If you've been reading my thread on the SRS board, you'll know I recently had a surprising experience with a middle-aged male psychologist who I'd gone to see so he would write a referral letter to my surgeon.
To summarize, he began evaluating me and we seemed to be having a decent session when he suddenly went all gatekeeper on me and told me I wasn't ready for a letter.
This is the second time I dealt with a middle-aged male who was doing a psych eval and somehow moved him to conclude he needed to put the breaks on some aspect of my transition.
My own therapist, who knows both those individuals well, said that the behavior surprised her, because that was not characteristic of either. And she did verify that by no one's criteria is there anything in my case that should indicate delaying my transition.
I'm led to speculate why I bring out seeming uncharacteristic gatekeeping behavior.
I wonder if males who came of age in the days where strong professional women were not as much in evidence are somehow triggered by women who appear accommodating and feminine but who have a professional level of confidence in their own knowledge and judgment. There was a period even in my own lifetime, where the belief was still widespread that women's judgment was inferior to men's.
I'm very well read, very intelligent, and on top of that have a cocksure attitude that convinces me I know a whole lot more than I actually do. However, I have a verhy female presentation, a feminine voice that is not strong or forceful, and body language that is sometimes kind of meek and demure.
But personality-wise I'm not like that. I have strong opinions and I refuse to allow myself to be stared down or cowed. I'm quick to challenge someone who says something I disagree with, and have no qualms about pointing out flaws in other people's logic.
I wonder if that combination triggers something in men of that age, some need to put me in my place, some need reestablish their gravitas.
Has anyone else had experiences like this?
I never went to a therapist. I didn't need to pay someone to agree with me on a topic I was already aware of.
Can't say I've had that experience. All of my the*apists were quite understanding and agreeable, no gatekeeping of any sort.
On the other hand, maybe they matured in the era when doctors (or other authority figures) were Kings of the Roost, and one simply did NOT question their Ah-tori-TAY!!
Maybe it was a kind of "alpha male" response?
do you need to go to a middle aged male for justification?
Transphobia is incredibly common in medicine, and most psychiatrists have zero training in trans care.
That is why I intend to see a Dr who is a member of WPATH for my second surgery letter.
Those doctors both failed to follow the Standard of Care. Your temperament and presentation are completely irrelevant. The determination they were paid to make is this:
Does the client have gender dysphoria that will be reduced by surgery, and does the client have a successful year living in her gender. Period. And for non-genital surgery no determination is needed.
Suzi, I think you'll find that while women don't generally like overly assertive males they like it even less coming from other women (you can't win). I'm guessing that "cock sure" approach you mentioned probably wouldn't win you many brownie points from any female doctor/counsellor.
Quote from: Ms Grace on November 12, 2013, 12:38:40 PM
Suzi, I think you'll find that while women don't generally like overly assertive males they like it even less coming from other women (you can't win). I'm guessing that "cock sure" approach you mentioned probably wouldn't win you many brownie points from any female doctor/counsellor.
But if they are professional, Suzi wouldn't even know how they felt.
I am a medical student and not a doctor, so I'm absolutely not taking sides, or criticising anyone here, but let me try to give you a view of the potential problem, from the other side
Having looked at the thread in question I absolutely do agree that moving the goal posts, or at very least failing to specify where they were in advance, seems very unfair. In my opinion you certainly should have been made aware of where he was going to set the bar BEFORE you got there.
As regards his refusal however, sadly there have been numerous cases where doctors who sign letters too far in advance have then been subjected to professional misconduct and/or legal proceedings later when someone appears to have had subsequent regrets. So from a professional point of view it's very difficult because unfortunately the courts are less trans friendly than doctors and do tend to want to believe that all trans people are nutters – and that therefore that anyone who "says" that they weren't properly assessed "must be telling the truth", because the lawyers all seem to believe that no one in their right mind would ever genuinely WANT such a procedure.
