RLE varies a bit from place to place and some people have horror of it. People worry as to whether it is pre or post hormone or whatever.
The concept of RLE is probably good but the practice is often poor.
Essentially You must live in your 'chosen' gender for a period usually a minimum of 12 months. That you must be adequately functional in work, volunteer role or study for a minimum period, again often 12 months.
If you look upon it as a positive for yourself, rather than some 'gate-keeper' strategy, use it to find if you like being your gender, if you fit as your gender and you can happily function as your gender. Find and define the problems you have and get the therapist to help you overcome those problems. And of course people here as well.
The problems do exist. There are woman here (and men but I'll refer to woman) who on their avatars pass with flying colours as their gender, but express dismay that they do not present well. They often suggest they are having problems living as their gender in some way. There are others, and I will include myself here, who will never pass as their physical gender, but who have absolutely no problems in fitting in society, at any level, as their gender.
I can and do lecture to 3-400 students as me and I have no problems whatsoever in passing as me, and then there are totally feminine women here who worry about going to the store in case they don't pass.
For me RLE taught me how to cope with that. It was a time to practice and learn.
Enjoy and remember to have fun!!
Cindy
