Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:20:03 PM

Title: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:20:03 PM
so i have no way yet to even start seeing a therapist... kinda a bummer...  i want to start pre-t but im still new to all that.. i dont know what i can/should take to help me out. please help... any thought or opions. please and thanks
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: supremecatoverlord on January 26, 2012, 11:21:47 PM
Why can't you get to a therapist?

Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Sharky on January 26, 2012, 11:22:51 PM
I've heard of people seeing them online.
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:25:20 PM
Quote from: JasonRX on January 26, 2012, 11:21:47 PM
Why can't you get to a therapist?

money is the biggest issue and  well i dont have a vehicle right now... the closest therapist is 2 hrs away...
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:26:23 PM
i was told that testoserone pills sold at stores are ok to take as pre t but i dont know if its a good idea yet or not...
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Sharky on January 26, 2012, 11:27:20 PM
Come up with a game plan to make your dreams into goals.
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:28:40 PM
Quote from: Sharky on January 26, 2012, 11:27:20 PM
Come up with a game plan to make your dreams into goals.

i was thinking about trying to scedual something with a therapist after my income tax check comes in but ill have to find a way there...
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Sharky on January 26, 2012, 11:29:49 PM
Quote from: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:26:23 PM
i was told that testoserone pills sold at stores are ok to take as pre t but i dont know if its a good idea yet or not...
Bad idea...
waste of money
you need testicals for it to work and it probably wouldn't even do much then
could possibly harm you

There is no real substitute for T.
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:30:58 PM
dang i just dont know wich way to turn...
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Sharky on January 26, 2012, 11:31:26 PM
Quote from: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:28:40 PM
i was thinking about trying to scedual something with a therapist after my income tax check comes in but ill have to find a way there...

Public transportation?
Friend?
Family?
Borrow a car?
Rent a car?
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 26, 2012, 11:33:55 PM
thats what ive been working on... hope oi get something here soon lol
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Zerro on January 27, 2012, 12:08:48 AM
Note: I don't know where you live but D.C. in the US has a clinic that provides trans*-related services, including legal help, therapy, surgery letters, and HRT.

If you can, look for a GLBT clinic or a doctor that does informed consent. Ask yourself: do I want therapy? Or do you feel the need to see a therapist? If yes to either, then look for a therapist that does sliding scale payments and is willing to work with you. Be up front about what you need and what you're looking for, and you're sure to find an arrangement that works for you.

As for transportation - do you have a license? If so, ask a friend or family member if you can borrow their car for a day and pay for the gas. I know you're tight on money, so save up. Have a little stockpile going before you start spending what you don't have. Waiting is frustrating, but sometimes it's better in the long run if you just have something as backup. You never know when you'll need some money, after all.

Also, if you don't have a license - buses, trains, cycling, carpooling, etc are all great ways to get where you need to go.
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Max on January 27, 2012, 02:13:10 AM
If you are a student, another option is to visit your counselor and see what kind of services they can offer you. Depending on their credentials and experience, they may not be able to write you a letter but they may have experience working with gender identity issues. I bring this up because the service is free and confidential--at least at my campus--and you can get a feel for how comfortable you are with talking about your intentions. They may also be able to help you get connected with other resources in the community that you could have possibly overlooked.
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 27, 2012, 08:51:52 AM
wait i dont need to see a therapist first befor starting t? all this time everything i have herd is that you cant start anything with out seeing a therapist first.... i dont feel the need to see  a therapist.... and i live in PA sooo dose that make a difference?
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: spacerace on January 27, 2012, 11:28:52 AM
Quote from: Jason623 on January 27, 2012, 08:51:52 AM
wait i dont need to see a therapist first befor starting t? all this time everything i have herd is that you cant start anything with out seeing a therapist first.... i dont feel the need to see  a therapist.... and i live in PA sooo dose that make a difference?

Whether or not you need to see a therapist depends on the doctor's office or clinic that prescribes you T. Some operate on informed consent, and will let you sign a piece of paper saying you know what you are doing instead of requiring a letter. If you don't want to go to therapy, you will need to find a clinic or doctor that operates that way.

You would need to look around on the Internet and use resources like this one: http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender_endocrinologist_list.htm (http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender_endocrinologist_list.htm) to find doctor's offices, and call them and ask if they do informed consent.

In my very limited experience of looking for a doctor, here at least, the doctors that work with a lot of trans patients seem to know about the standards of care and all require a therapy letter. In other places, it seems that is different and there are clinics that will do informed consent, which is preferable to many. I wish I had that option, but it isn't so, as my location and the doctors I want to go with all require a letter. It may be the same with you, but you don't know until you do some research and call around.

I hope that helps. I think some people on here have done the online therapy thing, maybe someone will give you the name of a good online therapist they have experience with so you can save the hassle of trying to get there without a car. Be careful though, I would imagine some of the online therapy things are sketchy so you might only want to use someone that is recommended by someone you trust. Good luck finding someone.


Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Adio on January 27, 2012, 01:47:07 PM
Some physicians prescribe T using informed consent.  Meaning, they don't require a therapist's letter.  Since you're in PA (not sure where) you might want to check out this clinic; apparently they use informed consent.

The Mazzoni Center
809 LOCUST ST
PHILADELPHIA PA 19107
1215 563 0663
Fax: 1215 563 0662
E-mail: info@mazzonicenter.org
Website: http://mazzonicenter.org/ (http://mazzonicenter.org/)

There are other providers in PA as well, that's just one of the ones I found online (t-vox.org).

If you can't see a therapist and your provider requires it, you can see one online.  This is a legit website (AFAIK) and some guys here have used their services; $40/session with a max of 3 months.

http://www.gendertherapist.com/ (http://www.gendertherapist.com/)
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Jason623 on January 27, 2012, 01:59:26 PM
Quote from: Adio on January 27, 2012, 01:47:07 PM
Some physicians prescribe T using informed consent.  Meaning, they don't require a therapist's letter.  Since you're in PA (not sure where) you might want to check out this clinic; apparently they use informed consent.

The Mazzoni Center
809 LOCUST ST
PHILADELPHIA PA 19107
1215 563 0663
Fax: 1215 563 0662
E-mail: info@mazzonicenter.org
Website: http://mazzonicenter.org/ (http://mazzonicenter.org/)

There are other providers in PA as well, that's just one of the ones I found online (t-vox.org).

If you can't see a therapist and your provider requires it, you can see one online.  This is a legit website (AFAIK) and some guys here have used their services; $40/session with a max of 3 months.

http://www.gendertherapist.com/ (http://www.gendertherapist.com/)

im near gettysburg pa/ hanover pa. i saw some in maryland too. thanks
Title: Re: cant get to a therapist... :(
Post by: Adio on January 27, 2012, 02:35:49 PM
Quote from: Jason623 on January 27, 2012, 01:59:26 PM
im near gettysburg pa/ hanover pa. i saw some in maryland too. thanks

No problem.  I hope you find what you need :)