I was wondering if anybody here has had experience with Dr Helen Webberley of gendergp or Dr Monica Torres of gendercare? According to their websites they are qualified GP who offers a private service of transgender care including diagnosis and counselling. I am going to start my mtf transition and I need their services, but I am not sure which one is better. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Here's the websites:
http://gendergp.com
http://www.gendercare.com
Getting a good fit for your GT is very personal. What I like, you may not. And obviously the reverse applies too. Then again, we may both love each of them and invite all to Christmas morning. Hmm, could we both not be comfortable with both?
So my pranking aside. Don't overthink it. Message them both. See how it goes. Then select one and see. If the first pick does nor work out you have a viable option. And here are actually quite a few GT offering on line or Skype counseling.
I suspect due to their on-line presence and experience they will both be great.
Take the plunge. It will feel great.
Hi Julie, Thanks for your advice!
Hi Naomi
I can tell you that Gender GP offers a very simple bridging service. It's pretty straight forward to register with them and get monitored access to prescription HRT. All in all, it takes around 4-6 weeks. For most, it's an online service and you are probably unlikely to speak with the Webberleys directly (or at least not very often) but they are readily available by email or by phone in the event of anything more complicated. They are also able to help hook you up with gender therapists and other experts that can help with various aspects of your transition
It's not the cheapest service but it's much safer than going it alone. Initially £195 set up fee and £60 for an information gathering session with a gender therapist. Then you need to provide blood tests - you might be able to get these from your GP otherwise they are around £150 privately. Prescription charges for HRT drugs are quite reasonable starting at around £15 per month but you do also have to pay for the prescription writing and monitoring at £30 per month. Lastly, you have to get blood tests every three months which I believe is around £50 (or your GP might do these for you for free if you are lucky). You might also want to factor in costs for therapy along your journey
Gender GP will also work on a shared care basis with your GP which can be good if you have a supportive GP who is weary about prescribing HRT
From what I've read about GenderCare, their service is more akin to a GIC albeit with a more flexible approach and vastly reduced waiting times. Their approach is on a one-to-one basis from their clinic in London so I guess they would be a bit more confidence inspiring and perhaps better if you aren't quite sure where you want to get to
Neither service should cause you any issues in pursuing NHS services down the line and both will avoid the trauma of a 2 year waiting list to start hormones through one of the GICs
Hope that helps
C x
Hi Charlotte, Thank you so much for your information and advice.
Hey ! :)
I have just finished the initial process with Dr Webberley after I started speaking with them around 3/4 weeks ago, I have now been granted my prescription and just awaiting my first batch.
Would love to answer any questions you have and be good to experience the journey with someone at same stage etc :).
So far everything has been super easy with Dr Webberley and would highly recommend.
xx
Hi Jandy,
Thank you! I have make up my mind. I shall come to Dr Webberley. It is good to have a companion on the journey at same stage. Hopefully I shall have good experience like you.