Getting the runaround from therapists

[FinallyMe84]

It has been such an issue just finding a counselor lately. First of all, I am lucky to live in Vermont, where gender counselors seem to be plentiful, but I am on Medicaid, and can't afford to pay full price for the sessions, so they must take Medicaid, but which a lot of them don't, and the ones I've contacted that do are no longer accepting new patients! Some have given me names of experienced therapists, but then I've called most of them in my immediate area and none of them are taking new patients!! I am lucky that I am at least seeing a therapist for other problems and she has taken on the role of my gender counselor for now, but pretty soon I'm going to need to see someone else if I ever want to get my letters!! A little trivial for a rant, but it is important to me.

[izzy]

Is it possible to see a therapists a half hour to 45 minutes away from where you live? I hope there would be a nice enough therapists that would take you.

[FinallyMe84]

That would be an option if I had a car, but I'm not sure I could reliably get there every week. I live in the metro area of Vermont's largest city, so most of my options would be close to here anyway. There's probably at least a few others I can contact, but so far it's been one big frustration! I hope I find one soon.

[LordKAT]

You do not need a 'gender' therapist to get your letters. Any therapist you find useful will do. Surgery will need a second letter but not HRT.

[Jessica Merriman]

First of all, I am lucky to live in Vermont, where gender counselors seem to be plentiful

HA! I knew it. Maple syrup causes ->-bleeped-<-! I have a doctorate thesis now. 

I feel for you. Where I am is the exact opposite, we have too few. Some of them have heard of, but not read the WPATH SoCs I think. I have to drive 124 miles round trip for mine. I hope you find one close and soon sis.

[FinallyMe84]

You do not need a 'gender' therapist to get your letters. Any therapist you find useful will do. Surgery will need a second letter but not HRT.

Oh, I was under the assumption that they would need to have lots of experience with trans patients already. I am seeing someone right now who has been very helpful, and she has a ftm nephew, so she already knew a bit about us. Jessica, maybe you're right about the maple syrup thing, lol. So, maybe I'll see if I can keep her and still get my letters

HA! I knew it. Maple syrup causes ->-bleeped-<-! I have a doctorate thesis now. 

I feel for you. Where I am is the exact opposite, we have too few. Some of them have heard of, but not read the WPATH SoCs I think. I have to drive 124 miles round trip for mine. I hope you find one close and soon sis.

Thanks Jessica. I also feel for you and everyone who is not in as tolerant an area as I am. Not that it's easy here, but I have had a fairly easy time coming out and starting transition here when compared with what others must go through. There really are a lot of resources and support around here I just haven't been able to find someone who isn't booked or takes medicaid patients. I'll try to keep my current therapist, but if not I'm sure I'll find someone else who can take me on soon!

Thank you both for your help and kind words!

[calico]

You can also do informed consent as well as a last resort. The biggy for a letter will be for surgery in which you have to have 2 letters from phd psychologist's or psychiatrist's or a combination of the two.

Informed consent is where a dr will provide you with a script and monitoring after you sign a release/disclaimer