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Starting a support group


Guest ChefErik93

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Guest ChefErik93

My therapist recommended that I go to a support group. She found me one in my city. They only meet once a month but I think it's a start. It is specifically for transgendered people. Yesterday I had a consultation (almost an interview) with the woman who runs the group. She wanted to make sure I was for real.

Well, I made the cut and I get to go! They have one tonight but I work so I'll have to wait until next month. I am very excited to actually meet other transgender people from my area.

Has anyone here ever done a GD support group? If so how did it go?

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  • Forum Moderator

Support groups are wonderful. I have been attending them in my area for about 2 and half years. I have made some nice friends, and it really has helped me grow in confidence by attending. I find it kind of odd you would be "interviewed" by a faciltator, perhaps something unique to your area, or this group, or just this person, dunno. All of the support groups I have attended have welcomed everyone and anyone.

Enjoy

Cyndi -

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Congtratz on finding and starting going to the group. I only wish I could have but am the only trans person who has ever been out in the county where I live and know of none in the counties around. There is-or perhaps was? -a small group in a larger city -the only one I ever heard of in the state-but it is too far for me to travel to attend.

Maybe some day

Enjoy your group! They will be a great resource for you

Johnny

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I went to one several times a few years ago. it was not exclusive and accepted all different paths. I enjoyed it and it helped me to move around in the world. I've been thinking of going back for a visit to see if any of the folks i met there are still there. i'm sure you will find some support there.

Hugs,

Charlie

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Guest LauraJen

My therapist recommended that I go to a support group. She found me one in my city. They only meet once a month but I think it's a start. It is specifically for transgendered people. Yesterday I had a consultation (almost an interview) with the woman who runs the group. She wanted to make sure I was for real.

Well, I made the cut and I get to go! They have one tonight but I work so I'll have to wait until next month. I am very excited to actually meet other transgender people from my area.

Has anyone here ever done a GD support group? If so how did it go?

I went to one during my university years and it was fantastic. I met some really great people there and I am still in regular contact with them. To me it was a place where I could really let my hair down and express myself in the way I wanted to be seen. I could take clothes, change in one of their rooms and dress however I wanted and I was regularly complimented on how I looked. People really accepted me as female there and it was so refreshing to hear someone say "Hello Laura, how are you doing today?". I knew about support groups for years, I wanted to go to one because like you I wanted to meet others face to face and it wasn't until I was 20 when I could actually go to one. Nothing online is ever going to beat that experience. Sadly since I graduated I have had to move back in with my parents and this means I can no longer attend. I can meet up with the woman who runs it (and I did so twice last week) but I can't attend the actual group as it is later in the day and it means some really awkward questions when I get home that I just know are going to trip me up.

I am missing the group badly and I really want to go back before I get too old. It's a youth group so there is an age limit of 25 so you can attend up until the day before you turn 26. I have made the decision not to progress to groups for older people when I get to this age, though, due to various issues I have experienced regarding age gaps.

My only gripe with the group I attended is that it was only once a month. I really don't know why they don't do it more often especially as they do it in their own premises so it's not like they have to hire a place out or anything. If you have to miss a session then it means having to wait another four or five weeks before you can go again. The sessions are only 90 minutes, as well - I am sure that the room they do it in is some kind of time machine because that time *always* flies by when I am in there. Then before I know it I have to wait another month before I can return to a place I loved to be in.

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Hi Erik,

I do hope that the group works out for you. I've been attending various meetings for over three years, have settled on a group to my liking for the last couple of years. I was drafted into their board of directors... But, that's the kind of commitment that I feel towards the group, and support groups in general. My first few meetings were really eye-openers - just to meet others face to face was so different than this on-line experience.

You'll have to let us know how it went, okay?

Love, Megan

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Guest Carla_Davis

Hi ChefErik,

I always support any Support Groups.

I attended many Groups at my LGBT Center both TG and Lesbian.

The LGBT Center was responsible for saving my life from Suicide.

Please read an excerpt from a previous Post about this Life-Changing, Life-Saving Story

Whenever I think about it, or even write about it I still cry.

I would like to share with you a Life-Changing and Life-Saving story about ME.

I used to attend “MY CENTER” aka “The LGBT Community Center in NYC” They are located at 208 W. 13th Street.,NYC. I am very PROUD to say that they “Literally” saved my life from Suicide when my whole family disowned me and also did terrible things to me. I also volunteered there for approx. 2 years. I considered it a “SAFE HOUSE” where I could get away from all my pain and suffering at home.

Before leaving, I presented them with a plaque with the following saying.

Making a Difference
An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a storm. A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean. "Why do you bother?" the old man scoffed. "You're not saving enough to make a difference." The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water. "Made a difference to that one," he said.
You make a difference every day.

The Center” made a “Life-Saving” difference to me and I would like to use my PASSION to RETURN that favor to someone else in NEED

Hugs,

Carla

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Guest ChefErik93

Yeah this group meets once a month for an hour so I hope to find an additional one sometime soon. I am so excited to try it and I will let you all know how it goes!

Luckily I live in a relatively big city so I have a decent amount of resources. The woman said that this could go towards my t letter if I want it to but I am not ready to take that step yet.

I am becoming much more comfortable in who I am. Just in this short time I've been on here. All of you have given me such great advice! So thank you :)

In recent news I have been binding prettying every day now...even to school. I live this thing...I am so much more comfortable in my own skin. And instead of me worrying about what people think it has almost become comical to blow people's mind with who I am. I have not come out as anything but I do get people thinking. And you know what? I'm ok with that. Idk what I am but I know who I am for the most part.

I am not as scared but it is still scary on some levels. I'm getting there ;)

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It will be interesting to see how you get on! I don't attend a support group but I went once when I was in Manchester to a local one, I feel they can be very helpful to anyone during their transition and also for those who have transitioned to be a good source of support to others............in fact im going along to a local one on Friday as I met the guy (f2m) who formed it and he says they are a mixed group and none of the F2m's have started hormones nor had ops - he has only just started T, so he thinks I may be someone they can relate to, having completed my transition - who knows, will see.

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That sounds very cool! it would be a good time for you and good support to the newer people! :)

Well I went and am getting involved there, early days yet but im looking forward to the boys day out mid october, which culminates in going to the Battle of Hastings bonfire on the beach, with a huge fireworks display, which partners of join us..............and we invited one of the guys to dinner when we are back from spain - none of the guys have had any ops yet and only two started T so i think they found it useful to talk............

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  • Forum Moderator

So glad to hear it went well. Sounds likema good group. I would give a lot to be able to join that bonfire on the beach

Thanks for letting us knw

Johnny

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