Types of questions to ask your therapist on your first visit

[tunak]

Hi ladies so im going in to talk to my therapist for the very first time and i am not sure what to expect. What kind of questions should i be asking? Pls. tell me your experience...

[ChrisZX2]

This is something I would like to know also.

[sd]

Much of your first session will just be getting to know each other and cover basic information.  Don't worry about it.

The one thing you may want to ask though is their policy regarding letters for HRT and surgery. If they don't cover it.

Think fo yoru first session as a briefing, here is how things work, this is what to expect, etc...

[Christine Eryn]

The one thing you may want to ask though is their policy regarding letters for HRT and surgery. If they don't cover it.

That was (is) pretty much my main reason for seeing a therapist. Without seeing my first one, HRT would not been possible at all.

[antarcticsake]

When I went (which has been about a month now--waiting to get bette r paychecks to go to more) he was sooo nice, but said he wasn't quite the therapist fo rme. SO he referred me to someone else.
But basically, I went in and he said "tell me everything, " and I did just that. I told him. e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
It's important to include as much info as you can!!
Good luck and let us all know how it goes 

[jesse]

mine was pretty straight forward they gave me a questionaire to ill out and he just dove in asking me about my childhood when i first started wereing womens cloths etc

[Dana Lane]

I *REFUSE* to speak to a man about my issues.  Period.  Ever.  They are 10000000% all incapable of understanding.

You have some serious issues.

You may have had a bad experience yourself but that doesn't make all shrinks and men bad.

[tekla]

You know there is therapy for that kind of paranoia, and anger management issues.

And to the OP, I'd ask what kind of experience they have had in this area, any special training, and what kind of interests they have that lead them to practice in this area (because, as is obvious, it sure ain't gonna be the money).

[Bellaon7]

I only had one visit, paid for & got an hrt referal, that's remained buried in a drawer for 7yrs.

[Nicky]

My counsellor was great.

Really you should go into it with a problem(s) you want help resolving. Tell them about your worries, your issues, the things you find hard.
But the first session should really be alot about working out whether you are right for each other and working out a plan moving forward. So you could ask their experience with transgender people, what their background is, their interest with working with transgender people. If they sound like someone you can work with, great! Essentially you are creating a partnership to help sort out your stuff.

Hope this is helpful.

[tekla]

Therapy is a guided exploration, not a magic bullet.  Its a long term process for most, not a single shot.  And I don't think you have to have the 'symptoms' or 'conditions' to do it, you just have to understand it.

[K8]

I agree.  It is a partnership, where the therapist acts as a guide to help you figure out where you want and need to go, and then to help you over the rough spots on your journey. 

You need to work with someone you are comfortable with, so the first session may be just a getting-to-know-you kind of thing.  The therapist will also be trying to find out what your issues are and try to judge whether she/he is going to be capable of helping you.  I had one turn me away because he didn't feel capable of helping me.  (Good thing, too.  I got to know him later socially, and he was right - he wouldn't have been a help.)

In order for the counseling to "work" you have to be able to trust one another.  Establishing that trust can be difficult or easy, depending on you and on your therapist and on how well you fit togeher.

Good luck, Tristan.

- Kate

[Renate]

Questions to ask a therapist on your first visit?

Q: Is the coffee and tea truly complimentary?

For your first visit prepare a chronology. List everything from birth through first feelings with rough dates to specific events with exact dates. Bring notes of anything that you want to mention and questions that you want to ask.

Regarding male therapists: I thought it would be an issue, I was concerned. In the end it was absolutely no problem. If he had been some freak from television wrestling with tattoos over 90% of his body it might have been.

[lpfix2009]

When do I get my SRS?

Are you sure?

Can I have it now?

Are you sure?

jk...


I think asking therapist questions is all based on how you feel and what you want to ask. Often the therapist will be doing the questioning since they need to evaluate you based on a protocol they have to follow and differentiate the answers.

[Bellaon7]

I belive that the most important thing is to not forget that we are all unique, & that there is no one size fits all to the therapest issue. They may be of great use to some of us from start to fnnish & there ever after. I value personal freedom of choice above all. I have no promblem w/anyone's approach, until they try to take away mine. I'd have loved to have access to a therapest 20yrs ago, but I didn't & have arrived at who & what I am & want on my own after many yrs of internal conflict. Now things are boiled down to money & logistics.