any tips on first therapist appointment

[Ryan55]

Hey guys and girls lol,

I have my first therapist appointment tuesday, to talk about this gender issue stuff and wanting to be a guy. I am kinda nervous about it and not even sure how to start it off when I get in there with the therapist. I'm 22, so i have worries like will this therapist take me seriously or think I'm some kid trying to find myself still and experimenting. I guess I'm nervous and excited at the same time because I can start this process and feel a sense of relief as to who I always felt I was. The therapist I am not really sure deals with gender issues, my moms the one that got me the appointment, I came out to her and shes like you can go see my therapist, so i figured why not, since shes helping pay for the therapist. My mom can't really get a grip on the whole I want to be a guy thing, she can accept if I'm gay, but being a dude its hard for her to understand, so hoping the therapist can kind of help with this too, help me explain it better maybe. Just wanted some advice, maybe see how your first time seeing a therapist went and how you went about it.

[Jerri]

hi Ryan,
the only advice I could possibly offer to help is be totally honest and open, this session is to help you, and if it does not feel right or work that you can be comfortable doing that then you may need a different one. I went through three before I was able to find the right person for me. It is not uncommon to not have the first person you talk to not be the best for you but it may be. You will know fairly early in your sessions. It helps have a gender back ground but the person I settled with does not have a huge exposure there so we are kind of learning some of those details together, in her office there is a gender therapist for when we get hung up on legal boundries and such.
Good luck and best wishes for you, for me it has been a super experience in developing my confidence and understanding about my feelings and how to offset or control my behavior to help with those tough moments.
take care
Jerri

[Ryan55]

Thanks Jerri, I appreciate it

[amZo]

hi Ryan,
the only advice I could possibly offer to help is be totally honest and open, this session is to help you, and if it does not feel right or work that you can be comfortable doing that then you may need a different one. I went through three before I was able to find the right person for me. It is not uncommon to not have the first person you talk to not be the best for you but it may be. You will know fairly early in your sessions. It helps have a gender back ground but the person I settled with does not have a huge exposure there so we are kind of learning some of those details together, in her office there is a gender therapist for when we get hung up on legal boundries and such.
Good luck and best wishes for you, for me it has been a super experience in developing my confidence and understanding about my feelings and how to offset or control my behavior to help with those tough moments.
take care
Jerri

I think Jerri nailed it. 

[JoanneB]

I agree with Jerry also, brutal honesty. Plus saying things out loud to another person sounds so much different after you are forced to twist your brain into knots to try to come up with coherent answers to the therapists questions. Only by answering truthfully will you be able to sort out just where in the TG spectrum you may reside, today, and sort out the "Now what?" that is best for you, today.

[Ryan55]

Thanks Appreciate it guys

[King Malachite]

I also agree that honestly is the best policy here.  On top of that, I suggest letting the therapist know where you want to go with you transition (as in, have some type of plan, even if you have to educate them on terms) because that shows seriousness on your part.  I wouldn't sweat it though because the first day, he/she would probably just take the time to get to know you and see where your head is at, which goes back to having a plan.

[Ryan55]

so just to update, I went to my first therapist appointment and it was great. She was amazing and understood a lot of what I was saying. Best of all, she said whenever I am ready, she will refer me to a doctor to start T. She was a gender therapist and was pretty easy to talk too. I was really nervous and anxious for no reason. She said she will also help me to get my mom to understand the whole transgender and transitioning stuff. I have another appointment with her next week.