Susan's Place Transgender Resources

How were you going into your first gender therapy session?

I'd say I was anxious, since I didn't know the guy and wasn't sure how he would react to my purpose for being there.

It turned out OK.  He was a bit cold and clinical for the first session or two but that soon ended.

hugs & smiles
Emelye

I am not sure how to describe it I guess confident. I went in knowing I had GID and was ready to make some forward progress. Was sort of just ready to just move on and my therapist was great about all of it.
Myles

went in confident, left feeling like ->-bleeped-<-. she wasn't very nice. let's put it that way. the entire session focused on my appearance.

Quote from: Nero on September 03, 2009, 10:10:27 PM
went in confident, left feeling like ->-bleeped-<-. she wasn't very nice. let's put it that way. the entire session focused on my appearance.

Glad you found someone else after that!
Myles

I was scared to death and a little annoyed, because I didn't understand the concept of an intake interview and had spilled everything to someone who really was just looking for basics.

As soon as I saw my drop dead gorgeous, I think Greek, salt and pepper headed psychiatrist with a smooth voice and bedroom eyes the fear melted away and I babbled like a schoolgirl. He was quite amused with me and just smiled and cocked his head which made it even worse.

Sadly he has moved to New Zealand, and left me in the hands of a rather unpleasant woman. Hope you kids down under are enjoying him, thanks for hoggin a good one.

I was very nervous

My therapist is a general therapist. He has been very understanding but cannot write a prescription for me
He did say that he would write a letter of rec. and try to find someone who can write a script for HRT for me

Nervous!!!

anxious. I knew I was a guy but would she believe me? Would her tests say something different and if so, What do I do now? what if she does what all the rest have done and tell me .. basically that I have no case, I am just making it up.


funny thing is, she not only believed me but wondered how I waited so long.

My therapist asked why I waited so long also

I'd probably say anxious and embarrassed.

Sorry to break the trend :] but it was shortly after I came out and was very confined so it was difficult.

I go tomorrow... I can still answer, right?  ;)

I don't know what to expect. It's just a councellor at an organization that deals with GLB, T and other issues.

I know back in Sydney I can get T with informed consent if I'm talking to "someone" trained (doesn't have to be a full on shrink with letter writing abilities, but they like you to have some professional to help you adapt through the changes), but I have no idea if the local endo clinic where I am right now does the same thing. Guess I'm going to find out tomorrow!  :laugh:

How am I feeling right now?

Curious, impatient, and happy to finally be doing something (however small). Slightly nervous... I've never met the person before.

I've been to a few group meetings, I don't have a problem outing myself to people in this particular context.

I think I felt more nervous the day after booking it than I do right now. I've gone from "Oh my server, what have I gone and done?! Too soon!" to "Hurry up with the appointment, I'll sign informed consent and let's get jabbing already!"  :laugh:.

UPDATE : I showed up, and it was cancelled. My sucky phone reception means I didn't get the message. Disapointed! :(. So, it's in 2 weeks. Sucktastic.

But at least my small amount of nerves are gone....

confident.

I was very anxious the first time. I wasn't easy to talk, but from the second one, I was very confident and happy.

Confident.  I'd already come out to my regular therapist (who wasn't helpful) and this gender therapist had been recommended by another well known and respected transguy.  The second gender therapist I went to for group was equally awesome.

I was lucky.


Jay

I was very anxious.  And scared that the session might not go well, that I might be turned away.  Granted, it wasn't a realistic fear, but it was honestly felt.  I so wanted to make a good impression.

I have had two.  One 25 years ago.  And Reid.  And with both I knew what I was there for and what was going to happen.  I wasn't sure if what was going to happen but I knew what I was after, and what the SOC said.  I had researched GID to death in the years before, the first time.

I am so glad to be at the point I am.  Now on to the Orchie.


Janet

Quote from: Nero on September 03, 2009, 10:10:27 PM
went in confident, left feeling like ->-bleeped-<-. she wasn't very nice. let's put it that way. the entire session focused on my appearance.

Same here.

I was somewhere between anxious and scared. I had only just come out to myself and had never had experience with the psychiatric/psychological world (except for my psychology professor in college) so I had no idea what to expect. I knew that he was more than familiar with trans issues and GID, being trans himself, so I was kind of confident that he would know what was going on and could let me know what to expect.

