Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My dad is willing to take me to see a therapist, But no one has told me the cost, I need to see one ASAP

Cost can vary widely depending on the training of and/or location of the therapist. Sliding scale fees can also make a difference. $400/ hour to $0 per hour. Call and ask is the only true option to know.

You should also check to see if one may be covered by your health insurance plan.

There's a few on-line ones, some of which I've heard good things about. I can't remember the name of one, but I'll ask the member who told me about her. :)

Edit to add: It's Dr. Clark. https://drcarolclark.com/

I found mine through my health insurance company's website. If you have insurance, you should take a look for sure. My copay for each session is only 15 dollars :) without insurance, I believe she charges 95 dollars for the session.

http://www.lauras-playground.com/gender_therapists.htm

Go to that link and scroll for a gender therapist in your state.  If all else fails, look into online gender therapists (which the names of various online therapists are also included in the link).  The price range can vary.

As I'm in Canada, I can't help you find one but I see some suggestions here that should be helpful and wanted to say that I'm really glad you're taking this step and have support. I'm also glad you're having a say in it. Just be sure to utilise the provided resources to find someone legit and not someone who may have alternative motives, e.g. 'pray away the gay' type ideas.

Best of luck!

There are also some links on the front page of susan's. You might also try a local LBGT center and see if they know of anybody. If your dad has insurance, you can sometimes be covered to some extent on that.
As someone mentioned the range can be very big.

--Jay

I found mine through Oklahoma State Universities Psychology Office. It is only $10.00 a session. You do not even have to be a student so try your local college or university. They usually know good Endocrinologist's and trusted labs in the area also.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 24, 2013, 07:08:18 PM
Cost can vary widely depending on the training of and/or location of the therapist...

...and how popular/busy they are. That will also effect how quick and easy they are to get to see, cheaper/free ones might have a considerable waiting list for first time clients.

Quote from: Ms Grace on November 24, 2013, 10:17:16 PM
...and how popular/busy they are. That will also effect how quick and easy they are to get to see, cheaper/free ones might have a considerable waiting list for first time clients.

Yeah I am at a free clinic in Canada and the waiting list to see someone was 3-4 months. But here there is no therapy requirement so I guess that's the trade off which I don't mind!

My insurance did cover therapy, but the therapists that were covered didn't have a clue about gender issues so I found someone out of pocket. As far as costs, that varies widely. Some people do sliding scale and you can pay as low as $10-30 a session with little to no income. If you can't find someone in your area maybe look for a therapist who offers skype sessions. I've seen those as sliding scale as well. Good luck.

Gay and lesbian centers often have low-cost therapy.

As people have said, costs vary widely. Most of the out-of-pocket fees seem to range between around $100-150 a session, but I've seen higher and lower. My therapist charges $135 but takes on a few hardship cases through the LGBT center, and he is also charging me only $90 a session until my work situation has stabilized.

My last health insurance plan was not much help--if I had gone through insurance, the plan would have covered only $30 per session with a $30 copay; my therapist would have been out $30 (or $75 if he'd been charging the full fee), so he expected me to pick up the difference. The health plan was completely unreasonable. I hope you have a better health plan than I did.

Look for the website of a trans support group near your town to get a referral or a list of names.  The site may have a list, or you can contact them by email for who they know is good in your area. I am not saying to go to a meeting - just get their help finding a therapist.

A referral from someone who has seen the same therapist is worth its weight in gold in terms of finding someone who will not jerk you around, especially for stuff to do with being trans - even more so for a trans kid that is still in H.S.

You could also ask your school counselor.

For your situation Brandon, I would seek other options other than online therapy. You sound like you really need to talk to someone, and there is no substitute for face to face therapy interaction.

You definitely don't need a PHD. My therapist is a licensed mental health therapist. They are master's degree folks.
I agree on a face to face therapist, esp for you with your feelings of being alone. The knowing about gender is pretty important. I don't see you as the type of person to want to bother educating someone. When I started seeing my therapist I would not have wanted to educate anybody either. I think there are some good people out there who could learn. One therapist I went to, I didn't know I was trans, but she was intent on telling me how much not like a young lady I was, and I should learn to be one!

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on November 25, 2013, 04:07:22 PM
One therapist I went to, I didn't know I was trans, but she was intent on telling me how much not like a young lady I was, and I should learn to be one!

Oog.

Quote from: Arch on November 25, 2013, 11:35:32 PM
Oog.

It was 25 years ago, but still RIGHT?!

--Jay