University of Michigan Comprehensive Gender Clinic

[Antonia J]

In the area of Michigan where I live, there are not a lot of trans friendly services.  U of M is the closest, and I wonder if anyone has any experience with them? Thank you.

Toni

[Jamie Marie]

I just had my first interview with them for intake into their program. I'll let you know in a few weeks.

-Jamie

[Tracy Stevens]

My old therapist was  affiliated with them. They approved my hormones treatment. I think it only took me 3 appointments to get their approval.

[Antonia J]

Thanks for the feedback Deana and Jamiemarie!

Jamiemarie: I did my intake with Nancy B already, as well. I am trying to get something setup for mid to late May. Please let me know how it goes for you. I would love to share & compare notes

[Jamie Marie]

Okay I would love that. I'm too anxious about waiting to hear back for more   Good luck to us both.

[Antonia J]

Okay I would love that. I'm too anxious about waiting to hear back for more   Good luck to us both.

I think they are just a bit slow. No worries. I called once and didn't hear anything, and then called again a week later before anyone returned my call to schedule the intake. I wouldn't worry too much. I am waiting for scheduling now, and they are coordinating with my local counselor before setting a firm date. I am going to give them a week before being "pleasantly persistent"

[Jamie Marie]

Well I am starting from scratch and have a long way to go. Didn't hear anything in two weeks, so I sent an email. Have my first therapy appt next week. I'm so excited. As far as the rest goes I guess it's all about patience.

Too bad there aren't more people on here who have been through the program I found it's hard to find much of anything. Would love some feedback from somebody who participated.


Anybody else know about the program at U of M?

[Antonia J]

Its been going REALLY slow for me, as well. I did the intake about 2+ weeks ago, and my local therapist reached out....and then nothing.  I contacted them early last week, and they are supposed to be reaching out to my counselor.  I am meeting with my counselor for a regular session this Monday to see if they actually followed up. 

I suspect that the clinic is staffed by part timers, and may only be a 1 or 2 day per week service. I don't know for certain, but it is a slow process and even getting phone calls or emails returned seems to require a bit of work.

I'll keep you updated as I learn more.

[Anna++]

How did Imiss this thread when it was first posted??  I wanted to go through the UMich gender clinic but my insurance didn't cover them. I hope that they accept you!

[Angel in the Snow]

I live in Ann Arbor and go to UM, and when I was first looking for a therapist to start HRT, I called them and did an intake with Nancy. I personally got a weird vibe from her in the couple of times we spoke, and the therapist they appointed me seemed pretty unpleasant when I called to make an appointment. I also found out later that they apparently have a reputation for having kind of a 'gatekeeper' attitude. I ended up going elsewhere, anyway. One local gender therapist who is not connected to the UMich program, and who seems to be pretty well regarded is Sandra Samons. I think she actually has a doctorate in MTF issues in addition to her MSW, so she might be a good option for people who aren't able/don't want to go through UM.

[Steffo]

Thanks for the heads up! I was going to check them out, but I didn't have any insurance. :\ Learning bit by bit.

[Sunshine B]

I am the S/O of an MTF. My partner goes to the U of M for HRT only. We don't have insurance coverage either so we pay for visits out of pocket. The intake experience with Nancy went fairly well. She was very knowledgeable about Gender Issues and seemed more strict about getting "ducks in a row" as opposed to the Gate Keeper approach. The rest of my partner's treatment is being taken care of on the other side of the state, but the endocrinology part (HRT) is being managed through U of M. Our experience so far has been quite pleasant. Everyone there was beyond friendly to us and very respectful. They wanted to know what my partner wanted to be called and followed her requests. Any questions we had were answered with lots of information and with respect. Blood test results were given quickly and over the phone. We have another appointment set out there for Monday. We will followup with another post then.  Sunshine B.

***It's nice to come across other MTFs from Michigan!!!

[Antonia J]

http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/College-Appendix.html

An interesting link from Lynn Conway's site on the CGSP. Makes me a bit leery as to what to expect! 