The ONLY defence that works against this line of legal reasoning is that the doctor involved followed the agreed treatment guidelines TO THE LETTER! This places any medical professional in a very awkward position, because much as they might like to believe the strong intelligent professional person in front of them, sadly experience also shows that these are quite often the ones most likely to sue if something later changes...
I speak from somewhat personal experience, because my best friend, a doctor of some considerable experience, was sued by a trans patient under just those circumstances, because she claimed that in failing to enforce the 1 year rule TO THE LETTER he had failed in his duty of care, because had he done so she would have changed her mind... there is in fact no way to prove or disprove this. It becomes his word against hers. This despite the fact that at the time she was probably calling him all the bastards under the sun for suggesting that she should maybe wait.
So the doctor is often placed in a no win situation. You bend the rules for one, and sod's law means it's the one you should have stood up to. You don't bend for someone else and they will almost inevitably turn out to be the one that really needed it! The problem is if we don't have any guidelines, then it becomes open season on the medics, who then have no solid defence, other than "well in my judgement..." which a skilled lawyer can and often will rip to pieces.
So what I do think was very unfortunate is that you were unaware of what his attitude was going to be, because that denied you the chance to save your fee and go elsewhere, which of course has to be your right!
I haven't had a lot of experience, but my therapist did warn me about how I talk about HRT to the endo... don't consider it a "trial," for one. I only mentioned to him that I was aiming for HRT and that I think I'd know then if it fixed a problem or not. I do have a bit of a different outlook on it now, though (god I need it ;) - that sums it up). I meant what I said, though... I never expected I wouldn't be on it for life, but those first 3 months of E would probably tell me I made the right decision.
I wonder if it could be the same way with the PhD Psychologist's letter... if you were talking about how far off it was and just wanting your ducks in a row... he might have gotten scared off, thinking you were still working on thinking it all through. . . really you just meant what you said - that you want everything ready to go so you don't have to worry about details.
I think it's just a one year RLE thing. If there is at least 1 year and the person still wants surgery then they should get a letter. Less than a year by therapist shopping is risky not for the trans person but for a medical professional since their own credentials are on the line. I know after a year I wanted surgery and after 2 years I sill wanted it (still doing genital electro at the time) and when I finally showed up the letters were a few years old but nobody cared.
I myself lived out the full year and then asked for letters and had no problems,
No gatekeeping nothing.
Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 12, 2013, 12:41:17 PM
But if they are professional, Suzi wouldn't even know how they felt.
True, but there's "professional" and then there's "human nature"... :)
If I need to go to the doctor I go to the doctor. Never had a problem.............
I have to wonder where a trans person sees the medical field being negative towards them. Now ignorant sure since we are such a small population. Providing poor service? Do explain that one?
When I had my general assessment by a regular psychiatrist Aka Dr.Wolf, he was quite sexist. I was told to just be myself.
So I went to the consultation wearing a sporty V neck t-shirt and green Combat pants some of his questions did ask. "Why aren't you wearing a Skirt?" "why aren't you wearing make-up?" I was snarky and sarcastic like I am when people ask me really stupid/inappropriate questions. He didn't really compute what I was telling him. He also used the infamous HBS scale and I made another off the cuff remark about that. I equally responded with humor and sass when he asked me about "how do you masturbate?"
In his report while he was generally positive about his report about me he made remarks about these events and how he didn't see these behaviours as traditionally feminine.
Subsequently whenever I've gone to Charing Cross GIC I've always made abit of effort to Gussy up put light make up on and wear a femmy outfit with a skirt before going and I dial back the snark. I don't know if it's due to this or if they don't care about it but I've not had any problems with it since. Just play the game... If they are misogynistic your not going to change them.
This is exactly why I specifically chose to work with a woman. Women are way more compassionate to our struggle. For me my therapist was very understanding and helpful. She started to be a bit of a gatekeeper towards the end of our sessions, but once I explained myself in a very firm precise way she totally changed her mind.
