Nervousness and Doubts about therepy

[VivianB]

Tomorrow I plan to call a Therapist who specializes in Transgender issues and now I am really nervous and just started to have doubts. I know I am Transgender but I don't know why I am having doubts. I am also somewhat happy about seeing a therapist. Has anyone else gone though this?

[JoanneB]

I would chalk up some of the anxiety to "This is getting waaaay too real" syndrome. Seeing a therapist, addressing your GD, and actually doing something about it is no longer a "Some day" abstraction. It is happening, for real, tomorrow (if you don't chicken out)

Knowing you have GD is easy. You know it. Now what? Where on the spectrum are you? Where are you comfortable going, today? These and many other questions you will explore. It isn't an easy thing to do alone.

[Laura_7]

Here are a few resources that could help you:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208438.msg1847638.html#msg1847638

No reason to be nervous.
It can be a nice journey, to discover new parts of you.

I'd say simply talk to them.
Be open, and ask if you have any questions.

It can be something to really look forward to
You have a chance to be a more integrated and happy person afterwards

hugs

[Michelle_P]

Please, do call the therapist.  I think you'll find that just spending an hour talking about how you feel and what's going on with your life with a sympathetic non-judgemental person (the therapist) will be a tremendous relief to you. 

Doing this can be difficult, I know.  (Me, a couple months ago...)  It's definitely worth the effort, though.

[VivianB]

Thank you. It would be nice to finally talk to someone in person about being transgender.

[VivianB]

So much for calling a Transgender therapist. I was gonna call one but someone in my family said I should look for a psychiatrist who is closer. I got upset because the psychiatrist does not deal with Transgender issues. I know exactly who I need to see but my family does not understand. My family does not know about me being transgender and I don't want them to know yet. Feels like I hit a brick wall.

[JoanneB]

There is absolutely no substitute for a for real gender therapist vs any other therapist or psych or whatever no matter how many letters they have after their name.

I was very lucky living in the rural area I did to find the support group I did, some 90 miles away. At best there was one somewhat T-knowledgeable therapist. Only because several of the groups members 'Educated' him. He was a lightweight and fulfilled my need to help fix a few neural pathways and help unload a ton of bad baggage.

After I moved back to just outside NYC I had access to for real gender therapists. What a Difference! Experience and knowledge base counts. Even better then my support group thanks to the unbiased, reality based, feedback and challenges from a knowledgeable and detached person

[Laura_7]

So much for calling a Transgender therapist. I was gonna call one but someone in my family said I should look for a psychiatrist who is closer. I got upset because the psychiatrist does not deal with Transgender issues. I know exactly who I need to see but my family does not understand. My family does not know about me being transgender and I don't want them to know yet. Feels like I hit a brick wall.

A psychatrist usually is a doc with an additional education.

You may tell you want someone with a social education, have a look at a few pictures, pick someone who has, amongst others, gender on their list and say they look trustworthy and you want to try them.

After all its your choice and you need to be able to trust them for it to work.

There are also online therapists:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,187135.0.html


hugs

[Dena]

You are old enough to make your own judgments as to what you need without input from an uninformed family. Should you listen to your family, you will waste time and money. If you need to tell your family something, tell them you have research the doctor and have reason to believe the treatment will be more effective than using a doctor that is closer to you. If they press for details, explain that it will be between you and your doctor until you are ready to talk about it.

I had to move 400 miles to find the therapy I needed. You are lucky to have it much closer.

[VivianB]

The reason why I have talk to my family about it is cause I don't have a car.

[Dena]

That complicates things a little bit. You might be able to Skype with the therapist but it sounds like you might be coming out soon.

[VivianB]

Well I might be able to see a specialist only on the condition that I see a psychiatrist first. So at least it's a step closer, even if it's only a baby step.

[Mariah]

Our transitions are often about baby steps. Some times we have to take one step to get access to the person we need. I know I was extremely nervous going into my first appointment too. Your not alone, we have all been there before. Hugs
Mariah