I left that meeting feeling great about myself and my decision to go to him. I have had three sessions with him so far and have covered a lot of ground. I look forward to my next session - a lot to talk about - mostly good. I am confident that with his help and the help of my new friends here at Susan's, I will be in great shape.

Deanna

I just went to my first therapy session today and was confident. I was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (where she stressed it really isn't a disorder but it is the code they have to use). My session went very well. She said I am not crazy and that I am handling my path very well. Then I found out they don't write letters for surgery so off to another therapist!

I gotta say, my first appointment is tomorrow, and I feel crazy.

There's this whole mix of "Yay!  Oh god...  OMG YESS FINALLY!  Eep." going on in my head right now.  I'm anxious, scared, excited, happy and FREAKING OUT all at once.

D:  Wish me luck?

Quote from: Erin82 on October 20, 2009, 08:41:33 AM
I had my first session yesterday with a psychologist who fortunately has quite a lot of experience with GID (yay!). I went in anxious but confident. Having previously outed myself to my wife and then GP, being with the therapist was a breeze. I felt comfortable and relieved that I had finally arrived there.

My wife and I are both attending and the immediate focus was marriage counselling. She wants to take things slowly and ensure that our marriage is strong enough, well before we dive into my GID issues. My day of writhing in the chair will come, of that there's no doubt, but it's a start, and that's more than I had before!

I am just in awe of what married folks with GID have to go through. I am single and have severed my ties to my family (prior to my GID diagnosis) so I have none of the obstacles you have. When I see someone mention being married and having to work with this it makes me stop and think for a bit.

I wish you luck in your journey!

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Post Merge: November 02, 2009, 10:29:23 PM

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Quote from: LucienOctopus on November 02, 2009, 03:49:58 PM
I gotta say, my first appointment is tomorrow, and I feel crazy.

There's this whole mix of "Yay!  Oh god...  OMG YESS FINALLY!  Eep." going on in my head right now.  I'm anxious, scared, excited, happy and FREAKING OUT all at once.

D:  Wish me luck?

I certainly wish you luck. Please let us know how it turns out. 

I could only choose one.. but I was anxious, nervous and scared! ha ha!

But its was great and I came out feeling on top of the moon! ;D

Jay

I was anxious. The first therapist I had was an elder at my church and he knocked down any idea that this might be gender related. He and everyone else around me just about had me convinced that maybe it was all in my head and could be fixed in some repairative way.

So going to see my first gender therapist, I was really anxious wondering what she would say and whether she would knock me down too. But she was great. Now if I could just get her to refer me for hormones.....

Anxious. I had my 1st session last night and she is great-very easy to talk to and cute too. I find women much easier to be around than men. Like Dana's therapist mine said that I was doing very well mentally with my GID but I have a major issue (wife) waiting at home. She had world war 3 last night and again this morning-I hate this emotional roller coaster but am so glad to finally have someone local I can talk to who believes me-even if I am paying her to listen!

Randi :)

She didn't really do much. And didn't call back. Was very unprofessional (which I'm usually ok with but this is my life here D:) and so I stopped bothering with her...


It barely had much to do with gender, it was like any other BAWWWWWWing therapy session.

I have to get another one in Philly from the Mazzoni center but its taking forever. Basically I want someone with a response besides laughing at my ridiculously funny, tragic, horrendous existence... Maybe some INPUT?

Quote from: Jerica on November 03, 2009, 09:57:00 AM
The first therapist I had was an elder at my church and he knocked down any idea that this might be gender related. He and everyone else around me just about had me convinced that maybe it was all in my head and could be fixed in some repairative way

This sort of thing really bothers me, I'm really sorry it happened. As an up and coming therapist myself, I just can't wrap my brain around warping the science to match one's religion. My first psych professor is married to a church official, and as far as I know ultra religious. However to her credit she never once contaminated the science she was teaching me with that stuff and I'm incredibly grateful to her for that; because if she had I likely would have rejected therapy as a helping tool and psychology as a profession.

I'm glad you got out of his office and found someone real.

Quote from: Kara-Xen on November 03, 2009, 03:32:33 PM
She didn't really do much. And didn't call back. Was very unprofessional (which I'm usually ok with but this is my life here D:) and so I stopped bothering with her...


It barely had much to do with gender, it was like any other BAWWWWWWing therapy session.

