Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Finding A Gender Therapist


Guest Sally G.

Recommended Posts

Guest Sally G.

Hi,

Well I finally took the next step.

I have been searching for gender therapists in my area. Did not find any gender therapists but found three who listed gender issues as an area of interest.

This is the email I individually sent to the three of them:

"Hi, I am a 47 year old transgendered person (mtf).

The coping strategies I have used over the years to deal with (suppress) my transgenderd status are now causing health problems. These health problems are minor at the moment but have the potential to be more serious if left untreated.

As I change my behaviour to address these health issues (e.g. stopping smoking) my ability to suppress my transgender status is reduced.

I would like to explore through gender counsellling an appropriate path forward - comfortably numb (with a reduced life expectancy) or the emotional roller-coaster (and the disruptions it will cause).

I understand you offer gender counselling services.

Would you be willing to take me on as a patient?

How much does it cost per session?

Are you able to provide an HRT letter if this is required?

Kind regards Sally"

I don't expect to hear back until after the holiday weekend. However, this is enough for todays small step.

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Hi Strawberry,

I used google and the words: gender couselling *my town* zealand.

Then I trawled through the returned links (two were useful in the first 50).

The list on this site had no-one in my area (or even country - not sure about this but would be 8 hour drive away if they were)

Aroha

Sally

Link to comment
  • Admin

I really like your approach, Sally. Well written introduction and a very systematic way of going about it. You seem like a very organized and thorough woman. I admire that.

I wish you luck and hope you get an answer very soon. Let us know, OK?

Carolyn Marie

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Hi,

Well I got three replies. All three are willing to take me on as a case. Prices vary from 70 to 130. None answered the HRT question.

OK time to apply some intuition. The three prospective therapists are male, female and other. Only one has formal qualifications that is likely to be accepted in a medical framework (psychology). Two offer primarily "counselling". Prices are largely a reflection of the medical training each has received.

What do I want?

Minimal hassle accessing appropriate treatment, whichever course I decide to follow. This excludes the cheapest option as I would probably still need to access a suitably qualified clinician to get the HRT letter if this was what I decided.

This leaves the choice between a suitably qualified medical person and a member of our community. The medical person would offer the easiest access to medical treatment, while the tg person would allow greater exploration of the role of gender in my life in a non-judgemental way.

What are my constraints? Cost.

If the SoC are followed I need 12 1-hour sessions prior to receiving the HRT letter. The best chance of getting the HRT letter is from the medical person (i.e. if I select the tg person I may have to start over with the therapy to qualify. If I decide to not proceed with HRT then I can swap to the tg person to help develop an understanding of how to cope being tg.

OK my decision is to engage the medical person initially and go from there. I will send a reply to the others, one a polite thanks, but no thanks and one a thanks, I'll keep your name handy in case I need support in the future.

Aroha

Sally

Link to comment
  • Admin

Very sound reasoning, Sally. I like how you thought this through.

I am curious though, about the "medical person." Is he/she a a psychiatrist or a medical doctor? If a

psychiatrist, I just want to point out that it makes no difference if the HRT letter comes from a psychiatrist or a therapist. As long as a therapist is licensed to practice in your state, that should pass muster.

If you are more comfortable with a psych, that's cool, but a therapist will likely be less expensive. Also,

if the psych is not specifically trained to deal with gender issues, in some respects you could be denying

yourself a very valuable resource, and like you said, if you ended up needing the therapist for the gender

issues, you could be wasting valuable time too.

I'm sorry if I've made things more complicated. I'm just trying to help.

Carolyn Marie

Link to comment
Guest KimberlyF

Paying extra would be worth it if it lead to a 100% sure hasslefree HRT experience later, but it doesn't sound like you're sure of that. The TG might be a better source of resources for maybe at least one visit.

Kim

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

The medical person is a registered pyschologist.

The reasoning I laid out above was me thinking out loud. When it came time to send the emails I found myself agreeing to meet both the medical person and the person from the tg community.

As I am in the south pacific I am not sure of the exact nature of local requirements. So I will use the medical person as my entry into medical care (she is likely to carry more weight in the system - belongs to the appropriate professional associations). I now have an appointment with her next Tuesday.

I have also asked to meet the tg person as it turns out we have a professional interest in common as well as being members of the tg community. I will use this person as an advocate if I am unhappy with the medical system and as my lead-in to the local tg community.