Also I think it's VERY important that we watch what we say and stick to clear unwavering answers. They get spooked when they feel we aren't being clear or vigilant.
Quote from: pebbles on November 13, 2013, 01:46:08 AM
Subsequently whenever I've gone to Charing Cross GIC I've always made abit of effort to Gussy up put light make up on and wear a femmy outfit with a skirt before going and I dial back the snark. I don't know if it's due to this or if they don't care about it but I've not had any problems with it since. Just play the game... If they are misogynistic your not going to change them.
My regular therapist urges me to do the same whenever visiting my psychologist. I'm told that approval for SRS many years ago used to be more subjective, almost based on how well you pass and fit into the female stereotype. I'm warned that not all of those inclinations are gone. Having said that, I'm not aware of anyone who's had any such issues with my psychologist. But who knows what the second psychologist ( for second SRS letter ) will be like...
I've had numerous encounters with men & one women. It seems to me that most just wanted their hourly fee & most had no real concern other than just continuing appointments to get paid.
Quote from: FrancisAnn on November 13, 2013, 04:00:42 AM
I've had numerous encounters with men & one women. It seems to me that most just wanted their hourly fee & most had no real concern other than just continuing appointments to get paid.
I think my therapist is great... but that hourly fee is a source of contention between me and my wife... her therapist will talk to you for hours and go way out of the way after hours for that one session fee. I see her as a pretty special case among therapists - though I don't have a ton of experience. We also deal with uncommon specialists, not family or child therapists. My therapist does not extend appointments and wants to be paid for any major outside time he puts in. I have to assume that's pretty normal?
Yeah I think a lot of doctors want to "help" us when we are desperate and pathetic. If they just see us as men then they probably won't be happy that we are confident and strong willed women.
Seems absurd that medical professionals could be this way, but totally true.
I've had the fortune of only dealing with progressive gender clinic, never had to see a therapist for HRT.
I won't be able to have SRS for a while because I don't have the money yet but I saw a therapist at the LGBT center here in NYC this summer to get a letter ready. He was awesome and understood completely that I was getting this letter lol
Doctors are funny. They think their denial of our reality means something. Sucks when we spend our money on them and totally abhorrent that they can erect blockades to our transition and this wellness.
Also, I am really troubled by trans people who seek out transition and then blame clinics or doctors for their mistakes. I guess it bothers me because those of us who need this /know/ we need it and it's upsetting that others would complicate that.
I also knew I needed HRT but obviously had no reference point or expereince with it. So when I started I viewed it as a diagnostic step. If I was trans really then HRT would make me feel better. That's not irresponsible or troubling it's normal and true.
Anyway sorry you're getting this drama.
Quote from: PrincessDi on November 13, 2013, 04:41:12 AM
Also, I am really troubled by trans people who seek out transition and then blame clinics or doctors for their mistakes. I guess it bothers me because those of us who need this /know/ we need it and it's upsetting that others would complicate that.
I also knew I needed HRT but obviously had no reference point or expereince with it. So when I started I viewed it as a diagnostic step. If I was trans really then HRT would make me feel better. That's not irresponsible or troubling it's normal and true.
EXACTLY - but now put those two statements together and you see WHY doctors are sometimes a bit weird. In fact very few of the current generation would see you as a man because we've been taught differently than previous generations of students, because the pathophysiology of condition is now a lot better understood.
The problem in a nutshell is that we have no magic power to look inside your head and thus distinguish the genuinely sure, from those who are actually putting on an act to try conceal their doubts, and who may later become troublemakers and cost us our medical licences. This has happened - and not just once. So a doctor who bends the guidelines in the sincere desire to help someone, then potentially finds him or herself without a career... which makes us nervous.
That tension that you feel is the human cost of the lack of a rigorous method of diagnosis, which currently relies mainly on belief and trust in what someone says... Someone who can then change their mind, go to a court and effectively end that clinicians career.
