Should i go to GP or a Therapist for my gender issues?

[Zoe Louise Taylor]

Hiya

Just a quick question regarding how i should start my transition?

I have been told by many people that the way to start transitioning and HRT etc, is to go to your GP.
Is this true or could i book an appointment with a gender therapist, as i have moved around alot in the past three or so years i dont have a regular GP and don't really want to tell a GP i dont trust!!!

Im in the UK so it might be different in other nations, but all answers are much appreciated.

Much love
Zoe
x

[Ltl89]

I live in the U.S, so I can't fully tell you how the NHS deals with transgender patients.

However, I think going to a gender therapist is the best route for a lot of people.  They are trained in this area, so they can give you informative feedback.  It's better to start with someone who is likely to understand where you are coming from.  If this is an option for you, then I would consider going to a gender therapist.  Of course, it's a decision that only you can make. 

Still, I am not sure what procedures they use in the U.K. Here in the states most people either start through informed consent or they get hrt letters through their therapist and then go to a endocrinologist.   

[StellaB]

I would go to see your GP and get them to refer you to a psychiatrist, who, all being well, will refer you to a gender specialist.

[JennX]

Just go directly to the gender therapist and cut out the middle man. They will better be able to talk with you and direct as to what your best next move.

[Theo]

I went directly to a gender specialist. She's a psychiatrist, so she knows the whole MD route as well. Heck, she's known well enough over here that my endo left the medical talk to her, making my 1st endo HRT appointment one of the shortest in history: "Ah, I see Dr. X sent you here. Any particular questions? Otherwise let us draw some blood and I'll send you the recipe as soon as the results are in." .

My normal GP is still blissfully unaware about the whole thing... 

[Tristan]

I went to my GP and was put on hrt that way

[Sabrina]

I went to a regular therapist until they couldn't really assist further with my gender issues. Granted, when I started see my therapist, I thought that I just had crossdressing / other issues but thru several sessions in became clear my problems were deeper than that. She basically recommended I look for a specialist in the field. From there I looked for, found, and then setup an appointment with said gender specialist. My first appointment will be an intake diagnosis type, kinda getting what my needs are then possibly directing me to someone else in the building or helping me themselves.

Basically, it comes down to how sure you are of your issue. If you are dead set on inner femininity so to speak and you already know for certain, you could see a gender therapist straight off the bat. But if you are like how I was initially and think it might be something else or a combination of things, a regular therapist might be a good starting point then progress to a specialist afterwords.

[RosieD]

It depends where you are. If you live in Scotland you can go straight to the gender specialist, for England and Wales (I am not sure about Northern Ireland) you need to go to the GP first. That is assuming you don't go private in which case you can do what you like.

Rosie.

[Princess Rachel]

I went to my GP first, had a psych eval, I went into the gender dysphoria service, had speech therapy sessions for about a year, meanwhile I self-financed laser hair removal, there was a transwomens social group but that had to end after budget cutbacks, I've been seen my gender therapist for a while now, every 3 months or so, been on feminising hormones for a couple of years and finally getting a level of breast development I'm starting to feel comfortable with, though I would like them to keep growing, alas I've been yo-yo dieting so my weight's not gone down, if anything it's gone up, although I have been doing some light excercise so it's not all fat (just mostly), I basically don't think I'd be where I am now if I didn't go to see my GP first and get things done right from the get go.

[Seras]

Unless you have the money to go private in the UK you have to follow their procedure.

GP -> Basic psych to see if crazy -> ~6 months -> Gender Specialist -> 6 months between appointments -> Full time -> Some form of treatment.

I saved up to go private since I am not willing to go full time before getting HRT. My first appointment with a private doctor will be at the end of the month after having been in the NHS system for 2 years. At Charring Cross in London anything less than full time is insufficient to get treatment.

[Joanna Dark]

Unless you have the money to go private in the UK you have to follow their procedure.

GP -> Basic psych to see if crazy -> ~6 months -> Gender Specialist -> 6 months between appointments -> Full time -> Some form of treatment.

I saved up to go private since I am not willing to go full time before getting HRT. My first appointment with a private doctor will be at the end of the month after having been in the NHS system for 2 years. At Charring Cross in London anything less than full time is insufficient to get treatment.

In one way I think trans persons in the UK are lucky because of universal health care. OTOH, uh, I can't help but think forcing someone to be full-time for a year before any HRT is ritualized hazing. I thought this was the way things were in the U.S. for the longest time, which stopped me from seeking treatment. When I was 19 I coulda went full-time and I would have never been clocked. So maybe it's a cop out on my part. IDK. I just wish I woulda been more curious at age 20 when I knew for a fact I would one day have to transition as the GID was permanent and not in any way transitory.

[Kristen Wave]

I would look for a Psychologist that specializes in Gender issues and then have them refer you to a psychiatrist. That way you can get any meds you may need and after you've done you 1 yr real life experience you have to people authorized to write you the letters required for GRS if you choose to go down that road. You really do want to make sure you get a psychologist that is familiar with WPATH

[Devlyn]

I've edited extensively, isn't the thread much nicer now? Hugs, Devlyn

[RosieD]

In one way I think trans persons in the UK are lucky because of universal health care. OTOH, uh, I can't help but think forcing someone to be full-time for a year before any HRT is ritualized hazing.

Thankfully the NHS has moved on a bit and it should only be a 3 month hazing before they will give you HRT. That said, I do think there are some good sides to the NHS treatment plan. For me, starting with no help has meant that I have had to establish a few foundations that might not have been necessary otherwise and, after having read some of the sentiments expressed in other threads on this site, I feel it may have bypassed some of the uncertainties that seem to accompany the gradual slide from male to female.

Rosie.