Hormones, The Requirements.

[Guest MacyandM]

Okay so, I am currently seeing a therapist that specializes in the area of gender therapy which I believe is the right area.

Although that's not the main reason why I see her, but irregardless.

I see her every other week, and sometimes it'll be three weeks before another appointment.

Now, I read that you have to have at least three months of therapy (and a recommendation) before you can take hormones.

I would like to know if anyone can fill me in on how the three months of therapy works.

Is it over the course of time of having a therapist period? or the amount of visits (one visit equals one week?) that total up to three months?

Thank you.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Honey, the three months of therapy is equal to once a week for three months...or 12 hours....

That is pretty much the SOC....but some therapists will give you a letter as soon as they feel you are ready....It may be sooner....and unfortunately it can be longer if the therapist doesn't think you're ready...

Also....if your therapist gives you the letter and YOU don't think that you're ready ...you are not required to start....It's your call there!

Good luck, Honey!

Donna Jean

[Guest angie]

Okay so, I am currently seeing a therapist that specializes in the area of gender therapy which I believe is the right area.

Although that's not the main reason why I see her, but irregardless.

I see her every other week, and sometimes it'll be three weeks before another appointment.

Now, I read that you have to have at least three months of therapy (and a recommendation) before you can take hormones.

I would like to know if anyone can fill me in on how the three months of therapy works.

Is it over the course of time of having a therapist period? or the amount of visits (one visit equals one week?) that total up to three months?

Thank you.

First Macy,

Welcome to the Playground.You will get as much support and have as many questions

answered as you can post.As long as they do not pertain to DIY(which is taboo),dosages

or home remedies.The question about how long one is required to go to therapy to get

your referal to start HRT is up to your therapist.Once she/he decides that this is right for

you,they will offer you the referal letter.But once again,that is up to each individual therapist

to decide when and if you are a candidate.So be patient.This is a long road.

And while you are waiting, pull up a chair,have a cookie and some tea and tell us a little about yourself. I am Angie,an 53 MTF living fulltime for the last two plus years.Glad to have you here,

hope you post a bunch,so we can get to know you.Once again,welcome to the Playground my sister.

Big Hugs of Welcome,

Angie

[Guest MacyandM]

Honey, the three months of therapy is equal to once a week for three months...or 12 hours....

That is pretty much the SOC....but some therapists will give you a letter as soon as they feel you are ready....It may be sooner....and unfortunately it can be longer if the therapist doesn't think you're ready...

Also....if your therapist gives you the letter and YOU don't think that you're ready ...you are not required to start....It's your call there!

Good luck, Honey!

Donna Jean

Okay I thought so, but I needed confirmation someway aha.

My therapist though is experienced in this area, she's just not had too many clients with this kind of situation so she's inexperienced in how the process goes (or she accidently puts it out that way).

Oh but I don't want to seem impatient (and yes, I'll use the time wisely before I start hormones to think clearly on this) but I'm ready.

I know that may sound a little overboard but I've thought hard on this and my feeling's are very strong for it.

All I have to do now is wait (and of course, work on other things ).

Thanks

[Guest MacyandM]

First Macy,

Welcome to the Playground.You will get as much support and have as many questions

answered as you can post.As long as they do not pertain to DIY(which is taboo),dosages

or home remedies.The question about how long one is required to go to therapy to get

your referal to start HRT is up to your therapist.Once she/he decides that this is right for

you,they will offer you the referal letter.But once again,that is up to each individual therapist

to decide when and if you are a candidate.So be patient.This is a long road.

And while you are waiting, pull up a chair,have a cookie and some tea and tell us a little about yourself. I am Angie,an 53 MTF living fulltime for the last two plus years.Glad to have you here,

hope you post a bunch,so we can get to know you.Once again,welcome to the Playground my sister.

Big Hugs of Welcome,

Angie

Oh DIY isn't something for me or I'm curious about.

That, if anything, frightens me a little haha.

Also, my therapist is very flexible and she's willing to work with me on this and she has pretty much revealed to me that if I think I'm ready (when the right time comes) that she can write me a letter.

On the other hand, Hi there My name is macy, 16 (yes I have a ways to go), and have just recently started coming out to the world as the woman I want to be. Though the course of time that I've been like this (out in the open) is only about a few months, I still feel very glad to be where I am right now.

Thanks

[Guest Robin Winter]

Yep, for me it was pretty much 3 calendar months, once every 2 or 3 weeks, and he's given me the go ahead. He'll do up my referral for that when I'm ready for it. I'm still seeing him though, and will continue to for some time, I think.

[Guest AshleyRF]

One visit for me before I got my letter, but I spent pretty much the entire day with her.

It's a 3 and a half hour drive for me to get to where my therapist is located so that is why she scheduled me for an all day session.

[Guest angie]

Yep, for me it was pretty much 3 calendar months, once every 2 or 3 weeks, and he's given me the go ahead. He'll do up my referral for that when I'm ready for it. I'm still seeing him though, and will continue to for some time, I think.

Sweety,

I saw my therapist twice monthly until I got my name change,that was almost two years into transition.It helped me tremendously during times of adjustment to living as a woman fulltime.

As long as you feel that you need your therapist,I would continue to go as often as it takes.

Once through name change,I have scaled back to once every six months at her suggestion.

And I enjoy seeing her to update her on my progess.I know it blew her away at how much I

have changed this last visit,and it will only continue to,as I steadily move forward into my real life.

Hugs,

Angie

[Guest angie]

One visit for me before I got my letter, but I spent pretty much the entire day with her.

It's a 3 and a half hour drive for me to get to where my therapist is located so that is why she scheduled me for an all day session.

Yeah Ash,

But some of us can really use having a therapist just to unload on.It is nice having somebody

knowlegable,fair and impartial,to tell all our fears and concerns to.And get the feedback we may

not want or like to hear,but is good for our progress.

Angie

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

The standards say 3 months psychotherapy or documented 3 months RLE before hormones. I dont recall there being a set number of hours

[Guest Kayliegh]

Macy -

My GT won't give me the letter until I resolve a number of other issues, coming out to my SO and my family, and I respect her rational. I want to begin my transition the right way and not rush into things just because I’ve waited my whole life (sigh!)

Listen to your GT – they’ve helped other folks through tough times and they are probably right 90% of the time.

While I’d like to start HRT tomorrow, I’m taking the advice of my GT!

Kayleigh

[Guest Robin Winter]

That's really best. I know you're probably ready, but they have to be responsible, and the steps you need to take before you get your letter show your level of commitment. They don't want you making a mistake with something that is essentially irreversible.

You'll get through it

*Hugs*

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

That's really best. I know you're probably ready, but they have to be responsible, and the steps you need to take before you get your letter show your level of commitment. They don't want you making a mistake with something that is essentially irreversible.

You'll get through it

*Hugs*

I tried fighting my team and getting them to do things my way, all it did was delay the start of my HRT I could be 7 months in right now not 2 if I had listened to others and taken things at the pace my team wanted.