This is my current plan. I will re-evaluate after meeting both face-to-face.

Link to comment
  • Admin

It's a good plan, Sally. I wish you the best of luck.

Please let us know how it turns out.

Carolyn Marie

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Just a small hiccup.

I had to change my appointment (delayed by 48 hours) because of a request from my boss around work.

Worked out though, emailed the GT explaining the situation and she was ok no problem.

I was worried that she might think I was having second thoughts but I asked if one of the alternative time slots she initially offered was still available and it was.

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Well I had my first visit with one of two potential GTs today.

First off I stated what my process was, that I was evaluating GT's to decide on who I would ask to accompany me on my journey.

Went really well, talked a bit about my history. It was hard keeping the emotion down (there will be time for that later!). Also talked about what I wanted - my initial focus is very much on telling my partner.

The GT also provided some background info about them and how the process would work. Asked about the HRT and was told they work with a local endo who is sympathetic and patient-focussed. Also provided me with info produced by the Human Rights Commission (a government agency). They have just produced a major report on trans issues and there is heaps of info, including that it is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of gender, access to health care, how to access trans-specific help, for example getting a non-gendered passport ('X' instead of 'M' or 'F'), changing birth certificates etc.

Also didn't have to pay - first session was a get to know me and was free.

If it goes this good on Thursday I am going to have a hard time deciding who to ask to help with my journey.

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Well everything was going fine until I got home last night. As usual I walked the dogs. While walking them it hit me. Someone else had used my name to address me for the first time in 30 years.

That was an emotional punch packed full of tears.....

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Things are changing.

I have had two conversations in the last two days with woman (work colleagues) where afterwards I thought "that was nice" - and the sense was one of being relaxed and feeling a warmth (and empathy?). I (Sally) was having the conversation, not my man.

I also slept the last two nights tucked. Never been able to do that before.

I am also getting the sense that although my man is shy and introverted I am actually quite different. I have a sense of confidence and vibrancy that is both delightful and unexpected. My man always feared that being Sally would require becoming a hermit but I am finding that the opposite is more appropriate. Finding Sally is going to be fun.

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

Well four hours to go until I see the second GT (at lunchtime). I think I will take the afternoon off so I can process the consequences and start working on how I will much my decision as to who to use to support me on my journey.

Am I nervous? No the feeling is one of anticipation. This will raise issues for me and I cannot know what they are yet. I am excited about the journey that is unfolding. What is around the next corner? There is some hard work ahead but that is for the future. Today is another chance to hear some-one else use my name (and that is a pleasure!). More affirmation hopefully.

I also find it interesting that the daily self-story I live (day-dreams provide a sense of what I am referring to but it is also a much more conscious process) is now a conversation between the male facade and the core. The facade is weakening and the core is strengthening but it is not a linear process, the conversation oscillates between the whys and the why nots. The sense I have is that it is like a game of chess I have been playing for 40 years - can the queen checkmate the king? Seeing a GT is checking the King. I hope to put the king into check again today.

Aroha

Sally

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Good news about your appointment today. It sounds like you are doing very well with your journey.

Please be sure and let us know how it comes out.

Good luck on your checkmate!

Hugs

John

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

I have just returned home after spending an hour with the second GT I went to evaluate. I was greeted today with a rather cursory "Are you Sally". This was the only time my name was used. Don't get me wrong, I liked hearing Sally again but the feeling tone used did not have any therapeutic value.

On Monday I was greeted with "Hello *mymalename*" and farewelled with "Bye Sally".

Making a choice is much easier than I thought it might be.

The therapeutic value I recieved on Monday has had a far greater effect on me.

I will be asking the GT I saw on Monday if they will work with me on my journey.

Link to comment
  • Admin

Good for you, Sally. I'm very pleased with the way you went about making this decision, and happy for you that you had a choice.

This is the start of the greatest adventure of your life. Enjoy it, remember it, make the most of it. Transition won't be easy,

if you decide to go forward with it. As a matter of fact it will be the most difficult thing you've ever done, or ever will do.

But if transition is in your future, and you follow it through, then I wish you a safe and rewarding journey to womanhood.

You have only your true self to gain. :)

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

Link to comment
Guest Sally G.

I would like to offer a very heart-felt thanks to everyone here at Laura's.

Two to three months ago I was tossing up whether I should self-medicate or if I should work within the medical system.

