How'd you feel your first psychologist app?

[NightKoi]

I'm scheduling an appointment today for myself and I couldn't be any less thrilled. I'm only doing it because it's the necessary step for me to take towards T. I hate talking to strangers and the only one I really can communicate comfortably and openly with is my fiancee. She says it will be good for me to talk through some of the crap about my upbringing as well as get some counseling about my transsexuality...
But I just can't bring myself to agree.
Part of me knows she's right...that I need to do this.
But I'm just so miserable about it. I dread having to go there.
I don't even know what to begin talking about.

So I was wondering, what was everyone else's appointments like the first time? What'd you talk about? How'd they start?

[Kurzar]

My 1st appt was forced on me. That happens when you attempt suicide and land in the PCU.  It was NOT that bad. I'm normally not one to talk to strangers and had dreaded that encounter. Having someone reaffirm that you ARE correct in your feelings is empowering. I had to see 3 councellors before I could get out of the hospital, but haven't had more appts as I no longer have insurance.  I'm not nervous about seeing anyone now, like I was before.  Just remember that if you don't click with this doc...find another!

They will ask you questions, just go from there.

[NightKoi]

Thanks for the advice 

[Kurzar]

Welcome.  I wish I could start going to appts. Right now I feel so stuck in my transition

[LordKAT]

My first appointment was ssomething I really wanted but was still kinda nervous about too. I had an "interview" like question and answer session and then some testing (MMPI). After that it was make an appointment and see ya later. It went by really fast once I found that I was comfortable with my therapist. Good luck and remember that it is just the first step forward but it is a step.

[NightKoi]

Welcome.  I wish I could start going to appts. Right now I feel so stuck in my transition

I'm sorry.
Can I ask how so?
Post Merge: November 17, 2009, 01:36:54 PM

My first appointment was ssomething I really wanted but was still kinda nervous about too. I had an "interview" like question and answer session and then some testing (MMPI). After that it was make an appointment and see ya later. It went by really fast once I found that I was comfortable with my therapist. Good luck and remember that it is just the first step forward but it is a step.

Yeah I keep telling myself that. This is the first step I need to take...but still, wish it was something I was more comfortable with.

[Kurzar]

I'm sorry.
Can I ask how so?
Post Merge: November 17, 2009, 01:36:54 PMY

Because without counseling and their paperwork ect...I really can't do much to move forward. No T, no surgery nothing.

[Evan]

I just had my third appt yesterday and it seems to be going pretty good. I still feel like I'm paying some to listen to me talk about stuff I really don't feel comfortable talking about.. but she's kind and doesn't push, the sessions just seem to flow. Plus she's already said I can start on T, so I can't hate her too much  . Just take your time and find someone who has as much experience as you can, it took me 4 months to find the right psych. Good luck.

[christene]

My first was awkward and a few thereafter. I decided that it was time to try someone else as I was feeling the sessions were not going anywhere and that was discouraging.
Once I found a new one and we talked I was immediately at ease. She understood everything I was telling her and she listened. She also made me think about things that I buried.
So yeah my suggestion is also to find someone your comfortable with and has experience with the community...

[NightKoi]

Thanks for all the replies. It's helping me to feel a little more comfortable about it. If it's alright, I'd like to know what one session costs each of you...
I don't know what a fair price range is..

[christene]

For me the first didn't take insurance, for whatever reason, and charged me $75/hour. That was about 10 years ago. My current therapist charges around $170/session but its covered by my insurance and a $10 co pay for me...I think she charges that because I have insurance. My guess is without insurance they may work with your budget...but thats a guess.

[LordKAT]

first session cause of "testing" was $450 all other are $100 on sliding scale type thing.

[Cairus]

I was really nervous and scared. I've only been going for a few weeks now; I knew I needed to go to therapy if I ever wanted to medically transition, so it was an important first step... But I'm scared because there are other things 'wrong' with me, and I'm afraid of my transsexuality being overlooked/not properly treated because other 'issues' will seem to eclipse it. (I'm thinking about starting a thread asking about that, too.)

