Transgender Therapists

[misschievous]

Is there a difference between a Transgender Therapist and Psychologist that deals with Transsexual issues? I keep reading how you have to see a transgender therapist to get on HRT. Are they therapists that specialize in transgender issues? reason I ask, in my town there is a few Phsychologists that deal with transsexual issues but I couldn't find one that it was there specialty.

[Cindy]

This totally depends where you are. I'm in Australia, I see psychiatrists who specialise in gender issues of any type. It is also local law that I see them and be assessed before hormones and then be re assessed before surgery and see them regularly during the whole box and dice.

It would be useful to know where you are.

Sue's is a true International site.

[misschievous]

Indiana, USA

[Flan]

It's mostly in the labels: one specialized in issues of gender identity and another who happens to also deal with clients with issues of gender identity. The former is preferred but the therapist can't live off trans* clients alone so it's best to find one you as a client trusts.

[misschievous]

Ok Thank you Flan Ps love your Signature

[aleon515]

Unless your therapist IS transgender like mine.

--Jay

[JoanneB]

I can't personally speak to actual gender therapist but can say a little something about a therapist that "deals with transsexual issues". In the case of mine, I'd call him TG friendly and has some exposure that I kow of to other TGs through my group. No way would I consider him a gender therapist. OK if your goal is a clearance letter for hormones. Not too OK in helping you sort out or question who you are.

Living in a rural area my pickings are slim to none. My TG group and therapist are 90 miles away. The closest "gender therapists" are in either Washington DC, Baltimore, Phillidelphia, or Pittsburgh. All of which are like 3 hours away just to get into town.

I guess the choice comes down to your goals. Mine was primarily to help me through life issues who was at least aware of some of the baggage a TG accumulated through life. I had no goal of transitioning. Just not wanting to see my life explode once again over the not so good ways I developed to handle being TG.

[JLT1]

I see a psychologist who actually sees a number of different people with different issues.  However, even though she does see a broad range of patients, she has been seeing transgendered patients for almost 20 years.  That's a lot of experience.  She is also on the state board for transgender issues.  I think that it is really about what their experience, but also about what they can do and how comfortably you can relate to them.  They do need to have relevant experience in my state before they can recommend someone for HRT.