I have to get another one in Philly from the Mazzoni center but its taking forever. Basically I want someone with a response besides laughing at my ridiculously funny, tragic, horrendous existence... Maybe some INPUT?

What a small world. I live in Philly. I got my initial diagnosis for GID at Penn's Behavioral Health but found they can't write letters for surgery. I have a doctors appointment at Mazzoni in the middle of December where I am going to try and get a referral to one of their therapists.

Penn had called me back and suggested contacting Dr Wohlsifer in Bala Cynwood ( http://www.balapsych.com/default.asp?id=2412 (http://www.balapsych.com/default.asp?id=2412) but I looked him up and he doesn't list gender identity under his qualification even though he may be qualified. I just decided to use Mazzoni because everything will be in one place and they specialize in transgender care.

Quote from: Dana Lane on November 03, 2009, 03:47:33 PM
What a small world. I live in Philly. I got my initial diagnosis for GID at Penn's Behavioral Health but found they can't write letters for surgery. I have a doctors appointment at Mazzoni in the middle of December where I am going to try and get a referral to one of their therapists.

Penn had called me back and suggested contacting Dr Wohlsifer in Bala Cynwood ( http://www.balapsych.com/default.asp?id=2412 (http://www.balapsych.com/default.asp?id=2412) but I looked him up and he doesn't list gender identity under his qualification even though he may be qualified. I just decided to use Mazzoni because everything will be in one place and they specialize in transgender care.

Unfortunately they have a 3 month waiting list or something... And told them to put me on it... Hope it works out ok...

And thats cool. Yeah, I go to UArts. I'm telling you this because I'm fairly certain I wont wake up on a bed of ice in a bathtub with missing organs :)

Quote from: Kara-Xen on November 03, 2009, 04:35:04 PM
Unfortunately they have a 3 month waiting list or something... And told them to put me on it... Hope it works out ok...

And thats cool. Yeah, I go to UArts. I'm telling you this because I'm fairly certain I wont wake up on a bed of ice in a bathtub with missing organs :)

3 month waiting list for therapist at Mazzoni? hehe...i have enough organs at the moment. :)

Quote from: Dana Lane on November 03, 2009, 05:06:38 PM
3 month waiting list for therapist at Mazzoni? hehe...i have enough organs at the moment. :)

You're an artist... Cool


And lol

Quote from: Kara-Xen on November 03, 2009, 05:20:24 PM
You're an artist... Cool


And lol

Been a while since I painted. I need to get back on that! 

Well, first session was today...  I managed to stay pretty calm.  ;P

The therapist (Dude, I don't even remember her name...) was impressed at how open I was with my mom about, well, everything!  She seemed nice, understanding...  But I dunno.

I think this is going to be a slow process.  I suppose I'm a bit disappointed and disheartened and probably some other "dis" words...

I really need this to happen quickly.  I need my transition to get going already!  Yeah, I'm frustrated.  It doesn't help that the therapist can't write me a letter for T.  I asked.   :(

I was anxious definitly, but I think I was sorta confidant to, or at least happy that I was going to finnaly discuss it.

My first therapy appointment wasn't with a gender therapist, but when my mom found out about some of my....er, self harming tendencies, she wanted me to go to therapy RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MAKING THE APPOINTMENT, NEVER MIND YOU WERE GONNA SEE A MOVIE TODAY. Lol. This despite the fact we'd been trying to contact an actual gender therapist for a couple of weeks. (with not as much effort on my parent's part as i'd have liked)
So as you can imagine I was rather stressed. >.< However I'm now seeing an actual gender therapist and I was nothing short of thrilled when I first saw her. She quite obviously was WAY more knowledgeable about trans issues then the first one. Also it kind of felt like taking the first step towards transition which is nice of course.

I haven't done it yet... but I will I promise.

Today I was having a conversation with a nice woman, she was very friendly and asked a lot of probing questions about myself and my childhood. Don't worry, she was being very genuine and interested in me. The trouble was I am so ready to 'spill my guts' about all my GID issues that I had to fight very strong before going into that area. It's telling me I really need to seek professional help. My emotional volcano is about to erupt!!

To answer your question (as the will do not have done alternative), I am very nervous and will need to summon up my courage to even start the enquiry process, but I know I will be relieved to tell all to someone who understands.

