First psychiatrist appointment in January

[Tamara]

Hi, I'm new on here and I am 17 and I am Transgender. I knew that I should have been a girl all of my life and now I am going to do something about it. I went to the doctor and she reffered me to a psychiatrist. I am a bit nervous and a littl excited about this. I was wondering If any of you would like to tell me about your first psychiatrist appointment. What was it like? what questions did they ask?

Thanks

[DeValInDisguise]

Hi Tamara,

In my first session my therapist spent most of the time listening to me, but my situation was complicated by other factors.  But as I got a handle on the other factors we have been able to talk a little about my TS recently. 

The questions I've been asked have been along the lines of what feelings I've had about being a female, what thoughts I've had, what I do when I'm dressed as Val.  Although mostly he just listens to me and tries to direct the flow of my narrative.

Val

[Melissa-kitty]

Tamara, I am a psychiatrist.
They will find out what the situation is, find out about you, if any things are bugging you, general health questions. They will try to understand how you think, feel, react.
Then, you both will figure out the best way to go, to get you doing better. They might talk about meds, but probably an ongoing therapy program.
Don't sweat too much about it. Remember, he/she works for you!
Namaste, Tara

[IsabelleStPierre]

Hello,

There isn't anything to worry about, they will talk to you, but mostly they will listen to what you have to say. They will ask questions to get the conversation going, but the direction you take with your therapist is up to you...

I was wondering If any of you would like to tell me about your first psychiatrist appointment. What was it like? what questions did they ask?

Unlike most things in the psychiatric area, gender identity disorder is one of the few self diagnosed problems. Go in and be honest with them about your feelings that you were born in the wrong body. They will ask you questions along those lines and work with you to put together a program to help you address your needs....

Do you know anything about your therapist? Do you know if they have any experience with gender identity issues? Remember that they work for you and you should not be afraid to ask them questions too. Ultimately you need to feel comfortable with your therapist...you will be working with them for a long time and talking about very personal things with them...for me at least it was more of a feel I had for my therapist that sold her to me and I had interviewed a number of them before settling on her.

Just be yourself, try to be relaxed and see how things go...

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre

[Wing Walker]

I have always believed that my psychiatrist and gender therapists had, aside from their academic credentials and experience, were skilled listeners.  I trusted their discernment as to which way they directed their questions and conversation.  If I did not have that trust i would ask them why it wasn't present to see if it was my misunderstanding or theirs.

They are also bound to confidence in the doctor/patient relationship so don't hold back.  No one can help you if you don't open up.

Hope this helps.

Wing Walker

[deviousxen]

You're a year younger than me, and I'm getting my first Psychiatrist appointment for this soon as well. I'm still extremely nervous and unsure as always, but I do hope it goes well for you. It'd be funny if we got the same day. Haha.

I dk...I guess I just relate.

[IsabelleStPierre]

Hello...

There isn't anything to really be nervous about. The whole point of going to therapy is to help you deal with the issues you face in life and not just gender identity related either...just remember that it takes open, honest communications with your therapist for things to really work out.

You're a year younger than me, and I'm getting my first Psychiatrist appointment for this soon as well. I'm still extremely nervous and unsure as always, but I do hope it goes well for you. It'd be funny if we got the same day. Haha.

I dk...I guess I just relate.

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre

Who has seen more therapists in her life then she can count!

[deviousxen]

Oh, I already have a therapist, just not one that can prescribe just yet. Thats the real kicker there.

[Tamara]

Thanks everyone, you've been great help. It's just 11 days away!

[deviousxen]

Good luck.

[Tamara]

I had the appointment on Monday, and basicaly  just asked me about how I felt and how long etc. The appointment was mainly just to find out if I had any psychiatric problems. They found that I don't and I am now being reffered to a specialist

[deviousxen]

Lucky.

They need to sort through my countless other variables first. Once again...I'm just happy that they don't think I'm bipolar. That would be the worst thing in the universe.

[shanetastic]

My first appointment I totally avoided the subject all together!  Haha.  I was like shaking and soooo nervous it was kinda pathetic lol.  I ended up getting rid of the therapist, so don't feel obligated to go to them if they're not good.  I found an awesome therapist finally, I only have to drive 3 hours to see him though :/

Posted on: January 10, 2008, 11:25:50 PM

I had the appointment on Monday, and basicaly  just asked me about how I felt and how long etc. The appointment was mainly just to find out if I had any psychiatric problems. They found that I don't and I am now being reffered to a specialist

Good luck with the specialist.  It seems like your good at opening up if one session and they already are referring you   Good job!

[Berliegh]

Posted on: January 12, 2008, 12:07:31 PM

Tamara, I am a psychiatrist.
They will find out what the situation is, find out about you, if any things are bugging you, general health questions. They will try to understand how you think, feel, react.
Then, you both will figure out the best way to go, to get you doing better. They might talk about meds, but probably an ongoing therapy program.
Don't sweat too much about it. Remember, he/she works for you!
Namaste, Tara

Tamara lives in the U.K and the NHS GIC psychiatrists there usually use bully boy tactics and definitely don't work for 'us'......they are there to break us and try and get us to quit...

Please read the testimonials in the activsm section of the forum to see the horrendous treatment from psychiatrists in the U.K operate: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,21985.0.html

[Gina_Taylor]

It took me a while to find the right psychiatrist (one that at least understood something about being transgender) and like Val said, he listens to me a lot and then he gives his point of views towards whatever problems I'm having. So you shouldn't have any problmes with your first appointmnet. In a way we've all been there before.

Gina 

[Berliegh]

It took me a while to find the right psychiatrist (one that at least understood something about being transgender) and like Val said, he listens to me a lot and then he gives his point of views towards whatever problems I'm having. So you shouldn't have any problmes with your first appointmnet. In a way we've all been there before.

Gina 

Gina,

Tamara is in the U.K and we don't kind the kindness you get in the U.S. Here is more like an interigation

[Tamara]

Hi Berliegh, Thanks for the e-mail. I have heared before about how crap the NHS can be so when I my psychiatrist was referring me I told her that if it is going to take ages then I would like to go private. I am seeing my GP next to week to talk about going private.

How much did it cost you to go private?

[Kateri]

My first contact was with a LCSW I picked off my insurance list(Licensed Clinical Social worker I think).  She referred me to the greatest woman I will ever know who is my Gender Therapist, shes a Psychologist and she has a handful of Transgender patients but I am her first young one.  She's given me all the right referrals I needed and gave me the letter for the Endo before I even asked for it.  I was having a meltdown over a problem with my PCP last week and right after I finished a rough session with her my PCP called me from his house(his kids were raisin heck in the background) and straightened everything out literally at 9pm at night it was really neat and what was odd was either he had a good memory or he had my records with him at home lol.  She had called him literally right as I was stepping out the door and told him he needed to call me it was quite remarkable and above and beyond in my book.

[elena]

My first appointment was simply by looking up the local known transgender therapists in the area via the internet.  It was a choice between two equally wonderful people.  My therapist asked me why I thought I was transgendered, how long I knew i was such, and what I wanted to do about it.  Really all the answers I gave he had heard a million times before since he has such a large dealing with the transgendered population here in New Orleans .  My therapist was quite caring and I was so relieved to have someone to talk face to face with about the subject.  It was a huge step in the right direction!

[deviousxen]

I'm apparently getting a list of people on the east coast nearby soon...

I just really hope I get someone with an open mind... And that they very quickly refer me to an endo.