Quote from: AlwaysAmanda on April 18, 2008, 11:22:19 PM
Is it just me or does it make more sense to be seeing a female or TS therapist rather than a male therapist?
There is NO WAY I'd be able to talk to a male therapist about anything much less GID. Does
anyone else feel this way?
I don't know what else we can tell you except keep pushing for someone you're comfortable with. Don't
get mad or defensive but tell your mom over and over until she gets it.
Amanda
Oh, yes. I totally agree, Amanda, and then some. I visit my therapist once a week. First of all, There has to be a solid rapport with your therapist. You have to feel that you can say anything on your mind without being judged. You have to trust your therapist to be on your side, that you believe that she will be there to help you. In other words, you have to be totally COMFORTABLE with your therapist, or else you're wasting your time. There is no way that you can form an alliance with someone that you don't trust or who isn't on the same wavelength as you.
As Amanda said, there is no way that I could speak freely to a man either. I'm a woman, and I do not relate well to men. I also have an inherent dis-trust of men. I could never discuss anything personal with a man, without knowing, in the back of my mind, that he's judging me. Only another woman would have, in my case, the same kind of upbringing that I had. There are many things that I experienced when I was growing up that you would have to have lived as a little girl to understand. Things that I learned as a teen ager. Everything from body language to attitude. My greatest failure in life, not to have been a mother. No man could possibly understand at least half of what I discuss with my therapist. When I visit my therapist, she shares the floor with other therapists, each in their own small office. Even though I have no hair on top of my head, I always appear publicly in a feminine manner, clothing, small bust, jewelry, accessories, etc. My appearance is far from discrete. When the female therapists on the floor walk by and see me, they will always be polite, smile, and say "hello," April. There is an older man, gray hair, gray moustache and beard. He just looks at me and stares, before turning and walking away. This is in New York City. You'd expect a more professional attitude, now wouldn't you?
Really. Amanda is 100% right. If at all possibe, find a female, gender-specific therapist. You'll have a much more productive relationship.