A bit like this forum really  :D

Hugs, Alexie

I haven't had 'therapy' but over here we have to see a psychiatrist. It was a lomg time ago now but the first two or three NHS psychiatrists were horrendous and more like an interigation process which I found very upsetting and disressing.

I found them to be of no benefit to me and like Janet I was already well researched on the subject and probably knew far more about GD than the badly educated psychiatrists I was seeing.

Since quitting seeing psychiatrists some years ago now my life and confidence has improved a lot. They can have a negative effect and hinder your transitional process.

Since my last post in this thread, I have had my first therapy session.
Fortunately in my country (Australia) you are not told to see unqualified or what unfortunately sounds like judgmental psychologists as seems to be the case in the UK. I'm sorry to hear that your experience (Naturally Blonde) was so negative and unhelpful. What is however quite apparent from this group is that although we all share the same condition and are part of a special group of people, we are also very different in how we respond or deal with the condition. We all live in a vast diversity of cultures and backgrounds and it is natural that we will all see different ways of what to do about GID. To some like Naturally Blonde and Janet (according to her post so forgive me Janet if this is not the case), the decision is obvious and there is no need to discuss the situation with an expert. I envy that clarity of thought, I really do, but for me it is not so black and white. Therapy for me is and I hope will be a vital part of being able to be open with someone that doesn't judge and can suggest ways open to me that as yet I am not aware of. The first vital part for me was the realisation that I am now and always was a transsexual. Until that first session I was full of self doubt and confusion (I'm still confused mind you) about whether I really did suffer this or was it just something my mind had constructed. I have spent my whole life in the deluded belief that I was in control of my gender identity, that these feelings would pass and that I could, with strong will, create a normal male life for myself. That any sexual orientation issues could be controlled (and I have since learnt my confusion about my sexual identity is a common issue with transsexuals, but I am basically heterosexual) and one day I would eventually marry and have children. Boy was I wrong on just about all counts! I am well into my forties, don't have a partner and certainly don't have children. The therapist explained to me that until I am at ease with my gender identity, an intimate sexual relationship is always going to be very difficult. I am very interested to see (and slightly envious) just how many transsexuals on this forum have managed to marry and have children and later in life resolve their gender issue. I love women, I really do, but I have never managed to continue any sort of intimate relationship. I hate to say it, but sex seemed to just be painting by numbers. It is now very clear to me that I have had a female brain all my life but I was denying myself the chance of feeling female. I closeted it to the point the end result was and is, I don't know what I am now.

Getting back to the point of this thread, I cannot and am not able to resolve my problems alone. The only person I could have confided in was my mother but she is unfortunately no longer with us. This is too big for me to cope with alone, so a therapist, a well informed, nonjudgemental and qualified therapist is absolutely essential. I got to the point recently where I was concerned where my mind was heading. If I was suddenly exposed because this urge was so strong, I feared that life would not be worth living. I really thought I might take the ultimate step (which I did consider also when I went through puberty) and it really scared me! After starting to post on this forum, one of the best bits of advice I was constantly given was to seek professional help. Now I have, I am very very glad I did.

We are all very different and this whole issue is a very complexed one, but for me, my first gender therapy session was the door opening to a more contented and fulfilled life. I now realise I am not alone, I'm not mentally disturbed and am among some of the most beautiful people in the world. Instead of being ashamed about how I feel, the therapist is starting to make me see that "I am what I am and need no excuses", a beautiful quote from La Cage Aux Folles.

Love, Alexie.

Quote from: Alexie on December 30, 2009, 07:55:40 PM
I hate to say it, but sex seemed to just be painting by numbers.

Ha! What a great quote.
I presume that it was particularly in respect to coitus as a male.
I like a comparison to reading "Sex for Dummies" with one hand during coitus.
"Lemme see, on page 42 it says..."

Quote from: Renate on December 30, 2009, 08:17:13 PM
I presume that it was particularly in respect to coitus as a male.

Absolutely spot on! This is a huge part of my discovery.

Hugs, Alexie.

I was confident. But after 7 years of being an infantry soldier very little really rattles me.

I go in during the first and so far worst snow storm of the year on December 7th, yeah, Pearl Harbor Day, (considering I was going to the VA, veterans administration, it was kind of appropriate) Make it down the hill with only one spin out, drove out of the ditch in 4x4 and continued down the hill albeit a tad slower.

