Does one have to go through a gender therapist for HRT assessment?

[Silas]

I almost worded that wrong, ha. (I think I did... I've always heart HRT assessment, but could be wrong.)

I know "gender therapist" is just "therapist who specializes in gender studies". I don't think you can actually get a diploma in "marriage psychology", just "psychology". So it's mostly just specialization.

I did used to go to a behavior therapist; my doctor referred me to her through my mom in attempts to "cure" me. She really didn't know a lot about GID, and we both thought it was completely ridiculous my doctor thought of it as something to cure a person of -- cure, meaning something akin to ex-gay therapy. I referred her to a few websites, but I stopped seeing her due to funds.

I've been looking into three gender therapists -- one actually in my state, the most expensive; Dr. Graham Peveller, second most, in the Philippines; and Dr. Melissa Leonhardt, least expensive, North Carolina.

But I wondered, could I just go to the mental health facility in my town and look into a therapist there? It would probably cost less, and be a bit more efficient than having to drive two hours or online counseling. (I'm sort of afraid a doctor wouldn't take an online counselor seriously, no matter how much you paid. "580 bucks? Yeah, still don't believe you need HRT.")

On a second note, I know how HRT affects the body, but I don't know the process of getting it. Psychologists can't write prescriptions, I don't think. Do they write a letter to another doctor and tell them a prescription is needed? What kind of doctor do they have to write to? And it would worry me a tad that my regular doctor would just go, "Nah, I don't think I'll prescribe you T. GO AWAI, YOU FREAK D8<" even though I don't think he's allowed to...?

QUESTIONS! XD

[~RoadToTrista~]

That's where I'm starting at, not too sure how that'll work out. >.> I'll let you know in like, 9 days, lol

Also, why a therapist in the Philippines? o.O

[Silas]

Hahaa, works for me 

I honestly didn't even know where he was from. I guess his life wasn't really of concern to me? XD I just heard from someone on here he was from the Philippines when I was looking for reviews on him. "Woah, whut. I thought he was from, like, WISCONSIN." XD *is not even quite certain where the Philippines IS*

[LordKAT]

Your therapist does not have to be a 'gender therapist',  just informed on gender issues. They will work with you and write a referral letter if and when they think you need one. They will sometimes send it directly to a doctor of your choice and sometimes give it to you to take to a doctor of your choice. The issue then being to find a doctor who is willing to prescribe hormones and monitor you.

[Ann Onymous]

There are also docs who will work on informed consent without requiring the letter from a shrink...back in the day, I shotgunned some letters to a few endos and internists I found in a gay/lesbian yellow pages for the Houston area.  Had a good rapport with one who answered and I had script in hand at the first appointment with him...well, actually more like a boatload of pharmaceutical samples so we could see what worked and what didn't.

Oh, and FWIW, neither letter for my surgery came from a so-called 'gender therapist.'

[melissa42013]

I started my HRT by ordering online from an overseas pharmacy and it convinced me I needed to be on HRT full time so I found a Dr. in Charlotte NC who works on informed consent. I was seeing a local therapist in Columbia SC but very few have much experience with really how to handle transsexual transition in this area. There is a gender therapist in Charlotte who I am going to try and see even thought I feel like I have handled most of my issues.

You do not need an endo as any doctor can prescribe hormones and request blood testing. Also with a little research you can know more than most doctors on hormone levels. Most doctors are sympathetic but just don't know how to properly prescribe HRT for TS patients. I have a guide put out by the endocrinologist association on HRT levels that you can give to your GP to get started that way.

Also, for MOST people cross-gender hormones are not dangerous. While I started on my own I wish I had had the confidence to seek professional help first (not easily available in my area) so I would know what my baseline blood levels were first. And, if a doctor prescribes them you can get insurance to pick up most of the cost and all of mine are on the "cheapo" list at Walmart, etc so I can turn into a girl for only $18/month and half of what I own. lol

If you would like more info, sources, etc just email me.

-M

[Keaira]

I went to an Endo for my hormones. I'd been through councilors like I was eating tic-tacs. They moved, got married and moved, I moved... 6 councilors in all. Oh, and not one had a clue about transsexualism. But my friend gave me the info to her doctor and warned me that I would have to talk with their councilor first and blood testing. But, I didn't have to do any of those. which I thought was odd anyway. So, that's the route I took.

[Silas]

I can't see many therapists close by where I live being versed in GID, only sympathetic. Same with most doctors, I'm pretty certain I have the only guy for miles who thinks it's a disease/sexual perversion. I might ask my new doctor whenever my mom switches me how much they know about hormones, or if they know any doctors who can help out for whenever I've got a therapist. (Maybe see their stance on online therapy.

I've heard all sorts of things about insurances not helping with hormones, and insurances helping. I asked the closest gender therapist in my state about it, and she said there's work-arounds with some insurances. -shrug- It's all so very confuddling. @.@

Informed consent.. hah, almost sounds like a recipe for disaster, if I'm understanding it right.

[Keaira]

My insurance seems to cover HRT. In fact the checklist my doctor signs of on has a box she check-marks for Transsexualism.

[Ann Onymous]

Informed consent.. hah, almost sounds like a recipe for disaster, if I'm understanding it right.

It is basically you telling the doc that you understand what you are requesting and getting into, and that you want them to simply ensure the proper medical management of the HRT processes.  It bypasses all the SoC crap...

[Silas]

It is basically you telling the doc that you understand what you are requesting and getting into, and that you want them to simply ensure the proper medical management of the HRT processes.  It bypasses all the SoC crap...

Ohhh, I misunderstood then. Although, being a minor, they likely wouldn't take me seriously.

[Silas]

Hm, wondering: would changing my legal name to my male name make any difference on how long the assessment for HRT would take? I mean, I'm changing my name to Christopher Ian Silas, none of those are female or even unisex. I want to change my name first so the therapist knows I'm completely serious.

Anyone think that that would affect how long I'd have to be in therapy before being allowed HRT?

[Ann Onymous]

Ohhh, I misunderstood then. Although, being a minor, they likely wouldn't take me seriously.

well, yeah...at least in the States, being a minor would be a stumbling block to informed consent since it is on par with the minor's inability to enter into a binding contract with any entity.