I know from where I am now, that self-medicating would have been a huge mistake because it would have taken place in isolation and I would have lacked any meaningful support.

The support I got from everyone here has been amazing and the emphasis that is placed on seeing a GT is well founded and probably the best advice I have ever recieved. I am so glad I have followed that advice.

To those who have walked this road before me I say thank-you for sharing your wisdom about doing this the right way.

Aroha

Sally

Link to comment
  • Admin

Dear Sally, your success and progress are all the thanks we need. Keep up the great work. You're doing great!

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   2 Members, 0 Anonymous, 193 Guests (See full list)

    • Carolyn Marie
    • VickySGV
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.8k
    • Total Posts
      769.9k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,085
    • Most Online
      8,356

    blakethetiredracc00n
    Newest Member
    blakethetiredracc00n
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. FullyHart
      FullyHart
    2. MariPosa
      MariPosa
      (65 years old)
    3. pechenezhka
      pechenezhka
      (17 years old)
    4. Rubycd
      Rubycd
      (59 years old)
    5. Yana
      Yana
      (31 years old)
  • Posts

    • Carolyn Marie
      I've been looking forward to the legitimate medical groups coming out strongly against Cass' biased and one sided report, so I'm really glad to see the article you posted, @Davie.  Unfortunately, it won't get nearly the coverage that Cass has gotten.  She has done her dirty work.  Hopefully the pushback and investigative reports on her and her support network will result in her work being shown for what it is.  She is a fraud, and sooner or later all frauds are found out.   Carolyn Marie
    • KayC
      CONGRATULATIONS, Jessica!!  That's really BIG! I myself did not experience a huge emotional roller coaster.  It was more like a smooth slide into emotional comfort.  The biggest effect I felt is when my Dr put me on T-blockers first.  I felt a bit 'empty' for a couple of months, but then realized it was just because the 'T-monster' was no longer running around inside of me.  Then I felt it was my new 'normal'. I feel like the estradiol was the 'frosting' on my transition affirmation.  It's been only positives.  I do cry a lot more, but it's only because I finally feel free to allow my emotions to come out.  To me it's not 'hormonal' ... it's FREEDOM!   Everybody is different but it sounds like you are under great care.  I hope you have a beautiful first year in transition on HRT (keep us updated if you can).
    • Desert Fox
      Yeah, whatever happened to “good morning”?  I think “hey you” can also work to address people without offense…”you” can be single or plural so that works for any gender, non binary, or any group of people, and can be pleasantly offensive or neutral.   And I am very familiar with the experience of being “ma’amed” while in boy mode, particularly on the phone by customer support people located outside north America for some reason. 
    • KayC
      I'm hoping this election cycle might finally cause 'that' party to pay a price for such nonsense.
    • Desert Fox
      So nice to hear things are going well for you. Support is huge and that is especially great when it comes from your SO as well as your family and son. I think being happy with one’s own life’s direction can set the stage for not only other successes but attract others who are in alignment with one’s own ideals. it sounds like you are definitely on a positive trajectory!
    • Desert Fox
      There is some progress being made, some positive awakening from those who understand the difference between biology and the societal roles and rules that have been created by humans to separate, restrict and control other humans. Unfortunately so many people are still set in one way of thinking about gender, whether it benefits them directly to do so or they just fail to think about things for themselves for whatever reason, and they often cite religious or other historical sources to try to back up their argument, sources which typically could be open to various interpretations.   Pushing boundaries is what makes progress and it’s what we are meant to do…but most everyone that has pushed a boundary also gets pushback. Most everyone who has disagreed with conventional thought is called a fool or worse; those who invent something get ridiculed and laughed out, then their ideas are stolen for someone else’s profit. We suffer tremendously to push boundaries but ultimately it’s what society needs to evolve.
    • Ashley0616
      Goodness! You sure have been busy! That's really crappy of what your oldest pulled. That part about the talking about getting asked if it's an enhancement was funny. I guess your boss is going to miss you and just has a funny way of showing it? 
    • Desert Fox