Yes that makes sense :)
be yourself , let your inner self and beauty shine....
good luck
cheers
olivia
I guess I really lucked out with my therapist she's wonderful and caring' I came to her because she was working with the psychiatrist, Who is also a caring person, I was seeing I thought it was going to be hell getting started, but it worked out. thank god.
I can only go on my own experience as someone who works with newly recovering addicts on a volunteer basis, and who did have to do a limited amount of counseling for personnel issues in my job, but sometimes a cocksure attitude from either gender can seem defensively offensive!! It can appear that the person is avoiding or hiding feelings or information from the counselor. This can prolong the conversation and make matters rough. Having been in the counselee's seat for my own recent (5 years sober) recovery effort and now in that of a sponsor's spot I know pretty well when I am getting the fog job, (and admit I pulled it too). You may need to settle back, take a breath, and be sure you are being honest. Joking and snarking are not easily interpreted as honesty. Calm down a bit and be honest open and smile a bit. My gender counseling was an offshoot of my addiction recovery, and it was failure of self honesty that had nearly killed me over my GD. My GT was another recovering addict (still a bonafide MSW therapist) so I had no wiggle room on showing and being honest.
I am not suggesting you were less than honest with the person, but it is one perception of what could have been there.
Quote from: Vicky on November 13, 2013, 11:21:47 PM
Joking and snarking are not easily interpreted as honesty. Calm down a bit and be honest open and smile a bit.
Oh heavens, when I said cocky, I didn't mean to imply I wasn't taking it seriously or that I wasn't honest. I'm very open and very serious during all my sessions - I'm not someone to make light.
By cocky, I meant that I couldn't really hide that I think I already know what's best for me, and that there's probably not a whole lot anyone will tell me about transgender that I don't already know from reading a zillion posts on Susan's, and dozens of articles and books.
I suppose I could do the classic female thing and PLAY dumb, but that wouldn't be honest or open, right?
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
I had a very hard time with my therapist dragging me along with the letter thing. The issue was that she wanted me to go full time before hormones, and I told her that I felt it was pointless and possibly dangerous because dressing like a woman is not the issue here.
It wasn't until I bawled my eyes out about how much PAIN being stuck was causing me day-to-day that she released the letter.
She just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to regret transition, and I understood, but as one person mentioned I did not need her to tell me I was transsexual, as it is the one thing I've always known about myself.
These people are looking for rational, stable thoughts that don't vary or sway. For example, I experienced lots of moments of purging when I was younger....you know I had my stash of clothes, then I'd dump it and repeat. Well, to a therapist or shrink such behaviour in my recent history may come off as an instability in my conviction to transition.
Be sure not to give them reason to doubt you unless, truly, you doubt yourself (in which case gatekeeping is a good thing).
Quote from: MiaOhMya! on November 15, 2013, 10:06:37 PM
Be sure not to give them reason to doubt you unless, truly, you doubt yourself (in which case gatekeeping is a good thing).
Well, I DO have doubts. How could I not? I mean I don't REALLY know whether I'll like having a female bottom until I have one. Oh, I can read all the accounts from women who are recently and long-time post-op, hear all about the complications, see the before-and-after pictures, but I really won't know until it happens.
Like HRT and going full-time, I had to take a leap of faith, because I didn't know for sure. Luckily they both turned out to be wonderful changes, but how can I really know?
