I have an appointment with my gender therapist on Tuesday. I haven't seen him in over seven years, so it'll be like square one again really. I don't want to waste time, and thus would like to have some things prepared to talk about. Any suggestions welcome. Anything that was enlightening for you?
I found it helpful to keep a list of things. I would be walking down the street or eating lunch, etc... And think of something and by the time my appointment rolled around. I'd forget everything. I now keep an Evernote memo ready for every appt. That also helps me to remember past topics.
Possible topics:
Your stress levels about your gender.
What triggers your gender issues.
Thoughts on your future, next week, next month. Next year, 5 or 10 years out
Family and other relationships.
Insurance.
Suggestions of material to read (books, web...)
If you are seeing a therapist that specializes in gender issues you could ask for suggestions on support groups, medical doctors who are T friendly.
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Assuming you plan to transition, have a timeline prepared. Not just the HRT (though definitely have that on your agenda) but everything. Your plans for electrolysis and voice work. How long you think it'll take to be ready to go full time, and so on.
If you're not sure about transition yet, then you should definitely talk about your dysphoria. How do you feel when you're gendered one way, and how do you feel when you're gendered the other?
A therapist who is experienced with transgender patients will know what questions to ask you as with me who found one that was good at asking the right questions and signed off on surgery while the second really had no clue and went to a third therapist who was like the first therapist and when mentioning the second therapist to her she said that that therapist from what you knew was not versed in working with transgender patients.
What is good is to write down anything you can think of regarding the reason going to this therapist, short to the point items that if they happen not to cover the items you can bring them up.
I'm easily confused.... You saw this therapist years ago, Made an appoint to see them again soon and ..... Don't know why?
I know... I should talk. I see mine like every 3 weeks and often wonder why. But I am a fatalist that sees no hope what so ever and knows/feels I deserve no joy in my life. So "Why?"
OK I am also a hopeless romantic.
Thanks all for the replies. Joanne, I used to live in Ireland, but then I moved to Korea. I only recently found out that he offers Skype sessions. That's the simple reason why I haven't seen him in years.