Therapists who make you stop being trans?

[Hypatia]

I get this from my family all the time.
--"You're out of your mind! You should get counseling!"
--I am seeing a therapist.
--"Forget that one, he just tells you you're trans because he wants to take your money. Find a real one who'll make you male again."

Wishful thinking on their part. I get this from liberal family members who would scoff at the "ex-gay" movement as the obvious fraud it is, but somehow believe in the existence of this mythical "ex-trans" therapy. Are there any such quacks? And what professional standing do they have?

[seldom]

They are the same therapist as the ex-gay people.  Anybody in sex and gender therapy believes that if somebody has gender identity problems, they don't go away.  Including some of the more disgusting types such as Baily and Blanchard.

I have gotten this from my family.  Which is kind of funny since I am full time now, and found out that I was had genital corrective surgery as an infant for an intersex condition (SCARS don't lie).  They also tell me I would be mutilating my body.  These people are not conservative, just transphobic.  They would have no problem if I was gay. 

[Hypatia]

So Amy, I can ask them if they believe in the claims of those "ex-gay" therapists. They will of course say "no way." Then I can explain to them that it's the same thing they're telling me to get, but no reputable sexologist would give their claims any validity.

[seldom]

So Amy, I can ask them if they believe in the claims of those "ex-gay" therapists. They will of course say "no way." Then I can explain to them that it's the same thing they're telling me to get, but no reputable sexologist would give their claims any validity.

Correct.  Even the bad ones agree that type of "therapy" for trans people does not work. 

[Jessie_Heart]

They are the same therapist as the ex-gay people.  Anybody in sex and gender therapy believes that if somebody has gender identity problems, they don't go away.  Including some of the more disgusting types such as Baily and Blanchard.

I have gotten this from my family.  Which is kind of funny since I am full time now, and found out that I was had genital corrective surgery as an infant for an intersex condition (SCARS don't lie).  They also tell me I would be mutilating my body.  These people are not conservative, just transphobic.  They would have no problem if I was gay. 

just out of courosity if they think of your plans as mutilating your body then what about the other surgeries what would that be? and following this line of thinking wouldn't heart transplants be mutilation because in essance it is the same thing you are having a part of you corrected so whats the difference? and before anyone says that someone would without a heart transplant they need to think of the mortality rate in our community!

Posted on: September 28, 2007, 01:26:21 PMsorry that should be someone would die without a heart transplant..

[Lisbeth]

They are the same therapist as the ex-gay people.  Anybody in sex and gender therapy believes that if somebody has gender identity problems, they don't go away.  Including some of the more disgusting types such as Baily and Blanchard.

I have gotten this from my family.  Which is kind of funny since I am full time now, and found out that I was had genital corrective surgery as an infant for an intersex condition (SCARS don't lie).  They also tell me I would be mutilating my body.  These people are not conservative, just transphobic.  They would have no problem if I was gay. 

Your family is in kind of a unique position, and I think you need to understand it.  When you were "fixed" of your intersex condition the doctors did a job on your family, too.  They were indoctrinated into believing that if they did a good enough job with you, you would be perfectly happy in the gender they had selected for you.  If you are not happy with the results, then they feel they failed in doing their job.  So you must need professional help to make up for it.

[seldom]

They thought I was clinically depressed not transsexual.

I don't talk to them anymore and I have broken contact with them altogether.  All the stuff they said and the crap they pulled, and then I find out I am physically intersex, and I have scars...well I pretty much figured, they should have known this could happen and their attitude is unacceptable. 

Family can be pretty meaningless if they do not accept you for who you are, and do not disclose information that is important. 

[Jessica]

a therapist who tries to 'make you' do anything isn't doing their job.

[Hazumu]

a therapist who tries to 'make you' do anything isn't doing their job.

(Injecting a little levity into this thread...)

Q: How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Only one.   But the lightbulb has to WANT to change...

Karen

Posted on: September 28, 2007, 11:28:45 PM

They thought I was clinically depressed not transsexual.

I don't talk to them anymore and I have broken contact with them altogether.  All the stuff they said and the crap they pulled, and then I find out I am physically intersex, and I have scars...well I pretty much figured, they should have known this could happen and their attitude is unacceptable. 

Family can be pretty meaningless if they do not accept you for who you are, and do not disclose information that is important. 

I've heard stories such as yours more than once before in the community...



Karen