Counselling sessions for children questioning their gender identity have risen by 20 per cent in a year, new figures reveal.The children’s charity Childline said gender dysphoria recorded the biggest increase among contacts relating to sexuality and gender identity, with 476 counselling sessions delivered in the year to March 2026, up from 396 the previous year, the equivalent of a 20 percent rise.The rise comes despite the publication of the landmark Cass Review, which found the evidence underpinning children’s gender treatments was “remarkably weak” and called for a far more cautious approach.Since the review was published in April 2024, ministers have introduced an indefinite ban on the routine prescription of puberty blockers to under-18s outside clinical research settings, while NHS England has moved away from routinely offering cross-sex hormones to children through specialist gender services.However, the Childline figures indicate growing numbers of young people are still seeking help for gender-related distress and questions about their identity.Overall, Childline delivered 2,457 counselling sessions where a young person’s main concern was sexuality or gender identity.The NSPCC said a child’s gender was known in around two-thirds of counselling sessions relating to sexuality and gender identity. Of those, 64 per cent involved young people who identified as transgender or non-binary.There has been a rise in gender distress calls | GETTYGender dysphoria is described by the NHS as a sense of unease that occurs when a person believes their biological sex does not align with their gender identity.The charity stressed the figures relate to counselling sessions rather than individual children, meaning some young people may have contacted the service multiple times.The figures have been released at the start of Pride Month, with the NSPCC urging young people worried about their sexuality or gender identity to seek support.The research also showed fears about “coming out” remained the single biggest concern among young people contacting Childline.The first guidance on transgender pupils in English schools was published in 2024 | GETTYMore than four in ten counselling sessions on sexuality and gender identity issues , 1,060 in total. involved worries about telling family members, friends or others about their sexuality or gender identity.The charity, which has published the figures at the start of Pride month, say young people told counsellors they feared rejection by parents, exclusion from friendship groups and damage to their mental health.One 17-year-old boy told the service: “I’ve only recently started accepting myself as gay after years of bullying. I’ve been freaking out that my parents will find out, because yesterday my cousin texted me saying that they know about me.”I’m out at school, but I’m not ready for my whole family to know. I was planning to wait until I moved to college to tell them. I feel like I’m losing control.”Protests have been held against recent Supreme Court Rulings | GETTYChildline Director Shaun Friel said: “Young people face many difficulties and worries when it comes to sexuality and gender identity.”At Childline, we regularly hear from those who are scared to come out; expressing anxieties about being judged by their family or alienated by a friend group that doesn’t accept them.”We also hear from trans and non-binary children who feel that they will never be accepted if they come out and that the world is against them.”This Pride Month, we want to reassure all children that they can reach out to Childline as their authentic selves. Childline is here to be a confidential, and wholly accepting space, where young people can discuss their concerns and feelings freely.”Some therapists working with gender-questioning children say the rise reflects wider cultural messages around gender identity.Psychotherapist James Esses, said he had seen a growing number of children seeking help for gender distress.He said: “I am not surprised children are reaching out to Childline with gender distress. “I have noticed an increase in children coming for counselling about their gender, but I believe this is partly because they’re being pushed by a very affirming gender ideology, often in schools some of which are still teaching that this is to be celebrated and are ignoring government guidance.”There have been concerns about the level of support for LGBTQ+ children | GETTYMr Esses added: “Children have been sold a cruel lie that if they are uncomfortable in themselves and their bodies that they may have been born in the wrong body and that this can be cured with puberty blockers and hormones. “But the evidence unfortunately does not show this is good for their overall long-term health. We are seeing increasing numbers of children who are de-transitioning and coming to terms with living with regret for the rest of their lives. It is a form of indoctrination and the government is not being tough enough on this.”He added: “All people are uncomfortable with themselves and their bodies at times, particularly children going through or reaching puberty, and this agenda is preying on this vulnerable part of human life.”The NSPCC said Childline remains available around the clock for any child seeking confidential support with concerns about sexuality, gender identity or any other issue affecting their wellbeing.