'In situations where a person has had significant trauma, which may include sexual or physical abuse, a feeling of safety and security is essential and it may be important to choose a therapist who evokes the most trust and security – and this may be a therapist of the opposite sex of the abuser. On the other hand, selecting a therapist whose gender is likely to stir up some of the same feelings you are in therapy to deal with can be helpful. And finally, though it may be tempting to choose a therapist of the same sex out of a sense that they can best understand what it’s like for you, it may also be important not to choose a therapist who seems to automatically understand you, since this could get in the way of thoroughly exploring and articulating subtleties of experience that may be important to address.' - Adam Crowe