Finding a Therapist

[Roll]

Ok, so, I went over some of this in my intro post over in that section of the forums, but I'll repeat it here.

Like a number of the posters here I have anxiety issues, and was recently told I was most definitely agoraphobic as per the clinical definition. I basically lived as a shut-in for a decade or so. Anxiety runs in the family, but mine trumped my siblings fairly handily. I am now beginning to believe this is because of gender issues taking the baseline genetic anxiety issues and amplifying it exponentially.

But because of this same anxiety, I find it extraordinarily difficult to reach out to therapists. I made an attempt by lurking in these forums and piecing together some old posts and trying to wade my through the master list, but I am struggling on getting further than that as it all plays directly into my anxiety. It didn't help that I did work up the courage to attempt to contact Marybeth Markham, as she seemed to be fairly well regarded, but unfortunately was told that she is not accepting out of state patients.

What I am hoping is to get some ideas and opinions of various online options that people have had the best experience with, in an attempt to give me a little bit of confidence in my efforts to reach out to them.

Unfortunately, local therapists are a major issue for me, so I am stuck with doing this online. My father works in the mental health field and is extremely well known in the region, and knows pretty much everyone here top to bottom. This has always created an issue with me going to see therapists, psychiatrists, etc., as I just don't feel comfortable talking to someone whose first words are always "you're Dr. ______'s son!". Combined with this being a weird resort-y area to begin with that has a questionable selection and a lack of mode of transportation (anxiety issues extend to driving) and you have me left alone adrift for the better part of my life so far.

God, my posts in this forum so far feel so depressing. Normally online I'm trying to make people laugh with random idiocy and acting generally over-enthusiastic.

[Dena]

Well the appropriate response would be "If you talk about my case with him I will sue you!" On the other hand unless you are also a well known figure, it's unlikely they will connect you to him through just a last name.

As for finding a therapist, a google search for "city name Gender Therapist" will normally turn up a number of hits. You could also contact your local LGBT center as often they have lists of the local services that might be of interest to they members.

I am not going to tell you your first gender therapist will be easy because it's not going to be however it is the first step in finding yourself and starting on your new life.

[Gertrude]

You didn't say what state you're from, but I found mine here: http://www.glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=534


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Unfortunately, it is mostly an anxiety driven comfort issue dealing with irrationality rather than a belief that they will turn around and say anything to my father. But I have little doubt they will know who my father is and instantly peg me due to a somewhat rare last name, as I'm not sure I've ever been anywhere here for medical anything and not had it brought up. Not just the doctors and psychologists, random nurses will always say something. Heck, even dentists. It's really off putting, in a recent discussion with my younger brother I found out he had the same issue and reaction and avoided the entire industry around here because of it himself.

As far as I am aware there are not any reliable LGBT centers in the area (there's a single mostly dead facebook page for one, and it seemed questionable), even in the closest thing nearby to a real city. I'm actually on a barrier island, which is a pretty weird place all in all. Mostly summer homes, so the support for actual residents is slim as everyone caters to the country club crowd, and the nearby "city" is... well, just a bad place frankly. I actually did do a search for the city area, and the only two people who came up have less than stellar ratings.

Regardless, I think I have to do the online route for now anyway since I have no means of transportation short of taking price gouging Uber trips I can't afford (significantly higher pricing than average here since it is targeted towards the aforementioned .01% summerers, and is only here to begin with because apparently some of them had enough pull to make it happen... which is kinda scary now that I think about it).

(In reply to post that went up while typing this, in Georgia. And no, nowhere even remotely near Atlanta. )

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Ok well, that is just plain weird. I use the GLMA search just to see what is in the area, and got one hit. ... For my general practitioner I am going to see tomorrow. (And who, of course, is good friends with my father as he recommended me to him in the first place. *Sigh* This is my life.)

[Dena]

You have Jacksonville on one end and Savannah on the other end with Brunswick in the middle. I have never been that far east so I am not sure if any of those locations are an alternative. I guess at the moment, your GP would be your best bet. You need to hope he follows medical ethics and can keep a secret.

[Gertrude]

Ok well, that is just plain weird. I use the GLMA search just to see what is in the area, and got one hit. ... For my general practitioner I am going to see tomorrow. (And who, of course, is good friends with my father as he recommended me to him in the first place. *Sigh* This is my life.)

Here is a link of someone I went to. The reason I don't is that she doesn't take insurance, but she's good. I think she's done remote therapy with Skype. She used to have a practice in Savannah before moving to AZ. http://www.scottsdaletherapy.com/lgbtq-services.html


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[Roll]

You have Jacksonville on one end and Savannah on the other end with Brunswick in the middle. I have never been that far east so I am not sure if any of those locations are an alternative. I guess at the moment, your GP would be your best bet. You need to hope he follows medical ethics and can keep a secret.

Unfortunately any level of real travel is the obstacle with the ends (and Brunswick is actually where I, as without relying on family or paying way more than I can afford (plus the mysterious trips to Savannah factor, as its the best bet for actually having the services at a decent quality) I just don't have a way to get around. I think I will do a renewed search for people in the Savannah area who might take a patient online though, the semi-local factor would probably work better than searching the entire country.

Here is a link of someone I went to. The reason I don't is that she doesn't take insurance, but she's good. I think she's done remote therapy with Skype. She used to have a practice in Savannah before moving to AZ. http://www.scottsdaletherapy.com/lgbtq-services.html

Thank you! That is actually perfect as even if she won't take out of state patients she probably knows the area and might be willing to recommend someone.

[Roll]

Well, I finally have an appointment with someone for this Wednesday! I was such an insane nervous wreck on the consultation phone call I have no idea how I made it through, but the woman I found seems nice. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who offered suggestions and advice, both here and in my other thread!