Therapy Worries

[kylen kantari]

So I really want to start therapy and get my letter for HRT, but I keep putting it off because I'm worried about the therapist and the doctor. My insurance is good in that it covers therapy for transgender, as well as hormone therapy and certain surgeries. The bad part is, I have no choice over which doctor or therapist I see. The insurance assigns you a doctor and you can only see that person. You have to get a referral from the doctor before you can see a therapist. And the insurance assigns you a therapist.

I'm really worried that the doctor and/or the therapist is going to be transphobic. Or even if they're not, that they will have no idea how to treat a trans patient. Will they be able or willing to give me a letter, will they even know what they're talking about, will I have to be the one that has to educate the health professionals about this? It's stressing me out and making me put it off.

I'm also concerned that they will deny me HRT because I'm not currently in, well, 'crisis.' What I mean is, I'm not currently suffering from major depression, I'm not suicidal, and I'm not having major anxiety. Not to say I haven't had all that in the past, but I've done enough things transition wise to alieviate a lot of my dysphoria. In fact, it seems that just deciding that I was going to start HRT in the near future has helped with those feelings. Now I'm worried that they'll see that I'm okay emotionally right now and decide that I don't need to transition or start HRT. That they'll want to wait until I'm in crisis before they allow it. Although them denying me would probably trigger that crisis.

Also, I'm dead broke, so seeking treatment from an outside therapist is not an option. And the only place that does informed consent hormones within 6 hours of me is in the wrong county and therefore doesn't accept my insurance, so again, not an option.

Anyone else have this happen? If so, how did it turn out? Or really, any experiences or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Isaac

[AnonyMs]

I think you should research where you live and the doctors/therapists you're likely to see, and find out what you need to tell them to get what you want. Search based on for your location, or just post it here and ask.

Apart from that just go ahead and do it, because what else can you do? For sure nothing is going to happen if you don't actually start.

[Tessa James]

Hey Issac,

There are plenty of us who too often see the medical provider/therapist connection as gatekeepers of a sort.  I worried too and was concerned that I might need to "make my case" with a personal narrative that was heavy on my past transgender thoughts and experiences even if that very word was not used when I was growing up.  My worries were unfounded and my personal gender identity was not really questioned.

The therapists do not decide or determine if we are truly transgender but will want to know that we understand what HRT and transition may mean for our lives going forward.  They may also want to ensure, as best they can, that there are not other primary reasons for our feelings such as schizophrenia, or other disorders.

If you have access to Planned Parenthood you might inquire if they see folks on an "informed consent basis" which could be seen as facilitation for HRT without therapy.

[RachelH]

Another option is to see if you can see someone out of network but you may have to pay more out of pocket. I see a GT out of network and mine covrrs 80%  so i only pay about 20 per session.