Need Advice (about Therapist) ...

[xanyx]

I'm totally lost. I moved to the US from the country where transgender stuff is still a big taboo and people can get hurt for this: I don't have experience with therapists for this reason. Back in my country, if you say a word about transgenders to a doctor you'd be labeled insane (in the best case), or ostracized.

So, I need advice on how to select a right therapist in the US (I'm in SF bay area). I saw some lists online but they all look the same...

I need T prescribed, but I'm not fully transgendered: I'm more in the androgynous range, cause I don't want to fully masculinize myself and acquire too many macho traits. I look like an emo boy and I want to keep this (I do plan to get rid of my chest, which is small, luckily, and may be remove even more later down the road). I am not sure how to find the therapist who's comfortable with androgynous people taking T, rather than forcing you in the narrow range of being either male or female... and making you visit them and pay a lot.

Should I call the offices and ask directly? Most likely I'd be talking to a secretary who can't tell much. I'm a student and can't afford to hop from doctor to doctor in search of a good one... my finances are tight right now.

I'm not even sure if I should see a psychiatrist, psychologist, endocrinologist, or any other kind of specialist?

And had anyone had a good experience with any clinic/doctor in SF Bay Area?

[Guest mia 1]

O.K. if you go to the home page at Laura's there is an are for gender therapists go that area hit the button nd zoom in on your locale,, the bay area in Ca.

Many names will pop up and find one that fits your budget. That's the best info I can come up. That's how I found my therapist and it has been great......Good luck and start looking at your own pace......Mia.....

[xanyx]

O.K. if you go to the home page at Laura's there is an are for gender therapists go that area hit the button nd zoom in on your locale,, the bay area in Ca.

Many names will pop up and find one that fits your budget. That's the best info I can come up. That's how I found my therapist and it has been great......Good luck and start looking at your own pace......Mia.....

Thank you.

Do I have to look for an MD? (because some of them are Ph.D, Ed.D, MFT--not medical doctors, they probably can not issue prescriptions--not sure)

[Guest matthew41]

Hi Xanyx,

Call the offices of therapists and tell them you are a student and ask if they have discounted rates for low income patients.

Once you have found a therapist, most likely a psychologist, who you are confortable working with, he or she will at some point in your therapy write you a recommendation letter aproving you for hormones. Many therapists have a list of MD's or endocrinologists who administer hormones that you can make an appointment with once you have your letter.

Best of luck to you,

Matt