Susan's Place Transgender Resources

As some of you may know, I've run into some trouble accessing a therapist recently.

Somewhere, sometime ago I read that if you come to a therapist and are (or claim to be) self-medicating that they will automatically prescribe you hormones because the risk of self medication surmounts those of hormones.

Is this true? Can anyone verify this?

If so, I might consider trying to pull this off to access to medications. I know it's really a ->-bleeped-<-bag thing to do, but I don't have a lot of financial recourse.

Furthermore, does anyone have an actual copy of the standards of care floating about? I saw one somewhere, but I can't seem to find it  :(

http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH.pdf (http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH.pdf)

And no, that isn't true. It depends on the therapist on how they'll react.

A lot of gender therapists have sliding price scales for people with low income. Plead poverty and see if someone will help you out.

Quote from: Guantanamera on November 18, 2011, 11:24:05 PM
As some of you may know, I've run into some trouble accessing a therapist recently.

Somewhere, sometime ago I read that if you come to a therapist and are (or claim to be) self-medicating that they will automatically prescribe you hormones because the risk of self medication surmounts those of hormones.

Is this true? Can anyone verify this?

If so, I might consider trying to pull this off to access to medications. I know it's really a ->-bleeped-<-bag thing to do, but I don't have a lot of financial recourse.

Furthermore, does anyone have an actual copy of the standards of care floating about? I saw one somewhere, but I can't seem to find it  :(

Well I could tell you my experience. I self medicated for a year and that was pretty F'ing scary at times. So when I went to the therapist, I thought the same thing for a bit; I could go in and come out with a letter, but I was wrong. It took me 3 months, but for some others I know it can take longer. My therapist was indeed concerned, but it just meant that it was a one sign of many that shows your sort of ready. To a therapist you may not be ready even if you are taking it. I remember a story my therapist said that someone was trying to blackmail them in a way by saying well my life is in your hands now because I am self medding. So the therapist actually told him to stop coming and see someone else. I believe in the standards of care it discusses about using medication properly. So when your self-med that can also turn the therapist away at thinking that you are going to use it properly.

I would just say for self-med its can be a hit or a miss. You could guess right, or you could make it worse. I think if you underdose estrogen, you won't get the right effects. And the same goes if you overdose may lead to more testosterone production. So please get monitored.

Hugs :)

it's more intended to promote harm reduction on the medical provider level (therapists can't prescribe, psychiatrists can) then make for a way out of the assessment/diagnosis process.