I appreciate your sharing your experience, Sunshine B!  I am from west Michigan, and having mixed success in finding health care professionals experienced with mtf transitions in our area.  If I can ask, is U of M working with your SO's local therapist? 

[Sunshine B]

I just read the link that you provided on U of M Gender Clinic. Fortunately, none of what was written in the article was our experience whatsoever. I imagine they must have done a complete overhaul of the program because my SO did not come across anyone who tried to get her to detransition or even to discourage her in the slightest. In fact, as soon as she identified as TG, they just started explaining the program and offering options to her.

As indicated in the previous post, my partner uses U of M solely for endocrinology (hormones). Tomorrow will be our second visit there. It is a long drive (as you know) but we only have to go out there every few months (every 2 months, then every four months and then every six months or so). As her body adjusts to hormones and accurate levels are found, we will go out there less often. They even offered to serve as a future OBGYN in case we run into problems finding a transfriendly OB in West Michigan. Again, everyone was more than friendly, encouraging, respectful, and pleasant to work with. We will let you know how things go tomorrow.

Yes, U of M is working with my SO's gender therapist here in West Michigan. Her therapist had to send a letter to Nancy that she was ready for hormones. Nancy then contacted the therapist by phone to verify that it was truly the therapist who had written it (this is their standard protocol). That was it! Then, she was able to start services with an endocrinologist. They did offer counseling services at U of M, but it's just too far of a drive when she can receive counseling services here.

We have noticed the lack of counseling services here in West Michigan as well. My partner scoured the Internet looking for a local therapist who specializes in Gender Issues. Given my partner's experience, I decided to start looking towards opening an LGBT program (counseling services for LGBT) in the group private practice where i work (I'm a psychologist) so that more services are available in the West Michigan area.

We will write more tomorrow regarding U of M and our visit there.  It's great to meet someone in West Michigan!  Sunshine B.

[Angel in the Snow]

It's great that some of you have had good experiences there. My experience was obviously really limited, so it's good to know there's another side. I think that these things really come down to finding a good fit. I do get my HRT done in the UM health system, along with any other medical stuff.

[Sunshine B]

As promised, here is the update from our second visit to the U of M Comprehensive Gender Clinic. My partner is TG and I am the SO. She goes to U of M for her hormones.

Our second visit went just as well as the first. The office staff where she receives her hormones was very friendly and welcoming. The nurse who came out to the waiting room addressed her by her last name which helps to protect personal name issues. She was very respectful as she gathered all the vitals. Once we got into the room, she even asked what my partner wanted to be called. She was very personable and talked with both of us. Next, the PA came in to gather information about any effects the hormones might be having. She, too, was very friendly, personable, and engaging. Then, the doctor came in and also asked about effects of hormones. Hormones were increased and he explained the regimen very thoroughly. We  had several questions to ask and he answered each one with patience and details.  We did not feel rushed whatsoever. He was also very polite and friendly. Setting up the next appointment with the office staff went very well. She goes back in four months!

I hope others have as good of an experience there as we have so far. Feel free to ask any questions about our experience.

Sunshine B.

[Antonia J]

Sunshine - thank you for continuing to share. I have so many questions! 

First, it is awesome that you and your SO have such a supportive and understanding relationship, and that you are still together. That speaks volumes to the relationship, and a lot of you. If you do not mind a personal question: How long have you been together, and did you have any knowledge she was going to transition when you met? My wife and I are struggling, and we have good days and bad days, but there is a lot of uncertainty for both of us.

We have noticed the lack of counseling services here in West Michigan as well. My partner scoured the Internet looking for a local therapist who specializes in Gender Issues. Given my partner's experience, I decided to start looking towards opening an LGBT program (counseling services for LGBT) in the group private practice where i work (I'm a psychologist) so that more services are available in the West Michigan area. 

