Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Where I live I have not been able to find a therapist closes enough considering gas as an expense. While searching I found Melissa Leonhardt with Brand New Day Counseling and I was wondering before I decide to see her if anyone here had heard anything about her.

I used Melissa, she is very good and reasonably priced.

I'll be your online therapist.   I promise only to string your along for the first 50 consultations, then I'll tell you that you have GID AND a borderline personality disorder or you have Asperbergers, or PTSD or....Then I will agree to treat you over a course of 250 consultations.  My fees are £50.00($90.00) per hour and the first 50 consultations must be paid in full in advance.

I am just joking of course.

Study the anti-psychiatry movement.

" Two central contentions of the anti-psychiatry movement are that:

    The specific definitions of, or criteria for, hundreds of current psychiatric diagnoses or disorders are vague and arbitrary, leaving too much room for opinions and interpretations to meet basic scientific standards.[2]
    Prevailing psychiatric treatments are ultimately far more damaging than helpful to patients.[3]

Other key criticisms of mainstream psychiatry include:

    Inappropriate and overuse of medical concepts and tools to understand the mind and society, including the miscategorization of normal reactions to extreme situations as psychiatric disorders;
    Scientifically and/or clinically ill-founded system of categorical diagnoses (e.g., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM), which stigmatizes patients;
    Unwillingness to develop and use objective tests (such as intelligence/cognitive tests) to determine patients' state (such as strong psychosis)
    Inappropriate (i.e. unvalidated) exclusion of other approaches to mental distress/disorder;
    Unexamined abuse or misuse of power over patients who are too often treated against their will;
    Relation of power between patients and psychiatrists, as well as the institutional environment, is too often experienced by patients as demeaning and controlling;
    Compromise to medical and ethical integrity because of financial and professional links with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies in countries where these companies are a force.
    Forced use of government (both civilian and military) psychiatric treatment prevents the patient from choosing private psychiatric or alternative treatment thereby denying the patient of his or her basic rights."

Graham Peveller is another option.

I use Melissa and I have been since this past June. She was cheaper than any other therapist I could find which was huge point for me. My first concern was her not being legit since it was online therapy. I never knew there was a such thing has online therapy for anything lol. But she is legit just to let you know.

I just received my letter for hormones from her. Initially, I only wanted to see her to get my letter for hrt. Since having sessions with her though I am going to continue with monthly sessions while I work on transitioning for the extra support. I think she's wonderful myself and that her prices are fantastic. To be honest though I can't compare her with any other therapist as she is the only one I have ever seen. But I still think she's great!
;D

thank you all for the input I am going to schedule my appointment

Thanks for the great topic I am sceduling my appointment also.

edit. Just got my email message back from her. Thought it would be a good idea to let people know that at least as of today she has a 45 day long waiting list for appts. good luck to all -Ash

edit edit: got my numbers mixed up. 2-3 weeks for appt $45 dollors per session. sorry -Ash

I've been exploring some options for Online Therapy.  I can't afford much and it's cheaper then traditional therapy so far as I can tell.  I just wanna know I can get on Hormones and approval this way.  If not it's a waste.

It works for some, and it doesn't for other's regarding online therapy.

I like the online sessions. It easier to manage my time during the day without the hassle of taking time off from work and such to fight traffic both ways lol. I think Melissa is very good at what she does. I love talking to her and regularly talk to her via e-mail whenever I need to talk or get something out there. And yes, she is legit. Also if you live near her she does face to face as well thought I throw that out there as well. I probably will end up doing a face to face when I go back home to visit the folks.

Jen

my first session was supposed to be Nov 28th but got cancelled because she had internet problems but she was so awsome and was able to rescedule it for a lil over a week later so new first appt is Dec 7th.. Fingers crossed.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on November 03, 2011, 07:08:27 PM
Graham Peveller is another option.

I second this.  I used him for both letters.  He was really great. 

Great information everyone thanks! :)

Jennifer