Susan's Place Transgender Resources

She's not a gender therapist, I didn't request 1 because I didn't want to come out to my dad, and I didn't want to drive all the way to Las Vegas all the time, ugh. Anyone have experience with just a regular therapist? In the case that she's had experience with transsexuals, would she just recommend a gender therapist? Hopefully she's not an idiot, but I have my doubts. >.>

I'm not so sure, because gender identity is certainly not easily understandable. Then again though, if you can afford it, and it's closest for you I say give it a shot. They might even already know the subject. But, I definitely would say it would be much easier to work with people with experience. You have to think about the potential future, ie letters, rle, recommended doctors and so on.

Good luck!

While I'm just about to start therapy soon (so I don't know too much on the subject), I think as long as someone has experience with transgendered people and are knowledgeable on the issue, it shouldn't matter whether they're a gender therapist or just a regular one.  However, if they have no experience at all with gender issues, I probably would not consider them.

In my experience with therapists, therapists are not likely to admit they are idiots. A therapist who claims to be a therapist, but does not know about the most primal emotions in the human mind, is an idiot. So when they are questioned about the most primal instincts of the human mind and confidence (Gender Identity and Sexual Identity), they will not admit they know nothing of what their profession seemingly is built on.

Instead, they will try to convince you that GID is a choice caused by stress or outside forces and not a condition that should be taken seriously on a medical level - they'll throw all sorts of excuses at you, from "You look girly enough, you don't need hormones, you just need a wig!" to "Oh, the legal coarse of action here is for you to dress as a woman for 40 years and then I will write you a letter for hormones and surgery." trying to confuse the patient. My current therapist is doing this and I'm planning on planting a tape recorder on my person so that I can expose the practice to the Psychiatric Association, much in the fashion of the recent Bachmann Associates Battle.

However, an educated therapist will either know all about the subject (in a 2011 manner), which harbors pro-choice attitudes in all areas of transitioning including Facial Feminization Surgery, Gender Reassignment Surgery, Estrogen, Anti-Androgens, Today's Fashion Choices and Trends, Career Advice for Gender Identity, and other relating subjects. If the therapist is mature and thoughtful, but does not know of these subjects, a good therapist will recommend someone who does.

Quote from: RhinoP on July 19, 2011, 04:36:39 AM
However, an educated therapist will either know all about the subject (in a 2011 manner), which harbors pro-choice attitudes in all areas of transitioning including Facial Feminization Surgery, Gender Reassignment Surgery, Estrogen, Anti-Androgens, Today's Fashion Choices and Trends, Career Advice for Gender Identity, and other relating subjects. If the therapist is mature and thoughtful, but does not know of these subjects, a good therapist will recommend someone who does.

Not all therapists need to KNOW about each of those subjects...to claim such is analogous to claiming that I need to be well-versed in all manner of tax law or oil/gas law even though that is not the area of practice I am involved with.  And even within the realm of criminal defense, there are STILL going to be times that even I revert to the Codes in order to confirm something. 

A therapist need not be well-versed in the specifics of ANY surgery or other medical management of the transsexual condition in order to work with the transsexual patient.  And fashion or career guidance?  Puh-leez...they might discuss it casually, but that is NOT what they went to school for and gained their credentials from whichever State agency regulates their practice.  The ONLY obligation for the therapist is to get the patient to a stable mental well-being...

And to some therapists, gay conversion therapy is the "key" to a mental well-being. An educated therapist knows how to run a non-discriminatory, non-harmful practice. Wether they learn that by going to a college where the textbooks are still regulated by a Christian-based committee and/or were published back in 1974, or wether they do the responsible thing and research online like the most gender-friendly therapists admit to having had to do, then they need to do it.

%40 of identity people who have committed suicide in the last year alone had weekly contact with a trained therapist. Everyone here has my permission to stop being silly, if they believe that supporting this type of unprofessionalism in the psychiatric world is justified or even positive. A pledge in the medical world is to "do no harm", and a therapist who does not have a factual knowledge of the world will be harmful if he/she has authoritarian views that relate to supernatural beliefs disproven by modern bodies of science.

I spoke to a general therapist, as he was free through my school.  I noticed that yes, he was clueless when it came to trans issues.  (He started off our second meeting by apologizing for mixing up gender and sexuality our first time.  ::) )  Despite this, it was nice to have a pair of impartial ears to run my ideas and worries through.  He was very supportive and encouraged me towards coming out and transitioning.  However, I could tell that he was not going to be of much use during this process. 

Yours may be helpful, harmful, or anywhere in between.  If there's a chance of her being able to help, I'd say go for it.  Just be prepared with some questions about her experience and approach.  If she seems like a poor choice you certainly don't have to go back. 

I hope it goes well.  :)

I have been going to a regular therapist for some time now.  She knows about my TG issues as well as my other problems.  She has willing been trying to help me knowing that she is not experiences with TG subjects.  I have been trying to teach her some things about it.  The one I had a few years ago told me he doesn't deal with TG issues and said I should go to the U of M for help.  I walked out and refused to go back to him.  The VA has a system of if you want to change Dr then you need their permission.  I said I am not going to him for any reason and after a tug-a war with them over who I would see they consented to get me another therapist.

I'm having a little cold feet now. :3

Well I went. Didn't talk about GID at all. Will try again next week, ugh.

Hi I just wanted to update. Today I told her I like guys, I figured it's a start. I expect to come out next week.