psychologist. What to say to her?

[fionabell]

I'm on anti-androgens.

I'm seeing a psychologist at the gender clinic as part of what I have to do before they get me on to hormones.

I saw her the other day. I have to go again this week. Can anyone tell me what I have to say to her to get through this without going there too many more times? It's a very long journey and is a big hassle.

What information or answers are they looking for?

The doctor there says I'll be on hormones by January. So it's all going to happen. I just need to know what to say to avoid unnecessary train journeys.

I'll have to plug into the hive mind for a the next couple of days, so I make the right noises when I go there.

[DanielleXoXo]

Well, there is no longer a minimum number of hours or therapy sessions under the new Standards of Care, so you don't have to worry about that. But it is still a good idea to have a therapy session every once in awhile just to touch base. There will be stuff you want to talk about throughout your transition. I see my therapist once a month. The most important thing for you to do regarding hormones is to just vent about your gender condition and how you feel about your body. In order for someone to get prescribed hormones they need to be diagnosed with either Gender Identity Disorder or Genital Dysphoria. You shouldn't have anything to worry about. Just vent. My therapist wrote me a letter or recommendation after only two sessions. All therapists are different and some do have their own requirements, but under the Standards of Care those are the only requirements. Good luck 

[mynhii]

In order for someone to get prescribed hormones they need to be diagnosed with either Gender Identity Disorder or Genital Dysphoria.

Is there difference between Gender Identity Disorder and Genital dysphoria? I don't like my penis. I hate the way it looks. I want to have it surgically inverted. In terms of gender identity, I'm a little more feminine than masculine, but I still see myself as a man.

[DanielleXoXo]

Is there difference between Gender Identity Disorder and Genital dysphoria? I don't like my penis. I hate the way it looks. I want to have it surgically inverted. In terms of gender identity, I'm a little more feminine than masculine, but I still see myself as a man.

Gender identity is whether you identify yourself as male or female, while genital dysphoria is more specific of being unhappy with your genitals. Someone with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) may feel a strong connection of belonging to the opposite sex, yet they may be comfortable with keeping their male genitals. They have GID but not genital dysphoria. In your case, I would say that it sounds like you have Genital Dysphoria but not GID. Hormones aren't generally something you would want unless you saw yourself as a woman. Unfortunately, according to the Standards of Care, someone in your shoes who is interested in getting SRS is still required to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and live full time as a woman for one year. You could stop after the SRS...but I imagine going through with that would be very troubling for someone who saw themselves as a man.

[JulieC.]

You may not want to hear this but I would say to just be honest.  If the therapist suspects you're just say what they want to hear to get hormones and it isn't the truth it will go worse for you. 

[Paul]

Well, there is no longer a minimum number of hours or therapy sessions under the new Standards of Care, so you don't have to worry about that. But it is still a good idea to have a therapy session every once in awhile just to touch base. There will be stuff you want to talk about throughout your transition. I see my therapist once a month. The most important thing for you to do regarding hormones is to just vent about your gender condition and how you feel about your body. In order for someone to get prescribed hormones they need to be diagnosed with either Gender Identity Disorder or Genital Dysphoria. You shouldn't have anything to worry about. Just vent. My therapist wrote me a letter or recommendation after only two sessions. All therapists are different and some do have their own requirements, but under the Standards of Care those are the only requirements. Good luck 

If you're planning on surgery (and your insurance covers the surgery) you may want to also find out what requirements they have for covering surgery.  I know my insurance requires a letter from a therapist you have been acquainted with for at least 18 months.  It doesn't say how many sessions you have to have or how frequently you have to meet, but at least 18 months.   

[El]

I make a point allways just to answer questions honestly and candidly with my "gatekeeper". If i was to lie to her or withhold information fearing the gate being barred i wouldnt be doing myself a service, Im sure about who i am but i dont like the idea of people getting SRS for example then regretting it, I value the gate-keeper system, any system that let people make rash decisions would not be a good thing in my mind . (Might take some flak for saying that)

[miss x 1990]

I'm on anti-androgens.

I'm seeing a psychologist at the gender clinic as part of what I have to do before they get me on to hormones.

I saw her the other day. I have to go again this week. Can anyone tell me what I have to say to her to get through this without going there too many more times? It's a very long journey and is a big hassle.

What information or answers are they looking for?

The doctor there says I'll be on hormones by January. So it's all going to happen. I just need to know what to say to avoid unnecessary train journeys.

I'll have to plug into the hive mind for a the next couple of days, so I make the right noises when I go there.

Hi Fiona,

I was wondering who your therapist is and how long you had to wait until you ad your first session? I recently went to my gp and got a referal to Dr Helen Hoey in Brisbane but I have to wait until March 6th for my first session

Miss X

[gail123]

I always end up lying to psychologists,  even if I don't intend to.

I rationalize by saying I'm just giving them what they want, but I think the reason is more complex.
Part of it is cynicism concerning psychologists,  part of it is after years of masking it's become second nature, part of it is vanity I want to make my life a little more exciting than it really is, and part of it is a life long love of story telling.
But, I think, the largest part is I'm simply not 100% sure of my reasons for transitioning, and one has to fill up the allotted time.