What credentials does a therapist need to be able to recommend HRT?

[Ashlotte]

So I met a therapist on Thursday who was recommended for me by my pediatrician. He was a very nice, understanding man, and he has a trans family member, but I think that's about all his experience with transsexualism. He said he would love to help me out, but we don't want to go through with this for about a year just to realize he can't give me what I need. I'd really like to go to him even though I would be (I think) his first trans patient, because he seems very nice and his office is literally a 10 minute walk from my house. So my question is, what does he need to be able to give me the recommendation? What do therapists that specialize in this have that he doesn't?

P.S. The closest gender therapist to me is about an hour drive. 

[LordKAT]

What they have and he doesn't is most likely training /experience with trans patients. That is all. If he can believe that you have no mental health issues that would interfere with your ability to know who you are and is willing to write the recommendation for HRT, you are good.

[Dee Marshall]

You don't say where you are, but any kind of certified therapist should do, CSW, LMHC, PsyD, what have you.

[Jaime R D]

it really depends on the doctor or endo that will be the recipient of said recommendation.

[Ashlotte]

Okay, so he has a PHD in Clinical Psychology. I'm guessing he'll be able to help me out? I'm scheduled for an appointment 3 weeks from now and then every other week from then on. 60 minutes a visit ( ). I'm sure it varies, but how long do you think it'll take to get this over with? I want to start HRT asap. (I guess this is a question better directed to him)

[Blue Senpai]

Okay, so he has a PHD in Clinical Psychology. I'm guessing he'll be able to help me out? I'm scheduled for an appointment 3 weeks from now and then every other week from then on. 60 minutes a visit ( ). I'm sure it varies, but how long do you think it'll take to get this over with? I want to start HRT asap. (I guess this is a question better directed to him)

It depends on the person evaluating you: I've heard cases where the therapist gives you the letter in one visit, they give it to you after 3 months or the rare case where they give you the letter immediately so they can get you going while you sort other matters of your life with them in subsequent visits. Since he's not experienced, it may take a few visits until he's willing to give you one and it also depends on how much you are perceived to need it and how sure you are.

[Tysilio]

If he's a Ph.D. clinical psychologist and has his state license, it should be no problem for any doctor to accept a letter from him. There are no legal requirements here; as Jaime R D said, it's up to individual providers to decide what their requirements are, not so much for who writes the letter but for what they want to the letter to document. That will also vary according to the type of treatment you're seeking -- what a doc wants to see for surgery will likely be different from what's expected for hormone therapy.

It's terrific that you've found a therapist you feel you can work with, and I hope you're in a position to treat this can as an opportunity for exploration and growth, and not just as a hoop you have to jump through.   

[Ashlotte]

If he's a Ph.D. clinical psychologist and has his state license, it should be no problem for any doctor to accept a letter from him. There are no legal requirements here; as Jaime R D said, it's up to individual providers to decide what their requirements are, not so much for who writes the letter but for what they want to the letter to document. That will also vary according to the type of treatment you're seeking -- what a doc wants to see for surgery will likely be different from what's expected for hormone therapy.

It's terrific that you've found a therapist you feel you can work with, and I hope you're in a position to treat this can as an opportunity for exploration and growth, and not just as a hoop you have to jump through.   

Thank you for the info, and don't worry, I plan to go through this with an open mind. I just didn't want to spend so much time on it just to realize I was right about my gender and find out my therapist couldn't provide me with what I need!

[JoanneB]

After living in rural WV I would speculate that the weakest link here is going to be an endo, or your GP if you are lucky. Most docs ask for a CYA letter that is pretty generic. Some therapist are rubber stampers, ie: if you aren't crazy, go for it. Who am I play God. Others may have have informal protocol such as xx number of visits to be sure you are OK. And then there the .......

Endo's willing to treat a TG person are harder to find in the hicks. Complicating things further may be your age if you are under 18. You'd likely have that hour drive or more to do. If there is a "Local" TG group (mine was 90 miles away from home) they may be helpful