Finally !

[Emi]

Hi ! 

This time it's true, it's not a dream, there is nothing that will cancel my opportunity... I finally got an appointment to see a therapist on the 12th !
After one whole month of waiting, I finally received a letter from the therapist I contacted !
I'm so excited and nervous at the same time to finally start therapy !
I still don't know how to start the session ; I know I shouldn't come and say, like, "Hey, I'm a boy and I ever wanted to be a girl" but I don't know what else to say or not !

How did you start ?

~ Emi

[Ms Grace]

Great news! The best approach is to be open and honest - if you feel you have struggled with your gender identity tell them. Try to avoid getting sidetracked with excessive details. Avoid telling your life story, just the most important parts. If you feel you might not say everything you want to say, write it down.

[Dee Marshall]

If this is a therapist who works with other issues avoid any you might have for the first meeting. Therapists are people too and you might find yourself sidetracked into an issue that they might feel more comfortable addressing. Stick on topic.

[Eva Marie]

On the first visit the therapist will probably let you just tell your story however you feel like telling it; the therapist needs to get a feel for who you are. On subsequent visits expect the therapist to help you focus on specific areas that you need to talk about, and expect the therapist to assign you "homework".

As others have said - you only have a short visit with the therapist (it goes by unbelievably quickly!) so think ahead about topics you want to discuss to avoid wasting time on topics that are of no value. I always think of a few things to bring up on every visit and still we wind up talking about something totally different every time  but I am prepared if we hit a lull in the conversation.

Mainly, just relax and tell the therapist the truth - it doesn't matter how embarrassing it is to you; the therapist has probably heard it before from someone else and the therapist is a professional there to help you understand who you are. The therapist is not there to judge you; only to help you, and that can't happen without you being honest.

[Emi]

Thanks for the advises

I think I'll tell what she wants to tell first then I'll tell her about the most important point for me. I dont think she's a gender therapist, just an "average" one. Add to that the fact that my mother called to have an appointment for me to speak about sexuality but that is not at all what I want to speak about and she knows it but she does all the things to make my dysphoria stronger like always remembering me I'm her SON and things like that

Anyways, I'll keep you informed !

[@Diana]

congrats on your 1st visit with therapist ..

when I first started , about 17 years ago , we didnt (and still dont) have endo to consult with transpeople in Thailand, we had to do everything, studied how to take hormone by ourselves .. i had to buy hormone pills, hormone solution and went to clinic so nurse could inject for me ..which i am not recommending to anyone ..

[Emi]

Wow, it might be kinda hard and dangerous to transition in Thailand :/

Hopefully (I think?) I live in France so it might not be the same here.

[Emi]

As promised, I keep you informed !

So, I met my therapist on monday morning !
She is really nice and I felt good talking to her. But it was only the first appointment and she said the 4 or 5 first appointments will be only to know me more and then if needed we'll talk about my problems during a longer period. On this first appointment, I couldn't talk to her alone, and my mom was here. She talked during almost the appointment to my therapist. But on the next appointments I'll can talk more directly to my therapist. We didn't speak about my "problem" yet and I can't wait the next appointment on the 21 and see how things will be then. I hope I'll can start transition soon, even if it will be hard to explain to my mom that I have no mental illness or something.

Anyway, I'll still keep you all informed

[Ms Grace]

Great - a shame your mother had to be there too but the next one is all yours. As for your transition, one thing at a time, yeah? See how you go with the therapist and take it from there. Hugs.

[Emi]

Yes I know I shoud take more little steps but I can't wait. I finally have a chance to be who I wanna be, what I always need is just patience. ^^

[E-Brennan]

I'm glad it went well, Emi.  Once the sessions become private between you and therapist alone, you'll see huge progress.  I've found that therapy alleviates some of the dysphoria - the act of sharing and the knowledge that you're taking steps towards some goal (even if the goal isn't yet defined) will, I'm sure, have the same effect on you.

[Emi]

I hope you're right
In all cases, even just your support here makes me feel better.

[Emi]

Hey !
I told I would keep you all informed, and I did on this topic :
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=165552.new#new