Only hitch is, in the waiting room I am dressed very feminine but the receptionist continually refers to me as "Sir" after the fourth time I crook my finger at her, call her over and in my nicest voice tell her "Honey, I did not spend three hours on my hair, makeup and outfit to be called sir" I am immediately referred to afterward as "Ms Rilea"

So anyway my doctor called off because she couldn't make it in. They give me another shrink and I doubt the poor guy had ever seen a TG/TS in his entire life and if he had it probably would have scarred him for life. We talk, well, *I* talk for an hour and a half. Enjoying myself thoroughly except when I reveal certain things like my shame at not having had the courage to talk to my parents when they were alive etc. I have real deep feelings of love for my parents, both of whom are now deceased. And on further reflection realize they would have had a little problem at first but would have accepted it once they were assured I was happy, which is all they really wanted for me.

So he smiles and says he really doesn't know what he is supposed to do now. We part ways after he offers me stress classes (honey, you want to know stress, try waiting for your Manolos at the UPS center and they are two days late THAT'S stress sweetheart) I decline as I live a long way away and can usually handle my own stress.

I go away, go home and hear nothing more. I want to know what the recommendation is. I call the VA, get a hold of a family friendly call center person (He helps me a LOT at the VA) and he reads the Drs notes. Well, seems I am simply stressed and will not attend the stress class the Dr recommended. Ahem, yeah, case closed, no follow-up recommended.

I am stressed, thats why I wear heels and a dress and have done so since I was three years old off and on. Whoo hoo ! I am not a freak, I am just stressed. Well, lets add REALLY FREAKIN ANGRY to the list now. Okay, I call San Jose, get in touch with Dr Gary Miles at the SJVA and set up an appt after I told him what happened.

I will let you all know what happens on the 26th of January. Suffice to say I am NOT returning to the Reno VA.

>:-)

Quote from: Alexie on December 30, 2009, 07:55:40 PM
To some like Naturally Blonde and Janet (according to her post so forgive me Janet if this is not the case), the decision is obvious and there is no need to discuss the situation with an expert.

You need to define expert Alexie ? because the psychiatrists I saw were most definitely not experts. A psychiatrist who has completed 6 months at the Royal College of psychiatry doesn't really cut it for me. I would love to see an expert who is qualified in the genuine expertise and knowledge of the condition known as gender dysphoria.

I wanted to pick, anxious, and confident

a weird mix I know.

I was scared as hell, i'm not much of a talker especially to stranger about a topic that i was there to discuss. After that all down hill with her. Her and my endo are the only ones that know what i'm going through!!!!!

First 'gender therapy' session. I put bored. I was anxious, because I didn't know what to expect, but mostly I was bored. What am I really supposed to say, anyway? I know what I want, for the most part; therapy is just a means to an end.

Quote from: Cody Oriole on January 07, 2010, 07:49:51 PM
What am I really supposed to say, anyway? I know what I want, for the most part; therapy is just a means to an end.

I couldnt have said that better myself.  Totally agree

Quote from: Cody Oriole on January 07, 2010, 07:49:51 PM
First 'gender therapy' session. I put bored. I was anxious, because I didn't know what to expect, but mostly I was bored. What am I really supposed to say, anyway? I know what I want, for the most part; therapy is just a means to an end.

I wish I was that clear, but for me I need therapy to sort out what I want. Heck, I don't even know what I am!

Scared going in, then anxious, then comfortable.

My first appointment was with a general therapist. Having never been to a therapist, I was pretty anxious as to how things would go down. However things were pretty anticlimactic when I opened with, "I'm a guy" and he replied that he hadn't done alot of research about transgenders and felt unequipped to help me. :-\

He referred me to a specialist who I'm waiting to hear back from for my first appointment. I'm still pretty anxious, but moreso with anticipation then worry now more about how sessions go down (especially after reading threads on this forum).  :)

I just booked my first session with the only "real" gender therapist in the area (can write letters, an actual shrink).

Sadly, I have a 6 week wait :(. I've been saving for a few months to get the cash together for a few sessions (enough to get T letter, hopefully).

I'm really looking forward to seeing this guy  ;D.

I was surprised at how nervous I was booking the appointment. It had me more stressed over a weekend than I thought I was. After the session was booked, I bounced off the walls for half an hour, then promptly fell asleep! :laugh:

I'm feeling impatient more than anything. The wait is almost painful.