      I read this thread with great interest…thank you, Sally for sharing your life in this detail. As I too identify as bigender, I suppose I am also looking for validation of my experience because I don’t know many transgender individuals that stay in a long-term part-time situation. For most, bigender seems to be a temporary step to fill-time transition or it is more of something someone puts on, as in cross dressing or drag. I have always struggled to explain how someone could legitimately have two identities sharing one body, yet that’s basically how it has been for me for my whole life, all the way back to early childhood.    You and I are roughly in the same era, and growing up with gender variance was different than it is nowadays. Some of our experiences were similar, but generally your life went quite differently than mine.   Back in the day, a part-time person was called a transvestite and a full-timer was called a transsexual (often committing to bottom surgery as well), but I’ve really come to dislike the cross dresser/transvestite label because it tends to be associated with those who are fine with being cis, but like to dress in drag for fun or fetish. And that doesn’t describe all part-timers. I would say that I’m actually a transsexual who chose never to transition, and presenting female part-time is how I have coped with lifelong gender dysphoria. I don’t like myself being male, and never did, I simply accept that I am and have lived most of my life that way and just don’t care to put in the effort and money to transition.  I’m naturally a pretty girly male but I have to add hair, makeup and clothing to present female and I also try to “tone down” my girliness in male form. True androgyny never worked for me; I always switched between male and female looks, but at least that allowed me to use public bathrooms without issue.     I’m very curious - did you have a set of people, ie friends, family, coworkers, who only knew you as “male” and another set who knew you as Sally, with only a few (like your wife) knowing both sides? Such was more or less the case with me. 
    • mattie22
      I feel like a fake sometimes I am not really transfeminine WELL UNDER THEAT UMBRALA but whatever i call it. Like i do not deserve it others know ealer than me and did not identify as their gender at birth well It is more like just enough of me did to get by growing up and there were not many other options on what else i could be and when i got older i just found out about the standard trans people feel like they're born in the wrong body and i saw my self as a male so this could not be me even though it did not comply fit me. even though there is a part of me that likes to be seen and treated like a woman and ideally would probably like to live at least 70 percent of my time as one and perhaps the rest as male but what does this make a freak. also, I am around people who do not like people like me and they are family and do not know. this makes me feel even worse. Sometimes I wonder if I m just some gnc male, who is just using this as an escape if I become a woman for real I do not have to deal with all the crap that comes with being a feminine bisexual male. There are so many layers.
    • MaeBe
      I bet you looked every pennies worth of that million! I'm sure, even beyond the courtier's interactions it was a very fun evening.
    • MaeBe
      I haven't been posting much, it's been a bit of a whirlwind: My wife took a job in WA State, meaning we're moving halfway across the country by the end of the Summer. I was told "it would be good if you had a new job by the end of the month", meaning I'm getting laid off at the same time. My eldest snuck booze while we were at our friends' house, had a bad interaction with his anti-depressants, and then had the huevos to lie that he wasn't drunk while accusing us of not trusting him. There's been a lot to process lately.   That said, I got called ma'am for the first time today while out. Twice! I can't stop thinking about it. Later, my dad showed up without plan to watch the Liverpool match and I was way more girled up (see ma'am) than he's ever seen me; hair, makeup, tight top, skinny jeans, and brand new sandals. At one point he pointed at my boob and asked, "is that 'enhancement'?". If you call a t-shirt bra enhancement, I guess? "Nope, that's just me!". Later, my boss came at me all passive-aggressive via chat after hours, too. I'm kind of tired with his -crap-. I won't have a job in two weeks, so it's cool to just assume I'm sabotaging things? K. /eyeroll   It's been an interesting day.
    • Sally Stone
      Post 12   “First Kiss”   It was October 29th, 2003.  My dear friend Willa had purchased tickets for the two of us to attend “Red Hot Halloween,” a public Halloween party held at the Sanctuary in downtown Pittsburgh.  The event was a fund raiser benefitting the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.  It was a great cause but it was also the perfect opportunity to let the adventurous side of my feminine persona have a little fun.    My first question to Willa was: “What should I wear?”    “Are you kidding?” She responded.  “This is your opportunity to be the Sally of your dreams.  I suggest you dress to impress.”   My first thought was to dress naughty.  It was Halloween, so it could be the perfect venue for something with an erotic edge to it.  I thought about going as a dominatrix or a naughty French maid.  After we talked about it, and weighed the pros and cons, Willa and I decided against naughty, and instead, chose to wear the fanciest evening gowns we could find.  