Through the years I was always led to believe that therapy was meant to HELP people find happiness. Unfortunately my recent experiences with therapists in the Orlando area have instead cause to destroy my self confidence and make me feel like I'm nothing more than another faceless transitioner. I always believed that "transition" was the journey between sexes, and that the ultimate goal should be to ensure that the transitioner was able to live a happy and productive life. I'm afraid, now, that "standards" are nothing more than another roadblock to shake down people like me.
I started my journey over a dozen years ago. I went "full time" back in 2002, and had IS genital correction surgery in 2003. Since then I lived a lifetime. I returned to school and completed another degree. I worked out differences with my family, and am fully accepted as a daughter, sister, aunt, niece, etc. I was living a life that I assumed was an indication of successful transition, and my past life was totally gone except for my Texas Birth Certificate which continued to identify me as male.
When I found out that a recent court ruling made it possible to modify Texas birth certificates, I was ecstatic, and started the process to obtaining a court order to change it. Unfortunately over the past 13 years my surgery letter had been lost by Texas, and getting a replacement was would be a complex process. Instead I chose to see a local therapist, to get a referral to a Dr to get the equivalent of a "completed appropriate clinical treatment" letter. 13 years post, how hard can it be, right? ???
The meeting with the therapist went well, and I'm scheduled to meet with a doctor in a few weeks, but what I'm told is that because I no longer have a valid prescription for HRT, the Dr won't write a letter until I've been on HRT under their care for at least 3 months. In essence, despite obvious "successful" transition, I'll have to wait several months while I undergo "prescribed" HRT again. At 13 years post, I feel like while the rest of society accepts me as a woman, the very trans community that I thought would be open to me is exactly the group denying me closure because of unwavering WPATH standards. Where I was once confident, now I'm paranoid. If the trans community won't accept me, will the rest of society follow suit? Is it something I did? Do I no longer pass? In two weeks I've gone from insufferably confident to borderline suicidal.
Am I wrong in my feelings of being treated unfairly? Am I wrong in feeling that "standards" are more important than people? For the first time in almost 15 years, I think I need a drink.
Angie,
No you are right to be frustrated in my opinion. It is very aggravating to, in essence, be treated like a child. Everyone has their rules and "practices" that you "must" follow. Well, what about our rules for our lives. I'm sure some folks are very well intentioned, some want a piece of the transgender money pie, and some are covering their butt in some crazy way. I wish you well and hope you don't take your situation personally. I'm sure it is not aimed at you as an individual.
Moni
I'm based in the UK so don't know all the details, but I've seen people talking about "Informed consent" clinics that you have in the US, where you can receive transgender HRT just by signing a waiver. Maybe that would be something to look into?
Thanks all for the support. Yesterday was just extremely frustrating. I don't "need" HRT, (although my last prescription expired 11 years ago and it would save some money over self med) but all I wanted was a gender change letter confirming that my transition was complete. (13 years post-op)
Also, THANK YOU for the idea on informed consent. I'm definitely going to follow up on that when I return home to Seattle in October.
Thanks again to all who replied.
:police:
Pharmacy's that don't require a script for prescription medications such as HRT are against the HRT policy. This isn't a new policy, but long standing. Thanks
Mariah
At this stage, I don't even bring in the HRT letter I got decades ago. My medical history dictates my needs, and prescriptions are provided. However, all important documents are kept in a fireproof safe for further reference or use, if needed. I would recommend others do the same thing.
Quote from: Mariah on July 29, 2016, 11:12:22 AM
:police:
Pharmacy's that don't require a script for prescription medications such as HRT are against the HRT policy.
Informed consent clinics have nothing to do with online pharmacies. They're just ordinary medical centres, except they offer transgender healthcare without you having to be first referred by a gatekeeper.
http://www.icath.org/
I suggest you have the wrong therapist/doctor. The "gatekeeper versus counselor/facilitator" approach varies greatly within the medical & mental health communities and among those who say they follow WPATH. Don't get frustrated, seek out and build a medical/mental health team that will support you rather than" inspect" you. Find someone who has helped (many) people actually transition as opposed to simply completed a course on transgender issue counseling and management.
Trish