Two part question: where, and, is this legit?

[kae m]

I've been having a bit of a problem finding a therapist with any kind of experience.  So I think I know what to look for, but maybe not where to look.

I started with my insurance provider since they will cover a session as a regular doctor visit.  I got about a dozen names within a reasonable driving distance, but none of them list any experience with gender or even sexuality issues.  I ended up searching on each and every name to find out more about the specific practice they work out of, and got no where.
Then I started a broader search on the net for gender identity therapy in my area - this produced a few results, one of which leads into the second part of my question.  Every therapist that seems even remotely promising is a little over an hour away from me, and with the nature of my job, my hours are unpredictable and often late.
Should I take my chances with someone a little closer with zero experience, or is it really important to see someone who is familiar, or at least openly accepting?

Part two!
One of the results I found was for a "gender clinic" which appears to consist of about three people, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an endocrinologist.  They describe the process and it makes me a little nervous about placing that call, something just doesn't seem right with it.  First I schedule one appointment with the psychologist who evaluates me.  Then I have one appointment with the psychiatrist.  Then I have one appointment with the endocrinologist who I guess tells me what I should and should not expect.  After three appointments with three different people, I sit before all of them for some Q&A type thing, and they refer me to treatment options.
This sounds streamlined and all, but it seems far too minimal, and what really raises a flag is it sounds like they refuse to take insurance at all and everything must be paid out of pocket.
I won't list the name of the clinic in case I'm just overreacting, but this just seems strange and I don't know if I can trust it.  I know I need more than just medication anyway, so this probably isn't the best choice for me, but is this unusual?

[Kate]

Should I take my chances with someone a little closer with zero experience, or is it really important to see someone who is familiar, or at least openly accepting?

Experience is certainly helpful, especially if you do the whole transition thing and need an official diagnosis, letters, referrals, etc. Experienced therapists often have resources they can offer you, including doctors and other professionals, as well as support groups for TSs.

And in therapy itself, experienced therapists know what to look for, what to prompt you to think about, and can better help you anticipate potential approaching problems. They'll know what has and hasn't worked when coming out at work, for example.

I won't list the name of the clinic in case I'm just overreacting, but this just seems strange and I don't know if I can trust it.  I know I need more than just medication anyway, so this probably isn't the best choice for me, but is this unusual?

Sounds like a place in Philadelphia I know of... which my therapist urged me to contact, and... it wasn't for me. I appreciate the services they donate and provide, but it just didn't feel right to me. Call me snobby, but I wanted more personal, attentive care.

~Kate~

[KarenLyn]

An experienced therapist is nice but not always easy to find. My first therapist had almost no gender experience but she read up on it and also contacted others who did have experience so she was able to quickly build the "tools" she needed to help me.
As for the "gender clinic", I would be suspicious of any place that refuses to accept insurance. They may be legit but be careful.

Karen Lyn

[Lori]

One of the results I found was for a "gender clinic" which appears to consist of about three people, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an endocrinologist.  They describe the process and it makes me a little nervous about placing that call, something just doesn't seem right with it.  First I schedule one appointment with the psychologist who evaluates me.  Then I have one appointment with the psychiatrist.  Then I have one appointment with the endocrinologist who I guess tells me what I should and should not expect.  After three appointments with three different people, I sit before all of them for some Q&A type thing, and they refer me to treatment options.
This sounds streamlined and all, but it seems far too minimal, and what really raises a flag is it sounds like they refuse to take insurance at all and everything must be paid out of pocket.

Cool, go in a boy and come out a girl, like a 24 month assembly line. Where do I sign for this??? That would be my reaction but I'm odd. Good help is hard to find. In the end you must be comfortable with your decision. If you don't feel right don't do it.

[Wing Walker]

I've been having a bit of a problem finding a therapist with any kind of experience.  So I think I know what to look for, but maybe not where to look.

I started with my insurance provider since they will cover a session as a regular doctor visit.  I got about a dozen names within a reasonable driving distance, but none of them list any experience with gender or even sexuality issues.  I ended up searching on each and every name to find out more about the specific practice they work out of, and got no where.
Then I started a broader search on the net for gender identity therapy in my area - this produced a few results, one of which leads into the second part of my question.  Every therapist that seems even remotely promising is a little over an hour away from me, and with the nature of my job, my hours are unpredictable and often late.
Should I take my chances with someone a little closer with zero experience, or is it really important to see someone who is familiar, or at least openly accepting?

Part two!
One of the results I found was for a "gender clinic" which appears to consist of about three people, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an endocrinologist.  They describe the process and it makes me a little nervous about placing that call, something just doesn't seem right with it.  First I schedule one appointment with the psychologist who evaluates me.  Then I have one appointment with the psychiatrist.  Then I have one appointment with the endocrinologist who I guess tells me what I should and should not expect.  After three appointments with three different people, I sit before all of them for some Q&A type thing, and they refer me to treatment options.
This sounds streamlined and all, but it seems far too minimal, and what really raises a flag is it sounds like they refuse to take insurance at all and everything must be paid out of pocket.
I won't list the name of the clinic in case I'm just overreacting, but this just seems strange and I don't know if I can trust it.  I know I need more than just medication anyway, so this probably isn't the best choice for me, but is this unusual?

OK, for the toss-up question, there is a mixed answer in my mind.  Nothing beats a seasoned therapist with lots of experience in the area of GID/HBS.  However, as I see it, a seasoned therapist reading the latest standards of care, current with the Diagnostic Skills Manual findings, and the desire to help you, that might be the optimal mix.

And here's the five-pointer...I would make an initial visit to the clinic and ask them questions until they are weary.  If it doesn't make sense to you, if it doesn't feel right, back out and cut your losses.  If their course of treatment takes less than 90 days I would be suspect of their interpretive skills.  Many practitioners don't take insurance but many insurance plans will reimburse the plan participant 50% or more for psychological/psychiatric visits, up to a maximum of X-dollars per plan year.

I hope that this helps.

Wing Walker

[shanetastic]

I'm just going to chime in about the whole therapist experience here.

I had one that wasn't experienced, and it was probably the thing that held me back the most.  I would advise you to get an experienced therapist, because really, I think it makes that much of a difference. 

Just my 2c

[Enigma]

I can tell you from my experiences a number of "gender clinics", tend to be heavy on the gatekeeper approach.  You have to jump through a number of hoops for them and its largely arbitrary whether they "approve" you for further treatment.  They work for some people, but they don't work for just as many, if not more.

My own experience with my first gender therapist?  I should have paid closer attention when he admitted that he'd been injured in a car wreck and had just gotten back to working again.  He was only too eager to take on new patients.  Yeah, you guessed it, I became his cash cow.  Not all therapists are like that, but a good number of people, therapists, etc that offer us their services see nothing but the dollar signs in the end.

Oh, childhood memories...

I do remember my parents sending me to a therapist after I'd disclosed to them when I was 13 that I was TS, he insisted on trying to cure me.  He was sure it was a phase, that I was just insecure around girls.

So yeah, try to avoid that too.