed
- Location:
- 501 N Harrington St, Raleigh, NC 27603
- Website:
- https://www.fastmed.com
- Provider(s):
- Paul Mattera PA-C
- Offers:
- Primary care.
Avance Care Midtown Raleigh
- Location:
- 3801 Wake Forest Road Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27609
- Phone:
- 984-263-4110
- Website:
- https://www.avancecare.com
- Provider(s):
- BethAnn Guevara DNP FNP-C, David Sanjurjo DNP APRN FNP-BC, Dr. Katherine Patterson DO
- Offers:
- Primary care, gender affirming care, all providers trained, hormone therapy, letters. BethAnn Guevara and David Sanjurjo offer services in Spanish and English.
Wilson New Hope Primary Care
- Location:
- 2508 Ward Blvd, Wilson, NC 27893
- Phone:
- 252-243-0053
- Provider(s):
- Catherine Melin FNP-BC FNP-C DNP
- Offers:
- Internal medicine, primary care.
Dietitian
Transition Nutrition
- Location:
- Telehealth only
- Website:
- http://transition-nutrition.com/
- Provider(s):
- Lizzie Briasco MSc RD CSSD LDN
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming nutrition, experience with neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ clients, Health at Every Size framework.
Young Adult Palliative Care Specialists
Duke Cancer Center
- Location:
- 20 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
- Provider(s):
- Tara Herrmann PA-C MHS
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming care, continuing education completed, works with young adults with life-limiting illness, telehealth for new patients unless history of substance use disorder, symptom management, advance care planning, sexual health and fertility concerns addressed.
UNC AYA Cancer Program
- Location:
- 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- Email:
- ayacancer@med.unc.edu
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Ashley Allen MD MSPH
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming care, Rainbow Educator training, adolescent and young adult palliative care, symptom management, advance care planning, sexual health and fertility concerns addressed. First appointment in person, telehealth after.
Physical Therapists
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Rehab Services, Wilkes Medical Center
- Location:
- 1918 W Park Drive, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
- Phone:
- 336-903-7850
- Provider(s):
- Melissa Lisa Watkins PT
- Offers:
- Inpatient and outpatient PT, gender-affirming, brought Safe Zone training to the entire facility.
Salt and Light Physical Therapy and Wellness
- Location:
- 5917 Oleander Dr Suite 106, Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone:
- 910-970-4023
- Email:
- admin@saltandlightpt.com
- Website:
- https://www.saltandlightpt.com
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Jordan Martine PT
- Offers:
- Pelvic floor physical therapy, pregnancy and postpartum, oncology rehab, orthopedics, wellness.
Sexual Medicine and Sex Therapy
Fosnight Center
- Location:
- 7 Yorkshire Street Suite 201, Asheville, NC 28803
- Phone:
- 828-724-7166
- Email:
- info@fosnightcenter.com
- Website:
- https://fosnightcenter.com/
- Provider(s):
- Aleece Fosnight MSPAS PA-C CSC CSE MSCP IF HAES, Amanda Guyton PA-C MSCP
- Offers:
- Gender-affirming care, HAES aligned, hormone therapy, urology, telehealth for new patients across NC.
- Note:
- Sex Therapists: Michelle Stillwagon LMFT and Certified Sex Therapist, Joy Whitman PhD LCMHC LCPC LPC. Counseling services specializing in sex therapy, kink aware.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lotus Center of Health Gynecology
- Location:
- 1721 New Hanover Medical Park Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone:
- 910-726-9976
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Sarah Gore MD, Meredith Sheffield FNP-C, Ashli Gibson PMHNP-BC CNM, Amber Pohlhaus WHNP-BC
- Offers:
- Obstetrics and gynecology, OB care, fertility support, annual exams, advanced gynecological procedures, referral process for sexual assault and domestic abuse, gender affirming educated staff. All female team.
Bladen Women's Health Specialists
- Location:
- 300 East McKay Street Suite F, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
- Phone:
- 910-862-6672
- Website:
- https://www.capefearvalley.com
- Provider(s):
- Ashley Graham-Jones NP, Dr. Shakonda Strayhorn MD
- Offers:
- Obstetrics and gynecology.
Haven Health
- Location:
- Greensboro, NC
- Phone:
- 336-223-4925
- Email:
- info@ncmidwife.com
- Website:
- https://www.havenhealthnc.com
- Provider(s):
- Caroline Neill MSN CMN, Heather Hogan DNP CNM
- Offers:
- Gynecologic and preventative care, contraception and family planning, sexual and reproductive health, perimenopause and menopause care, gender-affirming care, fertility and LGBTQ+ community support. Telehealth across North Carolina.
Mental Health Services
Delta Behavioral Health
- Location:
- 1606 Physicians Drive Suite 104, Wilmington, NC 28401
- Phone:
- 910-343-6890
- Website:
- https://www.deltadbt.com/
- Offers:
- DBT therapy, SAIOP, IOP and PHP group programs. Staff trained in gender affirming care. Nova Swanstorm MA LPA exclusively gender affirming and transition affirming.