Willa bought an expensive, silver sequined gown, and matching high-heels just for the event.  Me, on the other hand, I couldn’t justify spending big bucks on an evening gown for a single event, so I took a less expensive route.  It is amazing what you can find on the sale racks at big department stores when you look hard enough.  For a mere 30-dollars, I found a black, sleeveless column gown with matching bolero jacket.  The dress had a slit up the right leg, and it went all the way to my upper thigh, very sexy.  Being a column dress, it was form-fitting, and hugged my curves like a glove.  To complement my dress, I wore black patent high-heel pumps, a long blonde wig, and a set of long red fingernails.  As I recall, it took me three-hours just to do my makeup.  The end result, though, was worth the effort, because I felt like a million bucks.  It’s so obvious, why girls love dressing up – it’s an unbelievable high!   Inside the club it was a sea of bodies and the costumes were amazing.  At one point, I was standing on a balcony that overlooked the dance floor.  I was nursing a cocktail and watching the crowd.  Suddenly, there was a gentleman standing next to me; I didn’t notice his approach.  He told me I looked fabulous and he offered to buy me another drink.  I declined his drink offer, but we struck up a conversation.  Being a little slow, it took me a while to realize he was hitting on me. I never imagined anyone would ever actually be attracted to Sally, which I think contributed to my cluelessness.  So, I was shocked, and initially, a little creeped out as well.  After all, I wasn't into guys, and this was new to me.  As we continued talking, and he kept throwing accolades my way, I went from being uncomfortable to actually being flattered.    The event, being an AIDS fund raiser, had me assuming this guy was hitting on me because he was gay, and he thought I was, as well.  I wanted to set the record straight, so I casually mentioned that I wasn’t gay.  To my amazement, he responded by saying: “neither am I.”  Okay, now what was I supposed to do?  I didn’t want to be rude, but I didn’t want to send the wrong message either.  While I was trying to decide how to tell him I wasn’t interested, he asked if he could kiss me.  Not sure what I was thinking at that moment, I said “okay.”  He kissed me, and as strange as it was, I gave into it, not pulling away or disengaging.  It wasn’t a super passionate kiss, but it was more than a friendly peck on the lips, and I actually enjoyed it.  When we separated; however, I got the sense his passion had cooled.  I could only assume that my response to his kiss sent some kind of message that I wasn’t interested.    Whatever it was he picked up on, it let me off the hook, and I didn’t have to rebuff any further advances.  For this I was grateful, but at the same time, I was actually a little disappointed.  Clearly, I wasn’t going to lead him on, but it was so gratifying to know I had sparked his interest.  Despite his diminished passion, and his obvious realization I wasn’t going to be his girl, he remained the perfect gentleman.  We chatted for a few minutes more, then he gave me the nicest smile.  Again, he commented on how terrific I looked.  Then he added, “maybe I’ll see you later.”    It was hard for me to reconcile how I could have garnered the attention of a man.  In my mind’s eye, I knew my feminine presentation didn’t completely mask my birth sex, so why would a self-proclaimed straight guy actually be interested in me?  Had it been the only time something like this would happen, I would have chalked it up to random chance.  But it wouldn’t be the last time a man would hit on me.  It doesn’t happen often, but it still occurs more than I would have guessed, and I'm always surprised.    I have never asked, but I have always been curious to know my would-be suitor’s motivations.  Were they hitting on me simply because they happened to be fond of trans women, or was their attraction triggered by connecting with my inner woman?  And, however unlikely, did they mistake me for a cis woman?  I guess it really doesn’t matter much one way or the other, because ultimately, I’m not looking for any kind of a relationship.  However, I’d be fibbing if I said I wasn’t at least a little interested in another opportunity to get kissed.   Hugs,   Sally
    • Ivy
    • Betty K
      Thanks Davie! And don’t worry, I didn’t take it that way. It’s just such a big topic I can only hope to tackle it one bit at a time.
    • KathyLauren
      This is not uncommon.  I started out going to the therapist in androgynous clothing: from the women's department, but plausibly masculine.  What made it easier was when I started going to a trans peer support group.  Most of the people there were presenting fully feminine, so I looked out of place in my androgynous clothing.  The peer pressure made it easier to dress in skirts.   I started out changing in a gender-neutral bathroom near the meeting room.  But I soon started wearing skirts in the car to and from the meetings.   Yes, it was nerve-wracking at first, but I soon realized that no one was looking and no one cared.    You can do this.
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...