Quote from: CallMeV on March 02, 2019, 02:09:01 PM
Hoping I can get some advice. I'm trying to find a therapist within driving distance that I can discuss things with. I have some of the usual mental health issues that one would normally want to see a therapist about. But I'm also hoping I can work thru some gender related concerns and get started on transitioning.
But I'm going to have to go thru a normal therapist as there are no gender therapists near me (that I can find)
I'm just wondering how everyone went about determining whether a therapist was 'right' for them? I recently went to a first session with someone and I didnt bring up gender issues yet ( i need to know i can feel comfortable with them first). I dont feel really good about meeting with him about this tho. He apparently does primarily CBT therapy? Which tho I know a little about and I know it can be helpful, in my experience it seems to get into the 'you just need to change your 'bad thoughts' to fix all your problems' territory. I'm really not sure how that would work with Gender issues? There werent any 'red flags' really and this could totally just be my anxiety talking but I left the session just feeling not great about the dynamic.
I just dont know how to tell? How did everyone else decide which therapist was 'right'?
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There are not a lot of therapists that specialize in transgender issues. When I first started looking for a therapist I looked for one that specializes in gender, family, relationships and lgbt issues. Normally gender therapy is just that. Problems or discussion around gender. Not transgender. That's not always the case though.
Therapist are not there to "fix" you. They are really just there to encourage you and let you know you're ok and encourage you.
Like if you was a closet lesbian and went to a therapist to talk about it and they tried to tell you your desires to be with a woman are wrong and to do this or that then that is a bad therapist.
My therapist knew hardly anything about transgender details, but was very supportive. She learned a lot from me. At the time I lived in a city of 60,000 people and there was three or four therapist that matched her credentials.
Maybe try looking for one that has lgbt in their credentials.
I hope you find a good therapist.