Therapist

[MaryRay]

Hello Everyone,

I have bene seeing a general therapist and as well I have been paying $150 per session.  In my reading on here I have come to realize that although she is a nice lady and a therpaist in order to begin HRT I will need ot see another therapist and so have more costs.   Can anyone in THE NYC area PReferable Brooklyn or Staten ISladn recommend a true Gender therapist.  lso I have health insurance and it includes Therapists but I can't seem to get a steeight naswer as to if it covers Gender Therapists.  It is expensive and would make things a lot eiser if my therapist sessions could meet the requirements of coverage.  Any other girls here have this issue and how have you addresed it?   I trully want ot begin hormones as soon as is possable, I have been preparing myself for this my whole life and I know my time is now.  I don't want to waste my money any longer if I need to change therapists or get an addiitonal one just to begin HRT.   She has told me she will refer me as to who I will need to see to begin HRT, many on here don't explain there experiences as having ot be referred   or am I misunderstanding?

Love to all,
Mary

[mrs izzy]

I think i am lost.

One therapist is needed to get Hrt letter

Endo or doctor gives RX for hormones and blood work.

Only if you are going later for GCS is a second letter needed.

So you should only need to see 1 therapist at a time.

[Mariah]

Now that I reread his post I think I know what the issue is. In my area no therapist has the training necessary to right any of the letters including those needed for Hormones. They lack the necessary training in regards to dealing with transgender issues to do so. I'm willing to bet that she is seeing a therapist that happens to be like that right now. So all the current therapist can do is help talk through things and lend emotional support to her, which is why she wants to find a true gender therapist. The first therapist I considered was that way and she recommended someone before getting out of the gate that did fit the bill.
Mariah

I think i am lost.

One therapist is needed to get Hrt letter

Endo or doctor gives RX for hormones and blood work.

Only if you are going later for GCS is a second letter needed.

So you should only need to see 1 therapist at a time.

[MaryRay]

so a therapist who is not really into gender issues is fine,   In my last visit her told me she has never taken anyone through the process and she has only at one point only had a patient in any part of transition and that did not include HRT.   That is my concern

[MaryRay]

Yes Mariah that I feel is it exactly

Mary

[Mariah]

Which is why I would ask her if she knows of a therapist in your area that is capable of writing any letters you need. Often therapists tend to know of those who deal with certain issues in their area when they don't specialize in it. Also Universities and colleges and gender clinics tend to have therapists that can write the letter or letters you may need. If not their is a list of online therapists in the therapy section of this site. Informed consent is that possibility for you?
Mariah

so a therapist who is not really into gender issues is fine,   In my last visit her told me she has never taken anyone through the process and she has only at one point only had a patient in any part of transition and that did not include HRT.   That is my concern

[mrs izzy]

Now i have no clue of who your therapist is but every therapist no matter if gender specialist or not should be able to give a diagnosis and referral to a endo.

That part is covered in Dsm.

My first therapist was not a gender specialist but gave me my Dsm classification of GID at that time. Now it is just GD

The real benefits in finding a gender therapist is the social aspects of transition.

So do not dump someone willing to walk a path with you for a unknown is all i suggest.

Someone willing to help is way better then none at all.

Lots of luck

[MaryRay]

informed concent?    I ma also 56 years old, been wanting this isnce I was 5 and tried to and needed ot stop twice in my life but this time I will not and I want to finally be myself completely thats why I don't want to make mistakes that will eat up time.   My personal timeline is to have SRS BEFORE my 60th birthday.  I ma presely haing my facial and neck hair removed  as that is also a priority

[Mariah]

As far as questions in regards to your insurance I would check with customer service with them. They would be able to tell you about any specific exclusions. I would think as long as the bill it under something like depression or anxiety that you won't have any issues. That is what my therapist does, but now she can bill it either way regardless since a ruling was made in my State.

[MaryRay]

I am actually on ohld with customer Service now with my insirance company as you make a valid point I want to make sure of

[Devlyn]

Hi Mary, welcome to Susan's Place! I'm up near Boston. Glad to see you're getting such good advice here. See you around the site!

Hugs, Devlyn

[MaryRay]

Hello Devlyn,

My head is actually spinning as i see I have made many mistakes and I want ot do this right   so any advice or help is always appreciated

[Devlyn]

We get a lot of head spinners here. If we can't make it stop, we'll turn you into a figure skater instead! See, there's always a solution! 

[MaryRay]

lol I would look different right now in a skaters outfit,hopefully someday I will at least have the right parts to fit in an outfit   lol