How long before your therapist to authorized you to take T? What state?

[nickm1492]

I'm curious because on Wednesday I am planning on going to my school's psychological/counseling office and signing up for therapy I guess. Has anyone ever done this through school? Hopefully they can help me get the ball rolling.
I live in Florida if this makes a diff.
Anyway, I am HOPING though I'm not sure how realistic this will be, that after about 4 months of going to therapy, they will authorize me going on T. I don't even mind 6 months. As long as I can be on T by this summer. I want to really have some good amount of changes before school starts in the fall.  And I have high hopes for the T because I guess I have genetics on my side. Men in my family have incredibly deep voices and have thick facial hair. Unfortunately, for me at the moment, I have to shave on a constant basis because I shave and the next day I have stuble! Though that's a good thing for when I start T in my opinion ^_^

[Hayzer12]

It varies. My therapist said she would write me a letter on the first day, but it took about.. 5 sessions to get the letter sent off to a physician. I live in TN, which is one of the most bigoted and ignorant places in the world lol

[nickm1492]

Damn, that would be fantastic! Hopefully since it is a school therapist, they will have more experience with lgbt issues and what not! Lol I'd kill for that first session letter! But whatever happens, I'll be happy as long as it does not go past 4 months!!!!!!
And damn, I'd be scared to live over there lol It's florida and I don't particularly find it accepting. I cant imagine there

[wheat thins are delicious]

Not all docs require a letter if you find one that will do informed consent.

[nickm1492]

Despite the fact that I shall be turning 20, I live with my mother. So her house, her rules. And she wants me to at least get some therapy before hand which at this point, I am all for.

[Robert Scott]

My therapist said on my second visit that she would write my letter.

The new standards don't require a therapy unless you have a pre-existing mental health disorder then your therapist need only say that it's not that condition and your fine to transition

[nickm1492]

Wow that's amazing. I should lose some weight before starting on T though lol I'm not exactly in the best shape. My cholesterol and all those things have always been normal but I'm sure weightloss would be good in terms of keeping those things on track when getting placed on T.

Thanks everyone so much for all the answers so far! They have been enormous help!

[Annah]

There's no state specifics. The general rule of thumb is every therapist will give the HRT letters when they believe you are ready to take them.

For some, it's a year, for others its 6 months, and a couple months as well.

It depends on you and the therapist and their own guidelines.

[nickm1492]

Alright thanks

[Annah]

Also, don't call around asking therapists what their HRT timetables are

That may red flag you.

Knew I girl who called around her city asking the therapists what was the minimum amount of time she had to have therapy before getting HRT. Eventually, she started getting answers like "it's about the same duration of time that my other colleagues in the Dallas/Ft Worth area had explained to you."

[nickm1492]

Oh wow. I had never even thought to do that honestly lol
I am just going to one person at my school. Or whoever they put me with. Not sure yet. Still gotta sign up for it! But yeah, I was just hoping that being completely honest and talking about things would help me and hopefully help them see how serious I am about things.

[Felix]

I was authorized immediately because I asked a therapist who'd seen me for a couple of years for mostly other reasons, who knew my gender issues pretty well and knew I'd been taking transition at a snail's pace and it was holding me back.

If I were you I would seek out local transpeople to talk strategy.

[Morgan.]

I had been seeing my psychologist for general issues on and off for a while, and after seeing a GP about starting testosterone, she said she'd be happy to give me the go ahead if my psychologist would fax her through a letter confirming that she agrees it was the best thing for me to do. I scheduled a session with my psychologist to catch up and ask about the letter, surely enough the fax arrived the day I was in my GP's office to get my shot. I guess depending on what experience your therapist has had/if they may specialize in gender issues, they could be a little more understanding than others.

[geek]

The new standards don't require a therapy unless you have a pre-existing mental health disorder then your therapist need only say that it's not that condition and your fine to transition

Man I wish I could do it like that, here it sort of feels like they just make the rules up as they go