That's right, how can you know until you know? And you can't know until you've experienced it first hand.
well you should know beforehand because it should be such a part of you that it is impossible to deny. I mean I haven't ever been shot but I know I wouldn't like it. I haven't even been with david lyons ( he is soooo hot, right?!!) but I'm certain I'd love him at least physically. Of course, fleeting doubts are healthy if y'all mean that but if it aint fleeting and very seldom, do not transition until you are more certain. That's how gatekeeping started because people who hd doubts and cast them off transitioned and then blew their heads off. Now every trans girl is just confused. I have never had a doubt that lasted more than a couple seconds and rhen I'm like nope there's just too much experience that says this is my only choice. IMO
Well, I suppose we are all different, and sometimes I forget that. :angel:
Myself, I just always knew from the earliest age that I was female, it was just so strong that it was never something I questioned. My issue was learning to accept that I couldn't escape it or change who I was. Actually my therapist and I really got at each other because she wanted to spend my sessions diagnosing me as transsexual, but I wanted to spend my sessions dealing with transition stresses and getting on hormones. I already knew I was transsexual, I knew it before I even knew what to call it...if that makes sense?
Do you think you could focus and take on one thing at a time? I mean you don't need to worry about whether or not you will get SRS some day when you haven't tried hormones. Instead just focus on getting things going. Hormones to me were such a revealing experience, and sure enough they let me fell that I was doing the right thing (it was like coming home...which furthermore gave me the confidence to go full time...and here I am today). Right now just take your baby steps forward and you will eventually know.
Quote from: Joanna Dark on November 16, 2013, 04:44:06 PM
well you should know beforehand because it should be such a part of you that it is impossible to deny.
I try not to use the words "you" and "should" in the same sentence because it is so hard to know what's right for someone else. I experience my transgender so different from a lot of other women. You and I have talked about this before. I'm not among the "always knew" crowd. It took decades to understand that I was transgender. I tend to be a more deliberate person and think carefully about things. I've been certain about enouch things in my life that turned out to be completely wrong, that I've learned to distrust certainty.
Quote from: Joanna Dark on November 16, 2013, 04:44:06 PM
I haven't even been with david lyons ( he is soooo hot, right?!!) but I'm certain I'd love him at least physically.
Really? Haven't you ever had it happen that you pursued someone, certain they were right for you, and then found you couldn't get along? That you made each other miserable?
Quote from: MiaOhMya! on November 17, 2013, 02:44:58 AM
Do you think you could focus and take on one thing at a time? I mean you don't need to worry about whether or not you will get SRS some day when you haven't tried hormones.
Oh. Didn't mean to imply I hadn't started HRT. I've been on E since Jan. and spiro since May. I've been living full time as a female since June. I've already placed a deposit down on my surgery date for 6/19/14 and barring any change in my financial or health situations, it will happen.
Quote from: suzifrommd on November 17, 2013, 06:25:02 AM
I try not to use the words "you" and "should" in the same sentence because it is so hard to know what's right for someone else. I experience my transgender so different from a lot of other women. You and I have talked about this before. I'm not among the "always knew" crowd. It took decades to understand that I was transgender. I tend to be a more deliberate person and think carefully about things. I've been certain about enouch things in my life that turned out to be completely wrong, that I've learned to distrust certainty.
I like this thought. It's important to realize that we're all different. We can talk about things in two ways: studies and science (social or biological), which aren't always steeped in fact; or personal experiences and feelings, which are unique to each individual (despite where they overlap). I've felt marginalized since day 1 of coming out to others. They are all free to talk about me amongst themselves, but when I talk I get blamed for not considering their point of view. I'm glad we don't have that problem here (much).
(To be clear, this is no comment on Joanna's post... just on what Suzi said in general).
Major depression and being "Cocky" about being MTF unlocked any gates I have had thus far.
"I am depressed because my brain is being fed the wrong hormones." I hypothesized.
Fast track to HRT. My only wait was for the blood test results. They came back great, sadly my blood pressure was high, so now I have to take Spiro twice a day to help with that. It seems to help reduce tension and stress. Unfortunately, Spiro reduces testosterone, so I have to take this new hormone, estrogen, to keep my bones healthy (all but one). 3 days in and the morning salute has lost some vigor. I feel touch differently, often the area around what is touching or being touched tingles, nipples are hinting at things to come, complexion is clearing, and I am prone to listening rather than arguing. Discussing rather than opining.
