How to get started

[Logan175]

All my life I've felt trapped within myself. Even with a non accepting family I have decided to start living for myself and take that step forward. I have constantly researched the ftm process but would love get more input. How do I get the T process started? How long is it needed? Can any doctor provide it? My heart aches to get this process started but living in a small town really limits my knowledge.

[Jessica Merriman]

Many of us started with a Therapist with gender experience. There is a lot more to transition than just going on HRT. There are family, work, social and many other things to address. The post HRT regret factor is lower for those with personal and real life support group interaction. You can find informed consent places out there to just prescribe hormones, but there is just more to this than meds. Transition is almost impossible to do by yourself without support. Please start at the beginning and not just bypass this very important step. 

[Logan175]

About the only support I will ever have behind me is my lady. My family are to religious and just don't understand no matter how many different ways I tell them. This is not something that I just woke up one day and decided to do. I've debated this process for years and have prayed everyday. I don't even know if a therapist with gender experience exists in this town.

[Jessica Merriman]

This is not something that I just woke up one day and decided to do.

I never said you did. You asked how to get started and I gave you the advice many here followed, myself included. 

[FTMKyle]

Do you live near a big city, and can you easily get to it? You can research the LGBT community there, try finding support groups, and making other transgender friends. I don't know if any doctor can prescribe T, but you can ask your doctor. They say five years is about how long it takes to see full results from T, but I think most people take it all their lives.

You can try easing your family into it by trying to discuss other trans people with them. Try informing them on the things you already know. Bring them articles and books if they will read them. Get them involved if they will have it. Try to get at least one family member behind you. A brother, a sister, a cousin... If all else fails you can go ahead with your transition and hope that they come around with time. Show them that you are happy living as a man.

Are you dressing and acting the part now? If not, try buying mens' clothing and cutting your hair. I know that can at least help convince your doctor/therapist. It can also help with exploring your own gender and easing yourself into the role of a man. 

[Bimmer Guy]

Many of us started with a Therapist with gender experience. There is a lot more to transition than just going on HRT. There are family, work, social and many other things to address. The post HRT regret factor is lower for those with personal and real life support group interaction. You can find informed consent places out there to just prescribe hormones, but there is just more to this than meds. Transition is almost impossible to do by yourself without support. Please start at the beginning and not just bypass this very important step. 

Great post!

Logan use this list to find a therapist:  http://www.drbecky.com/therapists.html

Or go through www.wpath.org and look under "Find a Provider".  Put in your state/surrounding state.

If no therapist is close to you, call the closest one and see if they can recommend someone.  Good luck!

[Logan175]

Logan use this list to find a therapist:  http://www.drbecky.com/therapists.html

Or go through www.wpath.org and look under "Find a Provider".  Put in your state/surrounding state.

If no therapist is close to you, call the closest one and see if they can recommend someone.  Good luck!
[/quote]

Thank you this really helped. The closest one is 4 hrs away.

[Ryan55]

I went to pyschology today.com and found a gender therapist from there. Called them up and said I had gender issues I wanted to talk about. She asked what my preferred name was and gave it. The therapist recommended me the doctor to start T, after around a month or two of seeing the therapist, I set up my T appointment. hope this helps. I was able to go on T right away from that appointment.

[Rengar]

Sometimes you don't have to use a Therapist that specialized in Gender Therapy. Mine did but, I've heard of a lot of people that went to regular therapists and got their hormones from them!

[Bimmer Guy]

Sometimes you don't have to use a Therapist that specialized in Gender Therapy. Mine did but, I've heard of a lot of people that went to regular therapists and got their hormones from them!

Yes, there is not current certification/licensure to be a "gender therapist".  What can be bothersome to people is that they often find they spend their therapy time educating the therapist about gender/transexuality, rather than talking about their own gender issues!

[Blue Senpai]

Signed up for an appointment at Callen-Lorde who does informed consent. Bypassed all that therapy.

[Rengar]

Yes, there is not current certification/licensure to be a "gender therapist".  What can be bothersome to people is that they often find they spend their therapy time educating the therapist about gender/transexuality, rather than talking about their own gender issues!

Yeah you're definitely right. They can also be pretty biased from what I've heard. But, if they're closer I'd consider them as a last resort if you couldn't find anything else.