Topic: Massachusetts Therapist Recommendations?

[ImAllie]

Hi - Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations, good or bad, for gender therapists in Massachusetts. I'm in the Worcester area, but since many/most seem to still be doing mostly telehealth, I'm not sure it matters all too much right now. I'm hoping to take the big step into therapy in the beginning of the new year.

I've done searches on psychologytoday.com so I've seen some of the names, just trying (hopefully) to see if I'm able to able to get any more information from those of you with experience.

Thanks so very much,
Allie

[jennifer7020]

Hi Allie--

I am unsure of rules about posting names publicly.. so I sent you a private message. I am just west of Boston and see someone up in Middleton, about 40 min north (which I think would be around an hour and ten for you, ish. maybe more). I truly madly deeply love my therapist and endorse her 100%. Her experience and style meet my needs perfectly.

Of course your mileage may vary, so I encourage you to make a lot of calls to find the person who will meet your needs.

[Devlyn]

Fenway Health can handle your transition needs from A to Z. 

Hi Allie--

I am unsure of rules about posting names publicly.. so I sent you a private message. I am just west of Boston and see someone up in Middleton, about 40 min north (which I think would be around an hour and ten for you, ish. maybe more). I truly madly deeply love my therapist and endorse her 100%. Her experience and style meet my needs perfectly.

Of course your mileage may vary, so I encourage you to make a lot of calls to find the person who will meet your needs.

You can mention therapists and doctors all you want. 

Former Weymouth girl here, now in the UK. 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸🇬🇧

[ImAllie]

Hi Allie--

I am unsure of rules about posting names publicly.. so I sent you a private message. I am just west of Boston and see someone up in Middleton, about 40 min north (which I think would be around an hour and ten for you, ish. maybe more). I truly madly deeply love my therapist and endorse her 100%. Her experience and style meet my needs perfectly.

Of course your mileage may vary, so I encourage you to make a lot of calls to find the person who will meet your needs.

Hi Jennifer -

Thanks for your note and message! For some reason it wouldn’t allow me to reply to your message, so I wasn’t able to do so. I’m not sure if it’s a setting I need to fix or something? Anyway, my apologies!

Anyway, since Devlyn said we can mention doctors by name let me say that I absolutely would love to hear more about Diane. Her name has certainly come up on my searches. The only issue I have is that she is more than an hour from me, and since I suffer from daily migraine headaches I’m not really comfortable driving those kinds of distances each way… as it’s very easy for me to get “stuck” somewhere once they start.

Thanks so much! And if you’re more comfortable sending me info via personal message please do so… hopefully I can figure out how to reply at some point. LOL

Allie

[jennifer7020]

Hi Jennifer -

Thanks for your note and message! For some reason it wouldn’t allow me to reply to your message, so I wasn’t able to do so. I’m not sure if it’s a setting I need to fix or something? Anyway, my apologies!

Anyway, since Devlyn said we can mention doctors by name let me say that I absolutely would love to hear more about Diane. Her name has certainly come up on my searches. The only issue I have is that she is more than an hour from me, and since I suffer from daily migraine headaches I’m not really comfortable driving those kinds of distances each way… as it’s very easy for me to get “stuck” somewhere once they start.

Thanks so much! And if you’re more comfortable sending me info via personal message please do so… hopefully I can figure out how to reply at some point. LOL

Allie

Hi Allie--

Dianne (two n's) is easily found as the only Massachusetts therapist in middleton on the wpath website.. I actually want to check w/ her before putting in a last name. Although I don't imagine she'll mind.

Everyone's needs differ. I am in my 50s and married. I wanted someone comfortable working with me before I told my wife. Someone who could help in the process of coming out. I cast what I thought was a wide net-- 7 or 8 emails or phone calls. About half had no room in their practice. Of the rest I sorted them two ways "letter writers" and "gate keepers". Letter writers invariably mentioned how quickly they can write a referral for hormones/surgery/etc with little mention of getting to know me or my needs. Gate Keepers wanted to take a more thoughtful, careful approach - build a relationship, help me with options, etc. I considered a pre-therapy phone call to screen chemistry a must. After a lot of thought, insurance was optional, I am in a place where I could pay out of pocket or out of network if I needed to.