But I digress... I do not yet know if the medication has positively effected my blood pressure. Seems likely though.
Keys: I looked for LGBT friendly counselors and doctors. I told them I was trans before I scheduled my first appointment (I walked in in full boy mode). I told them the truth about my trans nature, and let them know I didn't need their diagnosis to confirm what I already knew. So, in my case, being "Cocky" helped, I simply, "Made no bones about it."
If you have insurance, call LBGT centers near you and ask for referrals. If the referrals don't take your plan, ask THEM for referrals. You don't need to be stuck with one doctor or psychologist. If you do not have insurance, you likely live somewhere outside the USA and are already covered by your government, or you need/qualify for govt. assistance.
You may need to travel a bit to get to the right doc, but if they can give you the perscription you need, you will not need to travel often.
Gate keeping is becoming antiquated. If you encounter a gatekeeper, either bring them up to date or bypass them. You don't need to be FT with the SAME SHRINK for a year, you just need the year and a shrink to sign off. In most any country or state there is at least one Trans Advocate willing to vouch for you. Finding them is not that hard. Contacting them is free.
Quote from: suzifrommd on November 17, 2013, 06:25:02 AM
I try not to use the words "you" and "should" in the same sentence because it is so hard to know what's right for someone else. I experience my transgender so different from a lot of other women. You and I have talked about this before. I'm not among the "always knew" crowd. It took decades to understand that I was transgender. I tend to be a more deliberate person and think carefully about things. I've been certain about enouch things in my life that turned out to be completely wrong, that I've learned to distrust certainty.
I think those words are great and I try to live by this myself. I am in no position to tell someone else what may or may not make then happy. That's why I try and avoid topics like "is srs for me" or "is ffs for me" or "is transitioning for me". If one doesn't know then how the heck am I supposed to know a complete stranger from thousands of miles away on a computer screen.
One thing I learned when I was in Montreal getting my surgery is the myriad paths that people took to arrive at the same spot and on the same day as me. None of us led identical lives. We were all completely different. What we did have in common is the realization of who were and it was all being resolved at the same time by the same doctor. That was it. We shared an OP and nothing more.
I always preface statements, like the one I am about to make with: what I will say next applies to me and only me. I only know when it was my turn, I just did whatever it was that was asked of me. I had a therapist that wanted me to do a session a week for the entire year of RLE. I wanted that surgery so badly, that I just jumped up and down and did whatever it was that they asked of me. If my endo wanted 5 tubes of blood every year, I gave him what he wanted.
I worried about many of the same things you and everyone else does. What if I was what "they" thought was NOT the right candidate for surgery? What if they said no, then what? I was so afraid they would say no, that I self-medicated because I felt I needed to "prove" that I was right for this, even though I had only lived an insignificant fraction of my life in my target gender.
My personal experiences is that they were not gatekeepers. When my RLE was rolling around my therapist was a great person for me to pitch ideas to of what my approach would be, and to help me come up with the words. That wasn't gatekeeping that was genuine help. As I lived through my RLE and landed back on my feet, I used sessions to talk about other things, sometimes things having nothing to do with my transition but were important to me. None of that I felt was gatekeeping. At the end of my RLE I asked for a letter and she said she would be honored to write it for me. Shortly after that, I felt and I'm sure that my therapist did as well, that my boat set sail and was doing okay so therapy was not needed anymore. After I had the letters I thought, well this is it, I'm on my own now. Even when I did my second letter and the psychiatrist said to me..I am going to give you this as a diagnosis (hypomania I think). I was like okay. What else could I say? I took my letter and walked away never to be seen again.
The therapy helped me to deal with legal aspects of the transition, the social changes I was living through and most of all to me, dealing with some childhood trauma I had been living with. In the end I felt that by being 100% honest with my therapist I felt much better. We talked through everything, in fact we talked many things to death, but it was all good.
