Looking for help in Sydney, Australia.

[Jayne01]

Hi,

I am currently on a waiting list to see a gender therapist in the inner city area, but I was told the wait could be up to 3 months. I have started seeing a therapist in the mean time, but he doesn't have any experience with gender issues. He is helping a bit though.

I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations for a gender therapist in Sydney. I live in south Western Sydney, but anywhere in Sydney will do.

Jayne

[katrinaw]

Sorry I can't help you yet, I will probably start at the Gender Centre in Annandale... as of yet I have not had the need... but moving into P/T then F/T (which won't be this year now) I'll need some support then.

Katy xx

[Jayne01]

Hi Katy,
I contacted the Gender Centre a little while back. They were supposed to get back to me, but never did. The person I'm on the waiting list to see was recommended to me by another psychologist, and I'm told that she is very good with lots of experience with trans issues. The wait just seems very long. That's probably a good sign that she actually is quite good.

My wife and I are going on holidays for a month this weekend, so hopefully by the time we return, I won't have too long to wait.

I'm still interested to hear if anybody has had any good experiences with other therapists.

You are doing well not to have needed help so far. I have been losing my mind. I was well on my way down a dark path. Happily, I am no longer on that path.

Jayne

Jayne

[Cindy]

You can try here
http://www.anzpath.org/about/service-providers/new-south-wales/

3 months is a short time. SA and Vic are now on a 12 month waiting list!

[Ms Grace]

Are we talking Medicare free sessions? Or are you OK to fork out some $$$s with a bit of a rebate. That will make a difference and broaden your scope. The Gender Center in Stanmore offers free counselling but the waiting list is very, very long.

[Jayne01]

Cindy, I've been told that 3 months is not too long. Sometimes a wait longer than tomorrow seems like an eternity. However, it has been almost 43 years, so I guess a little patience will do me good.

Grace, I'm ok with paying the $$ without Medicare if necessary. Free is always good, but I would rather pay and get the right treatment, sooner if possible.

I kind of feel like I'm in limbo right now. I recognise I have a 'problem' but I'm not sure what actions to take. (Problem might not be the right term, but it's all I could think of right now). I truly am grateful for the Internet and websites such as this one. Knowing I'm not alone and there are others out there experiencing similar things is very reassuring. I used to think myself weird and somewhat defective. I now know that is not the case. I'm just different from the majority which is not a bad thing. A sincere thank you to all of you out there sharing your stories.

Jayne

[AnonyMs]

Dr Michael Scott in Neutral Bay is a psych who has transgender experience and does therapy. I understand he is pretty good, and I don't think you'd need to wait more than a week or two.

http://drmichaelscott.com.au/

[katrinaw]

Hi Jayne... OK... but I am thinking I need to get in quick now... I must admit I did not realise that waiting lists were long...

Enjoy your holiday.
(I am off on a skiing one (snowy's) on Sat for 2 weeks... but may be interrupted by interviews...)

Katy xx

Thanks AnonyMs

[Ms Grace]

The thing is that, surprisingly, there aren't that many psychs that a specifically gender based in their work Patrick Toohey is the only one I know of in Sydney. I'm sure there are others.

A quick Google of "sydney gender therapist" yielded...

http://www.imanadari.com/sexandgenderdiversity.htm
http://susietuckwell.com.au/?page_id=21 (where "Gender Therapy Issues" is mentioned right at the very bottom of the page!)
http://tracieokeefe.com/sex-gender-and-sexuality-dysphoria/

I can't vouch for any of them but they might be of some help...?

My psych knew very little about treating trans people - I knew more than him sometimes since this was my second time around the Trans Merry Go Round... I'd recommend him but I'm not sure how another person that needs guidance on gender identity would fare with him. He's very good for general stuff but I had to continuously nudge him towards the goals I wanted to achieve and even guide him in who to write references to. At one stage it seemed like he was reading from Treating Trans 101, he even suggested I try wearing women's underwear under my daily attire to help me... I dunno...feel like a woman or something. I already felt like a woman, I didn't need to wear frilly knickers just to prove I could go on HRT. But he was supportive and understanding and that's what you really need in any good therapist/psych.

[luna nyan]

I last saw my psych over 12 years ago, and a search on the ahpra website shows her registration is still current.

Getting access to a gender psych in Sydney is a bit of a merry go round as Grace said.  I ended up at a general psych who dealt with gender issues on the side, and that worked out well for me.  I'm a bit of an outlier though.

Having said that, it's worth being patient - getting yourself sorted out mentally will serve you in good stead later.

[Jayne01]

Thank you all for the replies. Cindy, the person I'm on the waiting list to see is actually one of the people on the link you posted.

[AnonyMs]

Just in case anyone comes across this thread, here's an article in the newspaper on the Sydney therapist Tracie O'Keefe. Its not good.

Be careful what the doctor may have ordered
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/be-careful-what-the-doctor-may-have-ordered/2005/09/18/1126981947794.html

There's been other mentions of her in these forums.

[rosinstraya]

Whilst you may be OK about not using Medicare Jayne, you may find that the referral that comes from your GP will help with getting seen sooner rather than later. It also pays to state that you are happy to take cancellations at short notice.

If you PM me I can give you the details of the therapist I've been seeing.

[Jayne01]

AnonyMs, interesting article. I didn't realise how unregulated the therapy industry is. You really need to be careful who you trust with your personal problems.

[Jayne01]

Rosinsraya, I don't seem to be able to send PM's yet. If you like, you could PM me with the details of your therapist. I take it you are happy with them?

Jayne

[AnonyMs]

Rosinsraya, I don't seem to be able to send PM's yet. If you like, you could PM me with the details of your therapist. I take it you are happy with them?

Jayne

You have to have 15 posts before you can PM, and I see you are up to 17 now. Try again!