Community Conversation => Transitioning => Therapy => Topic started by: tammy70 on July 07, 2009, 06:38:14 PM Return to Full Version
Title: questions for therapy
Post by: tammy70 on July 07, 2009, 06:38:14 PM
Post by: tammy70 on July 07, 2009, 06:38:14 PM
hello, i'm sort of new here i've been around for awhile and just joined the other night and haven't introduced myself yet but i was wondering if there are any questions besides the basic that i should ask when i call to make an appoint with a therapist. i have been putting this off for awhile now and feel that it is about time i did something about it. and when i have a little extra time i'll introduce my self some more
in the intro forum.
thanks in advance for any advice
in the intro forum.
thanks in advance for any advice
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: Nero on July 07, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Post by: Nero on July 07, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
ask if they have experience with transsexual patients. if so, ask for a general timeline for hormone and surgery letters. they will tell you it depends, but try for an estimate time. three months? 6 months? a year? it can give you an idea if you're wasting your time.
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: Janet_Girl on July 07, 2009, 08:14:24 PM
Post by: Janet_Girl on July 07, 2009, 08:14:24 PM
Hi Tammy, :icon_wave:
Welcome to our little family. Over 2700 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.
Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams. Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.
But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister. :icon_hug:
And be sure to check out
You want make sure that they are a Gender therapist, and the amount of time they have practiced.
Janet
Welcome to our little family. Over 2700 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.
Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams. Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.
But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister. :icon_hug:
And be sure to check out
- Site Terms of Service and rules to live by (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)
- Standard Terms and Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)
- Post Ranks (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
You want make sure that they are a Gender therapist, and the amount of time they have practiced.
Janet
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: Lori on July 07, 2009, 08:40:01 PM
Post by: Lori on July 07, 2009, 08:40:01 PM
Just be honest. I mean totally honest. A therapist cannot help you if you hold back.
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: myles on July 07, 2009, 11:31:55 PM
Post by: myles on July 07, 2009, 11:31:55 PM
Welcome-
Also depending on the state you are in you will want to make sure they have the authority (for lack of a better word) to issue all letter you may need for your transition, DMV (for gender change), HRT and so on.
Myles
Also depending on the state you are in you will want to make sure they have the authority (for lack of a better word) to issue all letter you may need for your transition, DMV (for gender change), HRT and so on.
Myles
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: tammy70 on July 09, 2009, 01:42:15 PM
Post by: tammy70 on July 09, 2009, 01:42:15 PM
thanks everyone,
nero,
the place has been around for about 30 years working with lgbt community, as much as i would love to start hormones right away i don't mind waiting a little while, but i do understand the est. time line.
someone did give me the number to call 2 yrs ago, but i was almost being forced to go and didn't feel ready to go at the time. plus had a few other things to take care of.
lori,
i plan on being honest, as that is what i've gathered from roaming around.
myles,
i think they may but i'll check to make sure when i call.
Post Merge: July 09, 2009, 01:44:55 PM
for the record if it will help any i am in southwest pa
nero,
the place has been around for about 30 years working with lgbt community, as much as i would love to start hormones right away i don't mind waiting a little while, but i do understand the est. time line.
someone did give me the number to call 2 yrs ago, but i was almost being forced to go and didn't feel ready to go at the time. plus had a few other things to take care of.
lori,
i plan on being honest, as that is what i've gathered from roaming around.
myles,
i think they may but i'll check to make sure when i call.
Post Merge: July 09, 2009, 01:44:55 PM
for the record if it will help any i am in southwest pa
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: Steph on July 09, 2009, 02:02:40 PM
Post by: Steph on July 09, 2009, 02:02:40 PM
Quote from: Nero on July 07, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
ask if they have experience with transsexual patients. if so, ask for a general timeline for hormone and surgery letters. they will tell you it depends, but try for an estimate time. three months? 6 months? a year? it can give you an idea if you're wasting your time.
I have to disagree Nero. You don't seek therapy to get hormones, surgery letters and a time line. You seek therapy to see if you in fact need hormones, surgery letters and a time line would generally follow after a decision was made.
People who seek therapy simply to get HRT may indeed be wasting their time and the time of the therapist. I don't think therapists in general start seeing patients with pre-set notions of treatments.
-={LR}=-
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: heatherrose on July 09, 2009, 02:32:29 PM
Post by: heatherrose on July 09, 2009, 02:32:29 PM
You need to ask, "How long have you been in practice.", "Do you deal with
issues of Gender Identity Dysforia?", "Are you familiar with the Harry Benjamin
Standards of Care for Transsexuals?", "How many transgender patients have you
"treated" and how many are you now currently seeing?", "Are you in contact
with other doctors who treat transgender individuals", "In your opinion, is
Gender Identity Disorder "curable" and if so, how?". For staters.
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: Lori on July 09, 2009, 02:48:57 PM
Post by: Lori on July 09, 2009, 02:48:57 PM
Quote from: Ladyrider on July 09, 2009, 02:02:40 PM
I have to disagree Nero. You don't seek therapy to get hormones, surgery letters and a time line. You seek therapy to see if you in fact need hormones, surgery letters and a time line would generally follow after a decision was made.
People who seek therapy simply to get HRT may indeed be wasting their time and the time of the therapist. I don't think therapists in general start seeing patients with pre-set notions of treatments.
-={LR}=-
I actually went out of my way to find therapist that did not deal with GID/Trans issues. She has dealt with some LGB people before.
Surprise...she said I should transition after the second meeting. I think a good therapist can recognize and help you deal with any issues. She knows hiding who you are is going to be self destructive and holding things in is certainly bad. I think the key is to find somebody that you are comfortable with that can understand you. That is the hard thing. Very few people understand transsexuals and In just two meetings, this woman had me pegged. I love her and for $120.00 an hr. she is worth every penny so far.
Title: Re: questions for therapy
Post by: tammy70 on July 10, 2009, 07:46:05 AM
Post by: tammy70 on July 10, 2009, 07:46:05 AM
thanks for the help everyone, i'm going to try to make the call today, and later i'll try to post an introduction later.