2021 Health and Wellness
Pause Clinic Provides Psychology Support for those Transitioning By Jerry Jones Puerto Vallarta has a great new service for those individuals who identify as transgender and are looking to transition. With patients seeking treatment at Pause from a national and international population, the service is a natural part of the other services that Pause offers its transgender clients. Since January 2020, Puerto Vallarta became the first municipality in Jalisco where a transgender person can change their birth certificate without the need for an Amparo. This move mirrors Puerto Vallarta’s international recognition as one of the main tourist destinations for the LGBTQ community. Psychologist Lic. Jannine Oceguera, who has a master’s degree in Sexuality, offers guidance and support for comprehensive management of those transgender patients who are seeking or in transition. Oceguera is a specialist in comprehensive sexual education, and is a recognized expert giving workshops and talks on topics that include same sex couple relationships, the prevention of gender violence and the psychological accompaniment of trans people and couples of the same gender who begin fertility procedures to have children. She works with Dr. Cinthia Becerra, who is one of the precursors in Mexico of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy which, as opposed to traditional medicine, represents a less aggressive treatment for gender dysphoria. Both play a key role from the beginning of the process and help identify needs and help create a path forward. In addition, both professionals assign each of their transgender patients a mentor, someone from the LGBTQ + community who has already gone through the same process and can support them and share her/his experience. 46
H e a l t h a n d We l l n e s s G u i d e
Summer 2021
