Psychiatrist or Psychologist - does it matter

[Beni76]

Just wondering if the Therapist that you see in order to obtain letter for HRT, does it specifically have to be a Psychiatrist or can it be a Psychologist. Or is it depending on what the Doctor who is going to prescribe the med's is willing to accept?

I recently dumped the Psychiatrist who I had been seeing for five months and spoke to two Psychologists yesterday at a workshop who are willing to see me.

Thought i'd just check first.

[Sirenia]

As far as I know, only psychiatrists can prescribe medications for therapy, psychologists do not treat patients with substances.

[Ann Onymous]

Many endos do not even care if it is either form of a psych...I've known several that would take a basic LPC's letter. 

And then there are the endos that are willing to work on informed consent without making the patient jump through bull->-bleeped-<- hoops in order to get HRT... 

[JungianZoe]

Leapfrogging on what Ann said, my therapist is an LCSW and writes letters for people all the time.  My HRT doc doesn't even accept appointments until after she gets a letter, and then she still does informed consent (on top of the letter).

It's a strange world, this.

[Beni76]

I got an answer today from a General Practioner ( normal doctor ). I went to him today because of some unrelated blood tests and feeling of depression. Apparently a side effect of the beta blockers I take for anxiety is depression, which explains that.
The last psychiatrist prescribed me the beta blockers as he thought all my issues were caused by anxiety, though he also refuses to prescribe anti depressants. Strange world I guess.

Anyway to cut a long story short, the doctor today said that you first have to be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder from someone on a Doctorate level ie: Psychiatrist and then he was under the impression that it didn't matter after that from whom you got the letter of recommendation for HRT.

Seems that after five months with the first Psych, that he was still evaluating me?

The Doctor at least said that he could refer me to another Psych, which is good.

[Ann Onymous]

Anyway to cut a long story short, the doctor today said that you first have to be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder from someone on a Doctorate level ie: Psychiatrist and then he was under the impression that it didn't matter after that from whom you got the letter of recommendation for HRT.

sounds more like a doctor more interested in avoiding the issue than with taking care of a patient...there exist plenty of doctors that do not require any sort of evaluation or letter.