I have been too my GP twice and assigned to the local mental health team with a psychiatrist I have seen in the past (for a seperate but serious (once off) issue) to determine whether I am transgender ::)
What I am worried about is the fact I 100% Identify as a girl, no doubt in my mind about that, the only doubts I have are the benefits of staying in a male body but they are heavily outweighed by my desire to be physically female.
What I am concerned about is that either the Psychiatrist thinks im not serious or thinks its part of that seperate situation when its not. I don't dress super girly, I just wear neutral clothing, shave off facial and body hair, have medium length hair, wear female deoderant and thats about it.
It's bull->-bleeped-<- imo that someone can decide if your transgender or not, and can they actually block anything? According to NHS guidelines they cant.
Also anyone got any tips for when i go
I don't know anything about NHS , but I would think honesty is the best policy, I'm in the US so thinks could be different , I don't know.
Hugs i know how you feel stupid NHS make us wait ages :-\
I saw my psychiatrist for 4 years.. And, now, nearly 8 months after I saw him for the last time, I'm still wondering where the 'assessment' part of things was. Initially, we talked about about my past life and once he was caught up on that we talked about my day to day life and what my plans were going forward - there was never any signs of a 'psychiatric assessment' as I'm familiar with them.
Go along, be honest and know that most of us have messy past's that we think might stop us.. And yet here we are, on the road to transition, or far enough along it that we can call it done.
I'm not that girly either, sounds like you have a similar look to mine even. All I can give you is the advice some ladies here gave me when I was going in for my Hormone Readiness Assessment (which sounds similar to the process you are aproaching. )
Just be honest and be confident in who you are.
I said that over and over like a mantra the morning of my assesment. I said it the whole way there and nervously in the waiting room. When I got to the assessment I just opened up and spilled my guts answering all of her questions without her needing to ask them.
Just be honest and be confident in who you are.
No one knows you better than you!
Just be yourself when talking to the therapist. Back in March I met with the second therapist which is needed so she can concur with the first therapist for the letters for SRS. Since I'm only scheduled to see her twice all together and the first time was supposedly assessment. It wasn't any different from any other therapy session I have had only in this case we focused on those things she needs information wise to fill out the letter sense that was the purpose and I had nothing else I needed to talk about. There was nothing to it. Good luck and hugs
Mariah
The first therapist I saw very briefly back in 1999 who had never dealt with transgender people before asked me lots of questions about my gender and history and such and a lot about my parents and how they treated me like some how my father bringing me fishing was going to make me trans or something.
Much more recently when I saw one who had worked with transgender patients before there really was none of that I wrote down on my forms that I was seeing him for gender identity issues, he asked me if I was transgender our first meeting and never doubted or questioned how I felt after that, after a few months when I see him now its like having a hour long talk with a trusted friend, he even let me read over and suggest corrections to the letter he sent to my doctor before I started HRT.
at first I was very guarded about telling him things that would not seem typical for a woman but it didn't take long to realize he was not judging my identity but rather helping me decide what I needed to do next, in fact the very first thing he asked of me was that I practice saying out loud to myself and then him the words "hello, I am Transgender". he did this after he noticed that in 3 sessions I never out right used the word transgender in relationship to myself and it really helped me be more comfortable with who I am.
so I don't know how my story is going to help you but I do hope your experience is more like my second rather than my first.
--Serena
Hi Skylar,
I am at the same point myself with the referral from the GP in the UK. The assessment is done over two sessions by two different psychiatrists usually. It's just a check that you do not have another mental health condition before referral to the GIC. I would not worry about it as it's just a safety check. Unless they spot another mental health problem that is serious like psychosis you will be fine. I work in mental health services so I am not concerned myself as I work with psychologists and psychiatrists all the time. I was in a relationship with one for 23 years. It will all be fine. Jx
Quote from: JenniferGreen on May 06, 2015, 12:54:56 PM
Hi Skylar,
I am at the same point myself with the referral from the GP in the UK. The assessment is done over two sessions by two different psychiatrists usually. It's just a check that you do not have another mental health condition before referral to the GIC. I would not worry about it as it's just a safety check. Unless they spot another mental health problem that is serious like psychosis you will be fine. I work in mental health services so I am not concerned myself as I work with psychologists and psychiatrists all the time. I was in a relationship with one for 23 years. It will all be fine. Jx
I was actually worried that my own psychiatric assessment might not give me a diagnosis to start on hrt, but hearing this makes me feel better. Thank you.
Hi Skylar,
Your HRT will be done after the GIC start working with you. You do have to pass the health checks though. Smoking and drinking alcohol are more likely to cause you issues there. Get fit as well. Not everyone gets given HRT but it's usually on health grounds not psychiatric. Good luck. Jx
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