Med And Psych Survey

[Guest Jackie]

This is quoted from the old Forum:

As some of you already know I live in Wichita Falls, TX. I have been looking for resources for a week now and have come up almost totally blank. I would like to start cold calling providers and see what responses I get. I came up with a list of questions for medical and psychological professionals, and after re-reading what I wrote and a little tweaking it became a questionaire. If you would, please read them and make any suggestions to change it that you can come up with. Feel free to share it with anyone who could contribute or needs something like this.

The draft you see here finally came about when I thought about compiling the information I get and offering it as a resource to my sisters and brothers out there who may need it. No sense in re-creating the wheel every time... Thanks

This isn't my original work. I got the basic structure of the questions from:

<edit>Link Dead</edit>

and am creditting Raven Kaldera, Intersex Liaison, Board of Directors, American Boyz with the original version.

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I would like to thank you for your time in taking the following survey. I know your time is important and taking the time to fill out this survey will assist us in providing a resource list to the HBS community.

Psychological

1.Are you at all knowledgeable about Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS) conditions and psychological services they may require?

2.Would you be willing to treat HBS patients, being sympathetic to their additional psychosocial needs?

3.Are you aware of the HBS Standards of Care, or would you be willing to educate yourself on them to better serve a HBS patient?

4.Have you treated HBS patients on Hormone Replacement Therapy with the issues that come up before, during, and after treatment?

5.Have you ever worked in tandem with medical professionals to help patients with their psychological needs?

6.Due to the lack of adequate insurance coverage for the different phases of a HBS patient's transition to their psychological gender and the financial risks involved with transitioning in the work place; would you be able to work on a sliding scale or reduced rate, on a case by case basis, depending on the patient’s circumstances?

7.Would you be willing to work with patients on nontraditional, individually-driven programs of treatment, especially with unusual or borderline cases? With cases where there was no clear traditional treatment and careful, patient-driven experimentation was needed?

8.Many HBS patients have suffered varying degrees of psychological trauma due to early childhood and their adult experiences. Would you be able to assist a HBS patient work through these additional issues that delve into experiences not directly related to Gender reassignment?

9.Do you have any special training or education that would make you a better candidate as a HBS patient's psychological needs provider?

10.Would you feel comfortable with being listed in a resource list provided to the HBS community?

Medical

1.Are you at all knowledgeable about Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS) conditions and medical treatments they may require?

2.Would you be willing to treat HBS patients, being sympathetic to their additional psychosocial needs?

3.Are you aware of the Harry Benjamin Syndrome Standards of Care or would you be willing to educate yourself on them to better serve a HBS patient?

4.Have you treated HBS with Hormone Replacement Therapy and appropriately monitored their hormone and chemical balance for an extended time?

5.Have you ever worked in tandem with psychologists/psychiatrists to help patients with their medical needs?

6.Due to the lack of adequate insurance coverage for the different phases of a HBS patient's transition to their psychological gender and the financial risks involved with transitioning in the work place; would you be able to work on a sliding scale or reduced rate, on a case by case basis, depending on the patient’s circumstances?

7.Would you be willing to work with patients on nontraditional, individually-driven programs of treatment, especially with unusual or borderline cases? With cases where there was no clear traditional treatment and careful, patient-driven experimentation was needed?

8.Many HBS patient's have suffered varying degrees of psychological trauma due to early childhood and their adult experiences. Would you be willing to accede to a patient's emotional needs with regard to their comfort level with physical exams, etc., and work with them on ways to make them feel safer during such procedures?

9.Do you have any special training or education that would make you a better candidate as a HBS patient's medical provider?

10.Would you feel comfortable with being listed in a resource list provided to the HBS community?

PennyJean has helped me alot in making it better. If anyone else has any comments or suggestions please feel free to post them. I am not a professional, and am newly realized HBS.

I hope to be able to write this into an article when I get to a final product and supply it to the community. If even one person gets help through this endevour I will be estatic.

Loves and Hugs,

Jackie

[Guest Sophie Jean]

Jackie, your questionairre looks outstanding.

I'm not sure about resources in Wichita Falls, but if you can make the 2 hour drive about once a month, Dr. Rita Cotterly at the Sexuality Education Center in Fort Worth is an excellent gender therapist. She is not a psychologist but a sexologist with an excellent network of providers in the West side of the metroplex. She has helped quite a number of gender gifted find and transition to their comfort point and does charge on a sliding scale and hosts group meetings. She also is an activist with regards to gender rights and education.

If you can't find anyone there in Wichita Falls, please look her up. I just met with her on Tuesday and have a group session tomorrow. I will try to find out if she knows anyone in the Wichita Falls area that can help you.

May you find what you are looking for,

Sophie

[Guest Jackie]

Thanks Sophie,

I appreciate the referal. If I dont find what I'm looking for closer I'll look her up

Love and hugs,

Jackie

[Guest SharleahLynn]

From what I just read , your paper is a very well thought out and well prepared set of questions . Any professional would say the same I believe. You have done an outstanding job on this. ^5 ^5 to you

SharleahLynn