The day after my surgery, I looked back and thought about how the h*ll did I make it this far? It was nothing short of a miracle and tons and tons of personal sacrifice. But all of the standards, all of the therapy, everything faded into complete insignificance in that moment. It just didn't seem like a big deal anymore. I had proved my readiness by living several years in my new gender (of my own doing as well). When it came time for me to do surgery I was very methodical. I planned everything twice, maybe thrice, before committing to anything. But that's me. A 90% outcome wouldn't do. I wanted to shoot for 100% outcome and would settle for 90% if that's the best I could get.
I do hope you reach your goals and in the manner you wish. Again all I can say is I never felt like my time with the world of therapy was ever adversarial. Some times therapists want to ask questions and for good reasons too. I tried to keep my eye on the prize and not let myself be distracted. Like I said, the day after surgery, it's not like anyone could say no, I was done and that was that :)
Quote from: Zumbagirl on November 17, 2013, 07:24:17 PM
Again all I can say is I never felt like my time with the world of therapy was ever adversarial.
No, my therapist and I have a great relationship. After this happened she told me she would write me a letter ASAP and wouldn't stand in my way. The problem is that I need two letters and the guy I went to see was for the second letter. I wasn't asking him for therapy, just to evaluate me and and to write a letter to my surgeon.
Yes, if I felt he was giving me constructive suggestions, that would have been a different story. Things like "Well, in my experience, post surgical adjustment is far harder when you're experiencing marital problems. Have you considered waiting until yours are solved before surgery."
But that wasn't what he said. He said he wasn't ready to write a letter for me. He did not accompany it with any advice or feedback, just lame explanations of why he wasn't comfortable writing a letter.
Quote from: suzifrommdOh. Didn't mean to imply I hadn't started HRT. I've been on E since Jan. and spiro since May. I've been living full time as a female since June. I've already placed a deposit down on my surgery date for 6/19/14 and barring any change in my financial or health situations, it will happen.
Yayyy, that's great news and I am so happy for you! Now is right about the time then you will start experiencing your bigger changes, and for me the changes seem to continue even today (three years later...and ESPECIALLY the mental changes sheesh are they huge!)
In my experience doctors and therapists, in the end, use one big factor to make decisions about treatment: the CYOA method (cover your own a$$).
I have seen time and again where medical professionals won't even touch certain cases. I've spoken with endocrinologists who are wary of treating transsexuals due to 1) a perceived lack of a condition to treat and 2) their own lack of experience in administering hormones to transsexuals. They view the whole thing as a liability.
Therapists and Psychiatrists are the same way, and yea its really frustrating when we're the ones who are on the receiving end of that gatekeeper mentality. Nowadays I've just learned how these things take time, horrible annoying time, and that trans people have to learn to be some of the most patient people on Earth.
I ignored what is called gatekeepers. First I never went to a therapist except two days prior to srs where I told him I though it was a joke to be talking to him.
Second when I went to the doctor the first time for hormones I did my homework and I went in there presenting a woman and guess what...... I got my script.
So essentially I had no gatekeepers.
Katie
Quote from: Katie on November 12, 2013, 10:03:30 AM
I never went to a therapist. I didn't need to pay someone to agree with me on a topic I was already aware of.
Hahahahaha! brilliant quote. Ive had many many many hours of therapy and sometimes i sort of felt this way.
And OP i know what you mean. Psychologists think they know a lot (which they do) but not everything. I relate this to something that happened to me. About two years ago I had to go to rehab and they gave us these straight out of school therapists who knew nothing about drugs and addiction. So the whole rehab had a therapist revolt. we decided we would not talk to anyone until they gave us someone like us. A addict. someone that knew the emotional destruction we caused. The straight out of school guys were to new. hadnt heard done felt or seen the massive amount of things we did. so therefore even if you knew the effect on the brain. You never truly understood it.
It does help to know what your talking about