Valid Love Therapy Collective
- Location:
- 5917 Oleander Drive Suite 206, Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone:
- 910-659-9422
- Email:
- mads@validlove.org
- Website:
- https://www.validlove.com/
- Provider(s):
- Madeline Smith LCMHC
- Offers:
- Advanced CE training in gender affirming care and gender identity, holistic approach, strength based, feminist approach, kink aware.
NP Elizabeth Toppin
- Provider(s):
- Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Offers:
- Psychiatric medication management, holistic approach, gender affirming care.
- Note:
- Contact Delta Behavioral Health to schedule.
Dr. Trevor Shannon PhD
- Location:
- Virtual services only
- Phone:
- 910-727-5513
- Offers:
- Mental health and substance use services and testing.
Julie Fredrickson FNP-BC PMHNP-BC
- Offers:
- Mental health services and medication management, in person and virtual.
Gloria Brown MA LPA
- Location:
- 2018 Eastwood Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone:
- 910-499-4712
- Offers:
- Mental health and substance use services, LGBTQIA+ affirming, transgender affirming, trauma and PTSD.
Pediatrics
WHAT Clinic of Coastal Horizons Center
- Website:
- https://whatwilmington.org/
- Offers:
- Services for individuals ages 6 to 24, primary medical care, mental healthcare, preventative care and referral services.
Sunshine Pediatrics
- Location:
- 1519 East Booker Dairy Road, Smithfield, NC 27577
- Phone:
- 919-938-2144
- Website:
- https://sunshinepediatric.com/
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Kimberly Fox MD, Chelsea Ashford PA-C
- Offers:
- Serves newborns through age 18, LGBTQIA+ affirming.
Plastic Surgeons
Cosmetic Concierge
- Location:
- 325 Arlington Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
- Phone:
- 980-938-0459
- Website:
- https://cosmeticconciergemd.com/
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Hope Sherie MD (board certified cosmetic surgeon)
- Offers:
- Hormone therapy, transmasculine procedures, transfeminine procedures, nonbinary procedures, cisgender male and female procedures.
Full Spectrum Gender-Inclusive Healthcare
Duke Health
- Location:
- Durham, NC
- Offers:
- Dermatology, family medicine, fertility options for LGBTQ+ families, gender care for children and adolescents, gender-affirming hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery including top surgery, gender-affirming voice care, gynecological care, medical weight loss, physical therapy for gender-affirming care, psychiatry, skin care.
Dental
Plaza Midwood Dentistry
- Location:
- 1308 The Plaza F, Charlotte, NC 28205
- Phone:
- 704-837-8480
- Email:
- smile@pmdent.com
- Website:
- https://plazamidwooddentistry.com/
- Provider(s):
- Dr. Michael Farmer
- Offers:
- Dental services and gender-affirming care. Staff has completed Gender 101 training with Charlotte Transgender Healthcare group and many staff members are part of LGBTQ+ communities. Dr. Farmer actively advocates for further education and training at the local, state, and national level related to treating transgender individuals in dentistry.
Are You a Provider Who Wants to Be Listed?
If you are a provider committed to gender-affirming and culturally competent care, you can request to be included in our referral network. Use the email template below to reach out, or send it directly to practices in your area to help expand access for LGBTQ+ patients.
Subject: Inquiry: Gender-Affirming Care Practices and Provider Inclusion
Hello [Provider Name/Practice Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a [your role/credentials, if applicable]. I am currently compiling a resource list of providers who offer inclusive, gender-affirming, and culturally competent care for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. I am reaching out to learn more about your practice and to explore the possibility of including your services in this referral network.
If you are open to participating, I would appreciate your responses to the following questions:
• What training have you and your staff received to support culturally competent and gender-affirming care?
• Do you and your staff feel adequately prepared to provide gender-affirming and culturally responsive services?
• During your intake process, do you provide an open-ended option for clients to self-identify including gender identity and pronouns, or are clients limited to predefined categories?
• Do you have a referral process for clients who report concerns related to sexual satisfaction?
• Does your practice assess for physiological and medical causes of sexual dysfunction when appropriate?
• Are you and your staff comfortable discussing sexual health concerns with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community?
• Are you familiar with the Health at Every Size framework? How does your practice approach or conceptualize BMI?
• Is your staff trained and prepared to respond to disclosures of sexual violence?
• Are staff educated on the use of respectful pronouns and best practices for gender affirmation?
• Does your practice display visible signs of inclusion such as affirming language, symbols, or flags?
Your responses will help ensure that referrals are made to providers who are committed to affirming, inclusive, and competent care. If included, your information will be shared as part of a curated list intended to support individuals in accessing safe and supportive services.
Please feel free to include any additional information about your practice that you believe reflects your commitment to inclusive care.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate the work you do to support diverse communities.
Warm regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Credentials, if applicable]
[Your Contact Information]