The first session was nerve racking, I walked in there and the guy kind of stared at me and we sat in awkward quietness for a wee bit. He also got the wrong impression of me because I started talking to him of my own accord, and ended up giving him the impression that I'm a 'social butterfly'. Which is verrrry... Not true. (I'm very introverted, and spend almost all of my time alone.) I don't know if you're nervous/scared, but my advice to you would be: try not to worry too much, it's their job to listen to you, and be nice to you about it. They're not going to yell at you when you walk in there.

[Arch]

I got burned by my last two therapists and swore off therapy for life. That was something like fifteen, sixteen years ago. I came out of the closet with such vehemence that within about a week and a half, I knew that in-person therapy was the only way to work through my stuff.

I was terrified. The last guy I'd seen had really done a number on me. I was drinking to get through my sessions. But I called the therapist that the Center had mentioned. We talked on the phone for maybe forty minutes. I was so scared that my voice was shaking--he could hear it, so he did his best to set me at ease.

It worked. I'm slow to trust, but I started trusting him very quickly--kind of miraculous, considering my background. I don't really remember the first session because I was so nervous. But he knew not to push. He let me talk around the trans issues for weeks until I started to open up more.

We didn't do any testing or questionnaires or anything like that in the first session. We just talked.

Oh, and I pay $135 a session. It's all out of pocket, but he's worth it.

Give yourself time to get used to your therapist. If you're not clicking, find another one. "Fit" is very important. I've been in therapy half a dozen times and never understood about fit...then I found the right guy, and everything gelled. It was wonderful. Still is.

[Chamillion]

I'd been to a few therapists before seeing my current therapist, none of them were very good experiences and I was wary of therapy.  But my therapist now knew what I was seeing her for and specializes in transgender patients so it went really smooth.  If your therapist doesn't know why you're there, they'll ask, so just tell them you're having gender issues and they'll start asking questions.. just answer them honestly and you'll be fine.  A lot of people, myself included, weren't looking forward to having to see a therapist, but they really are there to help you.  It also helps a lot if you like your therapist.  If you don't like the first one you meet with, if it's at all possible, it might be a good idea to meet with someone else.  I know not everyone has options though, so if that's not possible, just stick it out, it's really not too bad and going forward with transition will be worth it.

I see you asked about cost as well, that completely depends on insurance.  I think my therapist's sessions cost about $120 for one hour, but I only have to pay a $20 co-pay and insurance covers the rest

[myles]

I pay $90 a session (I think haven;t been in a while). I just went in and told him where I was at he recognized that I had thought this through a lot. It was pretty straight forward, I did not take any tests of any sort.
Good Luck
Myles

[Radar]

I was very excited about my first session but also nervous. I found a psychologist with experience with transgender patients so that helped alot. I like him very much, he's very helpful and supportive and it's nice to have somebody IRL who understands. I've forgotten how many times I've seen him now (had an appointment yesterday too).

As for cost my insurance co-pay is $30.

[NightKoi]

I really appreciate all this feedback! But I have another question now....

Is it true that in insurances that cover the therapy, T (or in mtf cases, E) and such....that they classify it under some kind of mental disorder?  I want to look up my insurance and see if it can cover it...

Also, I'm worried about my location. I live in Iowa in a college town. How far do you guys usually drive to get to your appointment?
I could deal with a four hour commute, two hrs there, two hours back...if it were just once a month. But I don't want to delay my transition process because of lack of therapy sessions...

Thanks for answering all these questions

[LordKAT]

Out of pocket for me so don't know about insurance.

I drive 110 miles one way for therapy. I went 2 times the first month, 1 the second and now only when I need to. Like myles, I had things going like my name changed and living full time before I ever tried for therapy.

[Quicksand]

125 a sesh for me.  The only therapists in my area who cater to the trans population work at centers that also cater specifically to minorities and people with low-income, so the insurances they accept are more along the lines of blue cross/blue shield, and that type of thing, as opposed to my insurance which is more for middle-class people seeing private practitioners and what-not.  He's a great guy though.  I am continuing to see him past the three months just because it's really making a difference in my life.