Community Conversation => Transitioning => Therapy => Topic started by: Alexthecat on September 28, 2013, 08:16:24 AM Return to Full Version
Title: draft letter
Post by: Alexthecat on September 28, 2013, 08:16:24 AM
Post by: Alexthecat on September 28, 2013, 08:16:24 AM
Therapist sent me a draft of my top surgery letter. Does it sound fine?
The above client is a 21 year old female to male transsexual, who currently resides in ____ Ohio USA he has been a client of mine since early August 2013. During that time we have spoken online and used various forms of communication. He chose this form of counseling due to convenience and not being able to locate a suitable resource in his local community. Currently he works throughout the night and is currently employed as a retail stocker.
Alex feels his gender issues have been with him since he was quite young. At this time and from the age of 18 he has had to bind his chest every day and feels very uncomfortable doing such physical things, as it makes it difficult to breath. Having to do such a things makes it feel as that he cannot be his male self and do normal things as he is also restricted by the dysphoria he has suffered over the long years and especially how he is perceived by others daily.
His life was good at home until he started to have experience difficulties and conflict both at school and with his mother, following experiencing puberty and entering High School. At school he was continually picked on marginalized and bullied. At the time he was totally unaware of his gender dysphoria and its related issues. Going through puberty made him feel extremely uncomfortable with both his body and female persona at that time. It was sometime after that he has realized that it was due to his body development. Although during that period of education he was a good student with grade A's and was actively involved with clubs and activities. Eventually he fell out of classes during the 11th grade and finished up being home schooled.
Alex has a difficult relationship with his mother as they do not speak about very personal things often. He does not see his father who left the family some years ago. He has a few a few friends and goes out with them occasionally. However, at this time he is more focused on working hard to pay for this surgery. He obviously does not always have the opportunity to see friends.
Throughout his life Alex has suffered an acute lack of confidence due to his gender dysphoria which has increased over the years. He states that he has developed into a private and closed person who finds it difficult to speak about things related to his feelings and life in general. He believes that personal things are not necessarily other people's business. He politely asked me to consider this throughout our sessions which I have endeavored to respect. My concentration has therefore been focused on the gender dysphoria he has suffered over many years and I have no doubt about my diagnosis of transsexual male
Alex is medically well. In the past he has had Wisdom Teeth removal, Gender Dysphoria, and personality problems
Alex in my opinion meets the diagnostic criteria for Gender Dysphoria he has started to transitioning as a male and has developed a positive support network amongst friends and a positive extent within his family. His records indicate that he is physically and emotionally healthy, with no evidence of psychopathology or impaired judgment. He is aware of the benefits and potential risks of surgery, and feels prepared to undertake this important step.
The author of this letter is an independent gender specialist and psychologist registered through the American Counseling Association and The Psychological Association of the Philippines, and registered in the UK who is fully qualified and has consulted Alex weekly over the past weeks. I believe that he will have a better quality of life living as a transmale and undergoing chest reconstruction surgery will only enhance that further.
Alex has chosen to follow the standards of care as he has done so in the past. After reviewing the evidence and facts chest reconstruction surgery is the next logical step in his treatment and should relieve much of any remaining dysphoria which has accompanied his Gender related concerns over the years.
Alex is now psychologically ready for this next step of his transition. I therefore have no hesitation in recommending Alex ____ for chest reconstruction surgery. He has met all of the eligibility criteria outlined in the Standards of Care for the treatment of transgender individuals. If you have any questions do not hesitate in contacting me.
Yours sincerely
The above client is a 21 year old female to male transsexual, who currently resides in ____ Ohio USA he has been a client of mine since early August 2013. During that time we have spoken online and used various forms of communication. He chose this form of counseling due to convenience and not being able to locate a suitable resource in his local community. Currently he works throughout the night and is currently employed as a retail stocker.
