A Question For The Group.

[Guest Emily Ray]

Hey everyone,

I am in treatment for addiction and I have been assigned a male therapist and nurse contact. I don't feel comfortable speaking about my problems with men. I requested to have a female assigned to me and my request was dismissed.

Would I be wrong in making a fuss over it? I think I will get more out of my treatment if I can have a woman. I just will not open myself up without it. Am I wrong?

Hugged

Emily

[Guest JohnV]

Hey everyone,

I am in treatment for addiction and I have been assigned a male therapist and nurse contact. I don't feel comfortable speaking about my problems with men. I requested to have a female assigned to me and my request was dismissed.

Would I be wrong in making a fuss over it? I think I will get more out of my treatment if I can have a woman. I just will not open myself up without it. Am I wrong?

Hugged

Emily

Emily you are neverwrong when it comes to what you are comfortable with.

I suggest you simply find someone else who is a woman to treat you. You need to be at your highest comfortableness

and you shouldn't be denied that leisure. If you are uncomfortable with talking to men that is your choice and how you feel.

They should certainly respect that.

Love

-John

[Guest JackieP]

Hey everyone,

I am in treatment for addiction and I have been assigned a male therapist and nurse contact. I don't feel comfortable speaking about my problems with men. I requested to have a female assigned to me and my request was dismissed.

Would I be wrong in making a fuss over it? I think I will get more out of my treatment if I can have a woman. I just will not open myself up without it. Am I wrong?

Hugged

Emily

Hi Emily,

I'm not really qualified to advise you here, but can relate to what your saying.

When I started to transition, I sought out a councellor. I quickly discovered I only felt comfortable when dealing with women - I opened up and felt good. I tried with males and it just did not work for me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I would try to explain things to them very honestly how you feel and why. If it was me, I would fight for it.

Thats just me, and my opinion as to what I would do - I don't know all here.

I wish you all the best - Be strong !

Take care,

Jackie

[Guest Opal]

Hi Emily,

My experience with medical doctors has been that the female doctors tend to have more empathy and 'bedside manner' than their male counterparts. Perhaps to avoid being labeled as sexist, are there other aspects one could turn down an assigned therapist, such as area of expertise, length of experience, Philosophy of methods of treatment, etc. ??

Hope you can get someone who works well with you.

Huggs,

Opal

[JenniferB]

I had a really good male doctor one time who on the first visit sat down with me for 15 minutes to get to know me. Total respect. However I feel that is the exception to the rule. You might give the therapist a try, but I'd hold him to a very short leash. Good Luck!

Love Jenny

[Guest Emily Ray]

Thank you both for your responses.

I believe now I will fight for a woman. In AA it is taught that when a decision needs to be made in early recovery that you should seek outside opinions to make sure that your thinking is following a thoughtful process and you are not making a rash decision based on some irrational idea you may havem after running my concerns past you guys and gals I feel confident that I am thing clearly and will take appropriate steps to ensure my security on an emotional level isn't at risk.

I guess this is why some VA's have an LGBT advocate to ensure our needs are respected. After today I don't think they have any compassion or empathy as to my needs as a transgender Veteran. It looks like I will have a busy day tomorrow as I fight the system with every available resource including a phone call to a US Senator by my concerned parents. I have learned in the time that I have been dealing with the VA that the most powerful voice for proper care and treatment irregardles of veteran age is the phone call to a senator by a concerned parent. Everybody starts to move when they start calling with complaints regardiing their son or daughters care.

Huggs,

Emily

[Guest abbxrdy]

Hey everyone,

I am in treatment for addiction and I have been assigned a male therapist and nurse contact. I don't feel comfortable speaking about my problems with men. I requested to have a female assigned to me and my request was dismissed.

Would I be wrong in making a fuss over it? I think I will get more out of my treatment if I can have a woman. I just will not open myself up without it. Am I wrong?

Hugged

Emily

It's not wrong at all. This is all about you and what you need to get leveled out. It's not selfish or petty in the least.

[Guest Billijo49504]

Hi Emily, I too thought I wanted to have a female councilor, but she wasn't on the same page as I was. So I fought for a new one, and they gave me Peter. I can't believe how well we work together. You just have to demand what you want!! With every no, go one step higher. Till you get to the top. You have got to be comfortable with your councilor, or it won't work.Best of luck to get it worked out for you. HUGS...Billijo