Newbie therapist, HRT letter, how does he write it?

[Cire]

Hello,

I just got the OK for an HRT letter by my therapist (OVERJOYED!!!!) but I'm not exactly sure for what to ask him. He says, "Just let me know whatever you need, and I'll write it out for you."

But...what do I ask him for? Exactly? I don't know exactly what kind of Ok the endo is going to want from me...is there a sample letter or a form anywhere?

Thank you,

Cire
(joy)

[Sarah Louise]

I think the therapist asking you what to write is somewhat backwards.  They are the ones who have the degree, they are the ones supposed to be using the Harry Benjamin Standard Of Care.

Sarah L.

[Melissa-kitty]

The last issue of International Journal of ->-bleeped-<-, the publication of WPATH, has a pretty good summary of what a therapist should address in the letter. Your therapist can look it up, or contact WPATH at it's website or phone.
Tara

[LostInTime]

Mine was short and to the point. Had both names in there, that I had been seeing the therapist since X date, that I needed HRT for treatment, and that I was likely to be very successful in my transition. Add fluff to make it go for a few paragraphs.

[Kate]

Mine was short and to the point. Had both names in there, that I had been seeing the therapist since X date, that I needed HRT for treatment, and that I was likely to be very successful in my transition. Add fluff to make it go for a few paragraphs.

Yup, mine too... and a line about "I see no sexual motivation with Kate..." type of thing. Stable work environment, stable at home, stable gender identity, etc., etc.

~Kate~

[Cire]

The last issue of International Journal of ->-bleeped-<-, the publication of WPATH, has a pretty good summary of what a therapist should address in the letter. Your therapist can look it up, or contact WPATH at it's website or phone.
Tara

I'm looking at the WPATH site right now, and I'm not finding the information to send to him. Any pointers? Sorry about being obtuse, I just can't seem to find it.

[Lori]

Mine basically said I had no sexual motivation and I was mentally sound and was cleared for cross sex hormones and it was her professional reccomendation that I needed to be on them and so on and so forth. Most Gender therapists work with Endo's, or Gynos, or whomever in the area and can call and set things up. Does your therapist have nobody on their list to send you to?

[Cire]

My current therapist doesn't have anyone to send me to, nor does another therapist that I've been in contact with (I'll need a new therapist soon). So I'm looking for myself for an endo as well. I've got a few choices, though I don't know if any of them are good. 

Been contacting a local support group to see if they have a MD recommendation for me to go to, hopefully I'll hear back from them.

[Lori]

If not..get on the phone and start making some calls. I'm unusal in the fact the local expert here is a Gynocologist....so don't disclude them from your list.

http://www.yellowpages.com/?From=Branding_yp_yellow_pages_com

[Suzy]

Well that is really unusual for a patient to write it and for the therapist to sign it.  There are several on here that might be persuaded to send you the text of their letter.

As long as you can call the shots, who not add a few bonuses like:

"I, Dr. ____ will personally pay for SRS for Cire."
or
"I, Dr. ____ am responsible for all HRT costs."

You get the idea.  I think it's better, however, that you don't ask for conjugal visits.   

Kristi

[Cire]

I sent him an email stating:

"Hello!

It turns out that I don't need a referal to go to a specialist with my health care plan, so I'm set there! All I do need from you (if you please would) is a letter stating that I am in sound mind, I do need these drugs to function, that I have been seeing you for months, that I'm likely to be sucessful if I do begin this regimen, that I have a stable mind, stable identity, a stable job and a stable relationship. Also, I need to be needing this medication in your professional opinion. "

Sound good?

Now to find that specialist (absolutely need to be GOOD at what they do)...

[Wing Walker]

I sent him an email stating:

"Hello!

It turns out that I don't need a referal to go to a specialist with my health care plan, so I'm set there! All I do need from you (if you please would) is a letter stating that I am in sound mind, I do need these drugs to function, that I have been seeing you for months, that I'm likely to be sucessful if I do begin this regimen, that I have a stable mind, stable identity, a stable job and a stable relationship. Also, I need to be needing this medication in your professional opinion. "

Sound good?

Now to find that specialist (absolutely need to be GOOD at what they do)...

IMHO your therapist need not address any factors beyond how long they have been your therapist, finding/diagnosing you as gender dysphoric, in-touch with reality, and that you are sincere and informed about your transition.  Recommendation:  hormone replacement therapy with estrogen, type and quantity to be determined by your doctor.  Your job, relationship, and other tangential factors don't need to be addressed so don't ask that they be included in your letter.

I believe that you have all the info that you need from all of my friends, now your friends, in these forums.

Wing Walker
A Few Milligrams of Estradiol Goes a Loooooooong Way

Posted on: November 07, 2007, 03:40:19 AMOops!  Concerning finding a doctor to conduct your HRT:  I found mine by doing a Google search on the town and state in which I was residing.  I asked for transsexual resources at that location and found at least three doctors who understood HRT in a transsexual person.

Wing Walker

[elena]

I just got my letter last tuesday and it was short and sweet.  My therapist diagnosed me as transgender, stated the length of time we had been having sessions, and that I am ready for HRT that requires me to be followed by a physician.  He also put in there that he follows the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care.  I go on Monday to the doctor, so we'll see if that's what he'll take.  Also, the doctor told me that they do surgery at the local hospital that he works out of for a reduced cost if I agree to let the residents work with the plastic surgeons.  I'm thinking about it for breast augementation if I need it down the road, but sometimes you get what you pay for and I dont want to pay for lop sided boobs :-O.