Turns out Dianne and I are very aligned. She insisted on a call before I brought it up, which went very well. She has a very safe space where I feel comfortable and private. Nothing is out of bounds. I consider her affirming and respectful. She can ask me questions without making me feel confronted. I do believe she'd have agreed to write a letter in about 1/2 the time it took me to ask for one. She has spoken to my wife both with me and without me. Added bonus is that Dianne is in-network for me healthcare-wise.

Personal things aside-- everyone's needs are different. Dianne and her approach work for me. You or others may want a different approach and I respect that completely.

[ImAllie]

Thanks Jennifer -

Yes, sorry about the misspelling - it was autocorrect!  I know who you’re speaking of, and I didn’t mention her last name as I didn’t think it was my place.

My situation is pretty much the same as yours was.  In my 50’s, married, I very much want to discuss things with someone before I tell my wife and in fact I’d like someone to help me figure out the best approach for that.

You raise an excellent question that I do have… that I suppose I should raise in another thread, I see so many therapists who offer to have an initial call and/or email to discuss compatibility prior to engaging for a first session.  Whenever I see that I think it’s a great idea, although I don’t really have any context or idea what I’d ask or how to do that.

You’ve given me a nice outline of the types of categories therapists may fall into, so that’s a start for sure.

Allie

[Rakel]

Hi Jennifer -

Thanks for your note and message! For some reason it wouldn’t allow me to reply to your message, so I wasn’t able to do so. I’m not sure if it’s a setting I need to fix or something? ...hopefully I can figure out how to reply at some point. LOL

Allie

Allie,

All you need is two more posts. When you have 15 quality posts, you can send a PM.

[ImAllie]

Allie,

All you need is two more posts. When you have 15 quality posts, you can send a PM.

Oh ok, thanks for the info Rakel! I was kind of going crazy trying to figure out what I was missing! 😂

Allie

[Karen_A]

I know my therapist has retired ... googling on line I  see listings for DIANE ELLABORN in Framingham... She goes back to my day (I transitioned in 97 and she was well known already back then.

I never met her but over the years I heard some good things about her... but she may also be retired by now.

-Karen

[ImAllie]

I know my therapist has retired ... googling on line I  see listings for DIANE ELLABORN in Framingham... She goes back to my day (I transitioned in 97 and she was well known already back then.

I never met her but over the years I heard some good things about her... but she may also be retired by now.

-Karen

Thank you Karen!

That's the one therapist, ironically, who I'd heard negative things about... of course it could just have been a few dissatisfied former patients or whatever.  But in searching for reviews of the names I found, she has a bunch of people who don't speak well of her for whatever reason.  Again, like anything else all that means is it's 1 or 2 person's opinion so I still take it all with a grain of salt! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll at least add her back to the list again.
Allie
 

[ImAllie]

So aside from the therapist who Jennifer suggested (whose website and experience I really am drawn to, the only issue I have is distance)

A few other names I've seen that are more local (and also in my insurance network are:

Caitlin Straubel
Demi McLaren
Sarah Larsen

I'm wondering if anyone has any direct/indirect experience with any of them?
Thanks!

[jennifer7020]

So aside from the therapist who Jennifer suggested (whose website and experience I really am drawn to, the only issue I have is distance)

A few other names I've seen that are more local (and also in my insurance network are:

Dianne Ouellette.

Sorry for the delay on putting her name publicly. I am old fashioned-- I like to ask before posting names.  As I said before, I really like Dianne!

@ImAllie -- I'll reply privately in a moment.

@Devlyn -- I live a slightly west of Boston but I do think my children played high school sports against Weymouth.  I grew up on the north shore.. but the south shore beaches are a little closer now.