Alex feels his gender issues have been with him since he was quite young. At this time and from the age of 18 he has had to bind his chest every day and feels very uncomfortable doing such physical things, as it makes it difficult to breath. Having to do such a things makes it feel as that he cannot be his male self and do normal things as he is also restricted by the dysphoria he has suffered over the long years and especially how he is perceived by others daily.
His life was good at home until he started to have experience difficulties and conflict both at school and with his mother, following experiencing puberty and entering High School. At school he was continually picked on marginalized and bullied. At the time he was totally unaware of his gender dysphoria and its related issues. Going through puberty made him feel extremely uncomfortable with both his body and female persona at that time. It was sometime after that he has realized that it was due to his body development. Although during that period of education he was a good student with grade A's and was actively involved with clubs and activities. Eventually he fell out of classes during the 11th grade and finished up being home schooled.
Alex has a difficult relationship with his mother as they do not speak about very personal things often. He does not see his father who left the family some years ago. He has a few a few friends and goes out with them occasionally. However, at this time he is more focused on working hard to pay for this surgery. He obviously does not always have the opportunity to see friends.
Throughout his life Alex has suffered an acute lack of confidence due to his gender dysphoria which has increased over the years. He states that he has developed into a private and closed person who finds it difficult to speak about things related to his feelings and life in general. He believes that personal things are not necessarily other people's business. He politely asked me to consider this throughout our sessions which I have endeavored to respect. My concentration has therefore been focused on the gender dysphoria he has suffered over many years and I have no doubt about my diagnosis of transsexual male
Alex is medically well. In the past he has had Wisdom Teeth removal, Gender Dysphoria, and personality problems
Alex in my opinion meets the diagnostic criteria for Gender Dysphoria he has started to transitioning as a male and has developed a positive support network amongst friends and a positive extent within his family. His records indicate that he is physically and emotionally healthy, with no evidence of psychopathology or impaired judgment. He is aware of the benefits and potential risks of surgery, and feels prepared to undertake this important step.
The author of this letter is an independent gender specialist and psychologist registered through the American Counseling Association and The Psychological Association of the Philippines, and registered in the UK who is fully qualified and has consulted Alex weekly over the past weeks. I believe that he will have a better quality of life living as a transmale and undergoing chest reconstruction surgery will only enhance that further.
Alex has chosen to follow the standards of care as he has done so in the past. After reviewing the evidence and facts chest reconstruction surgery is the next logical step in his treatment and should relieve much of any remaining dysphoria which has accompanied his Gender related concerns over the years.
Alex is now psychologically ready for this next step of his transition. I therefore have no hesitation in recommending Alex ____ for chest reconstruction surgery. He has met all of the eligibility criteria outlined in the Standards of Care for the treatment of transgender individuals. If you have any questions do not hesitate in contacting me.
Yours sincerely
Title: Re: draft letter
Post by: mrs izzy on September 28, 2013, 09:11:21 AM
Post by: mrs izzy on September 28, 2013, 09:11:21 AM
I think it sounds good. You need to check the validity of the where, when and whys.
Izzy
Izzy
Title: Re: draft letter
Post by: Bimmer Guy on September 29, 2013, 08:48:48 AM
Post by: Bimmer Guy on September 29, 2013, 08:48:48 AM
The letter looks fine to me. She actually could have said less and not shared so much about your personal social history.
Page 59 of this document tells you the criteria for surgery that needs to be in the therapist letter. It is the newest SOC from WPATH http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care,%20V7%20Full%20Book.pdf
I believe that one's therapist has to be "licensed" in order to refer for surgery. Although your therapist indicated the organizations she is a part of, she did not indicate license. My guess is that she would be, but I would check. Any license she has would be whatever initial she has next to her name.
Page 59 of this document tells you the criteria for surgery that needs to be in the therapist letter. It is the newest SOC from WPATH http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care,%20V7%20Full%20Book.pdf
I believe that one's therapist has to be "licensed" in order to refer for surgery. Although your therapist indicated the organizations she is a part of, she did not indicate license. My guess is that she would be, but I would check. Any license she has would be whatever initial she has next to her name.