Using counselling service at university

[Kairi]

I felt I've ignored my problem for long enough and that I will not forgive myself if I don't go out and see a counsellor of any sort by the end of this week. I should have done this 2, 4, 5 or 6 years ago, but why did I leave it for so long? I can't even answer that myself... I am already shooting myself in the foot.

I don't have access to a gender therapist for various reasons so I plan to use the student counselling service at my university as a first step, just to talk to someone really. I know it's not the best option since they are not specialists, but I think it's better than nothing.

Will these general counsellors have any clues on the topic of transgender? I have a feeling that they only deal with generic short term crisis and I am worried that they wont have a clue of what I am talking about. What should I expect from the session and what should I say?

[Robert Scott]

My son started his transition with a school counselor.  He found it useful b/c it gave him someone to bounce ideas off on.   We liked it too because she was able to help him become more confident with his transition.  She also was helpful in getting resources and such on campus for my son

[lilacwoman]

UK unis are all close to big towns where there will be proper counselling services so just tell the uni one you need to talk to someone about your gender conflict.

[Kairi]

Went in for a brief 10 minute drop in session today for the purpose of an initial assessment. I told them that I am quite possibly transgendered and don't know what to do. The counseller asked a few questions such as how long I've been feeling this way for, how was my experience with relationships and whether my goal is to have a sex change. The short session ended with an appointment with a proper session in two weeks time... lets see how it goes from here. 

[Kayla]

Good job, and I just did the same thing today. Funny thing I went in, the counselor/secretary (leave it to my school to be strapped for therapists/cash  ) and she asked why I was there. I was so nervous and scared I said depression :head desk:. After feeling silly by the general depression questions she asked (are you suicidal, do you hear voices, do you think you're a danger to others (very mandatory questions since the Virginia Tech massacre and Tech's proximity to my University)) I just felt stupid and told her I was not there because I was depressed but because I felt I should have been born female. She didn't even seem that surprised which made me feel better and she said the counselors would be more than capable of hearing and helping me and even told me there are some good gender therapists in the area (which because I have no money I can't afford). We then talked for about 15 minutes about random things and set up an appointment for next Monday before I left. SO.. Today has been a pretty good day for me.

Not to hijack your thread, but yeah.

[Kairi]

Good job, and I just did the same thing today. Funny thing I went in, the counselor/secretary (leave it to my school to be strapped for therapists/cash  ) and she asked why I was there. I was so nervous and scared I said depression :head desk:.

To talk about nerves, I hovered around the counselling department for about 20 minutes before I managed to get myself together to walk in! I also hesitated when a question on the registration form asked "what is the problem you wish to discuss with the counsellor?" and left that last, and even then, I just put down "LGBT issues" to diffuse to topic ever so slightly. There were a few people in the waiting room with me and I didn't want to risk people peering over my shoulders. I guess everybody feels this way because after all, we don't really tell our best friends about our issues and now we are talking about it to a complete stranger.

Kayla, let me know how your session goes. Mine is on tueday 2nd November.

[Kayla]

Congrats, mine is Monday Nov 1st. And yeah, I was nervous as ever. I walked to the building with the counseling services, and had to work the nerves to walk in the building, I ended up walking around Campus once before going in, to find that they were out to lunch  . So I came back 30 minutes later, and went in. I can only imagine how I looked when talking to the counselor (before coming out), I was nervous, timid, didn't even make eye contact or give full answers, in summary I must have looked a bit "tweaked." But after telling her why I was really there, I could tell I definitely opened up and felt more sociable and at ease, and we ended up talking about random things for about 15 minutes afterward .

Also, how on Earth did you manage to go a full week before me and end up getting a session a day after me? 

EDIT: Postponed until Friday morning

[Chantal185]

When I was in college I saw a councilor, it was free, and the price was included in my tuition. It probably would have been wise for me to bring up trans issues to her way back then a few years ago. However this was just so difficult for me to do. If you are trans and suffering from gender dysphoria. I would highly recommend that you bring it up at some point. Dont hide this away inside of you for your entire life. You only live once, and if you cant be honest with yourself, who else can you be honest with.