Amen, sister! This is desperately needed and kudos to you for trying to do something about it. I have reached out to a number of different places trying to get information, but feel like I am navigating this largely on my own.  In some ways, I feel like being TG in W. Michigan is like being an elf in Lord of the Rings - you're rare and hidden from the world, and people marvel when they actually see you.  I have a therapist I started seeing for a separate issue when I finally came out, but it is not her forte. Nice person, just not a lot of knowledge to address the trans* issues.

I think the only counselor I saw with direct experience in GR was Annita List (name from memory, so may not have this right). There is a trans* support group in GR that meets every other Saturday - next meeting on May 4 at 7 pm at the Pride center. I have not gone yet, but was thinking of attending the next meeting. Other than these two resources, I have not really heard / seen much for support services. Have you and your SO had any better luck? 

I would be curious about how the two of you came to learn about U of M, and if there are any other places/services you have found helpful in GR / W. Michigan.  The only other item I can offer is I am using W. Michigan Dermatology for laser hair removal on my face and neck. Will eventually go to an electrologist for a few gray, but laser is a lot less expensive, not nearly as painful, and I have had good results. They did not seem to bat an eye when I got started - and were happy to take my credit card

[Sunshine B]

Antonia--feel free to ask questions as they come up. I have no problem answering them.

My partner and I started dating in 2004 and married in 2007, so we have been together for 9 years. Nope, I had no idea she was going to transition when we met, nor did I know she was TG. She came out as being TG in July of 2012. It came as a surprise to me. However, the more I learn about TG, the more I recognize the ebbs and flows with Gender Dysphoria and how a person tries to suppress/hide it as long as they possibly can. The thing that helps me the most is to continue learning about TG and to ask questions about her past and current experience. It also helps that I recognize that she is the exact same person no matter what--she is just going to look different. However, her core personality remains the same.

The only support groups that we are aware of are the ones through West Michigan Pride and the ones that U of M offers. I think there are even more on the east side of the state, but nothing else in West Michigan. Once I get my program up and running, i plan to incorporate groups if there is enough interest.

My partner is the one who learned about U of M's program. She was scouring the Internet looking for any resources available regarding Transgender/Transsexual and just happened to come across the program. We have also made a few contacts through Grand Valley State University's LGBT Resource Center. While this is geared mostly toward their students, they occasionally have presentations/speakers geared toward the public regarding LGBT issues.

Unfortunately, this is all we've been able to locate in West Michigan. My partner's therapist recommended an endocrinologist who was associated with Spectrum Health. We don't know whether this was coincidence or not, but once they found out the hormones would be for a Trans* issue, there was a 7 month waiting list to get in. We have no conclusive evidence whether this was a discriminatory issue or really just a long waiting list, but there was no way we were going to wait that long. Therefore, she started with U of M's clinic for the hormones.

Again, feel free to continue to ask questions. It's helpful to know there are other couples out there and other Transgender persons in West Michigan.

Sunshine B.

[Antonia J]

An update: So I finally have an appointment for the U of M clinic in mid May, but I will meet with one of their therapists before discussing HRT. I have a 2 hour appointment scheduled. I am actually glad about the meeting with their therapist as a couple of friends/family have pressured me to get a "second opinion" about my gender identity diagnosis from my primary therapist. Sure, whatever to make them happy, but I also believe it will help me put together a transition timeline and maybe sequence some things rolling around in my head....and also discuss ways of possibly saving my marriage, which I desperately hope to do. All good.

[Jamie Marie]

Antonia,

I'm glad you finally heard back!!! I was bored and sent them an email and had my first therapy session tuesday, soo happy.

Before I enrolled in the program I couldn't sleep and wrote them a three page letter about my history along with a detailed transition timeline covering the next 18 months or so with what is expected at each point and what I wish to accomplish which Nancy forwarded to my therapist.

So far I haven't told anyone I know except my girlfriend until more therapy sessions have been accomplished. My grandmother is probably going too be the hardest one to tell in my family. My friends are pretty open-minded so they'll probably be super easy.


Good luck with the appointment.

Jamie