Zoe Chouliara

Professor Dr Zoë Chouliara is a Consultant Counselling and Clinical Health Psychologist, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and former Professor of Mental Health, with 17 years of clinical experience and 14 years of clinical supervision experience across psychological, surgical and healthcare settings. She has expertise in gender incongruence and the psychological assessment of individuals seeking gender-affirming surgery. Her work includes assessments for chest masculinisation, breast surgery and other gender-affirming procedures, informed by ICD-11 and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care Version 8. Her approach is affirming, person-centred and grounded in autonomy, informed consent and respect for each individual’s lived experience. Professor Chouliara also has expertise in psychological assessment relating to cosmetic, reconstructive and elective surgical procedures. She works collaboratively with surgeons, multidisciplinary teams and specialist healthcare providers to assess psychological readiness, clarify expectations, identify vulnerabilities and protective factors, and support informed surgical decision-making. Her experience across gender-affirming and aesthetic surgical pathways provides a distinctive perspective on the psychological factors influencing surgical outcomes, recovery, satisfaction and longer-term adjustment. As a recognised specialist in complex trauma, she brings a trauma-informed, formulation-based perspective to surgical assessment, considering trauma history, neurodivergence, co-occurring mental health difficulties, body image, minority stress, resilience and psychosocial context. She is committed to ensuring that psychological assessment strengthens care without pathologising gender diversity or creating unnecessary barriers to treatment. Professor Chouliara is widely published and has contributed extensively to research, academia, and professional practice. Her awards and recognition include the British Journal of Nursing Dermatology Award, inclusion among the Top 100 Nation’s Lifesavers for her contribution to childhood sexual abuse recovery, recognition among Edinburgh’s Top Five Psychologists, and selection as a finalist for the CeeD Resilience Award. She is Director of Zoë Chouliara Psychology, an award-winning boutique psychology clinic in Scotland, where she combines clinical rigour with compassionate, individualised and ethically grounded care.