I need help finding the right therapist

[Viviane Morgenstern]

I have been immersed in both the pro and anti transgender sides of the internet for quite a while now, and while most every anti transgender argument has been well and thoroughly debunked, the idea of post transition regret is a real thing (though admittedly very rare). For quite a while now I have believed (and I still do) that I am transgender, my worry is, however that my feelings of dysphoria are driven by an underlying mental illness (as in the case of Walt Heyer), as opposed to feminine structures in my stria terminalis (which is believed to be the cause of transgenderism). I have scoured the internet in search of a therapist who can ensure that I do not have an underlying mental illness, and hopefully get me approval for HRT (which I desperately desire, I just don't want to regret it) with little luck. If you have any recommendations (ideally located in Bangkok, but anybody who does online therapy would also suffice) please tell me.   

[VickySGV]

Gender therapists begin their careers as what I call "garden variety" counseling professionals in NON religious based settings.  They are licensed by your state Board Of Behavioral Health Examiners, or whatever it is called there in Washington and do begin by helping people with the more common behavioral health issues such as depressions, compulsive disorders, PTSD, marriage and family issues, and are even able to spot and refer those conditions that require medication to qualified M.D.s.  The "garden variety" therapist has simply gone on to gain experience in the field of Gender Dysphoria counseling as well as all the rest.  If the therapist works with the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health ) Standards Of Care, they will attempt to help you find other problems of behavioral health that go along with GD as part of their overall care standards.

The big issue is that you be HONEST with the therapist from the beginning and include your concerns about other existing BH conditions.  This was the problem with a person whom you mention above.  There is ample evidence which I might add was brought out in several civil court cases that they hid this type of thing from all of their therapists, and thus what they call "regret" which is most often the result of  unreasonable expectations or flat out fantasies about what transitioning does.  In reality, transitioning does not "cure" anything.  I still have bad days even 3 years and 9 months post-op, but they are based on life of nearly 7 decades and things that will continue in my life until it ends or others die as well.  HRT can make some of our life more transparent to us, but its general benefit is to help us feel more open to ourselves and others over what we feel.  If it does not do that, then you were not the one it was for.

[Carolyn Marie]

I concur with everything that Vicky mentioned.  We do have a list of U.S. therapists that we have vetted, which includes online therapists.but none in Thailand.  You can search http://www.lauras-playground.com/gender-therapists.  Good luck, hon.

Carolyn Marie

[Viviane Morgenstern]

Okay, thanks.