I'm also feeling pretty confident that it's going to go smoothly, and (hopefully) I won't need too many sessions before I get the T.
I've been out to family and friends and full time for just over 8 months, studied (so, functioned according to the SOC) as a male in "stealth" for more than 6 months, and my legal name change went through more than 3 months ago.

In short - I've transitioned socially and legally as far as possible without medical intervention for longer than the SOC requirements, and I've got paperwork to prove it.

I'm not too young (mid 20's), have identified as male for as long as I can remember, and I'm pretty damn binary conforming - so I don't think he's going to get the impression I'm in any way still questioning. I've also had enough RLE as my birth sex to know it's not for me (causes instability and lack of functioning).

I'm confident, but I think I've got some solid logical reasons to feel that way. I don't expect T in the first few sessions, but I also don't expect to have to wait longer than 3 months either (depending on number of sessions I can book, of course).

I've done my reasearch on this particular guy, and he was #1 on my "list" even when I lived in another region. He's damn good from what I hear. I'm just lucky he's local now! He has a genuine interest in GID, and from what I hear, keeps up with current developments in treatment.

Of course, I am a little nervous too - I do hope we get along, he uses the SOC as guidelines only, and he does ask lots of questions (to check for other issues - I don't want him to be too fast and loose with the T!).

To sum up - Very impatient, quite confident and a little bit nervous.

Just had my first.
I was anxious, with some of the questions-embarrised confused, not able to express myself fully to get my feelings accross.

My first session has left me very empty and depressed. I feel so unhappy with the no result outcome. I am so lost. I feel like I could not get accross what my brain is telling my what is right and what is wrong. How do you express that?

I go back in April unless there is a cancellation. So much time with nothing happening! :(

QuoteMy first session has left me very empty and depressed. I feel so unhappy with the no result outcome. I am so lost. I feel like I could not get accross what my brain is telling my what is right and what is wrong. How do you express that?

I go back in April unless there is a cancellation. So much time with nothing happening!

Hi nmason

That is a long time between visits - why can't you get another session sooner?

What you felt about your first visit I would think is pretty normal - you simply cannot do much more then scratch the surface in just one visit.

I was nervous for mine, but it went fine I guess. The therapy didn't do a thing for me tho.  I went 4 times, got my letter for HRT, and said goodbye.  I didn't go till I was 100% clear so that may have been part of it?  It just felt like each session was like, so yep...still need to be a woman, how was your weekend?  Do you want to talk about my childhood or something?

I'm not discounting its value for others by any means, or even that sometime in the future it will be something I even need myself.

I imagine this is American based? so what happens at a U.S gender therapy session?

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on March 23, 2010, 04:32:42 PM
I imagine this is American based? so what happens at a U.S gender therapy session?

It's much the same as what happens at the better UK GIC's only slightly less gladiatorial.

In our system the shrinks tend to play rough. From what I have seen of the US system many of the therapists there seem to adopt a less confrontational approach and try to work through the whole exploration of how their patients feel - the focus being on helping them to understand not just WHAT they want to do, but WHY they are doing it.

Here in South Australia they play hardball.You see a psychatrist for at least 3 months and then you see another for 1 session, then you might get your letter.

Quote from: Lesley-Ann on March 24, 2010, 03:27:59 AM
Here in South Australia they play hardball.You see a psychatrist for at least 3 months and then you see another for 1 session, then you might get your letter.

Wow... I'm really surprised by that. I thought our lot in general would be a little more chill about using the SOC as a guideline only (cultural love of insubordination and all ;) ). In NSW, my experiance was the opposite of yours.

I went in to the guy I mentioned above and got my T letter pretty quickly (but I don't want to elaborate more than that on the specific timeframe).

It was amazingly painless - quite enjoyable actually, wish I had a reason to go back before I need a surgery letter! :laugh: (I was offered it if I wanted to, but I thought I'd step aside and make room for other people that need it more than I do).

All in all, I got the distinct impression he was using the SOCs as a guideline, but also took my situation, history and progression of my transition into account (in other words, listened!).

I really feel for everyone here that's had (or having) a hard time with this stage of transition. You have my condolences. A good shrink has the ability to make your transition go a whole lot smoother and easier.

The first person I ever told was a psychology intern that I saw ever week for therapy (for depression). I was crying my eyes out, but she was really supportive. I learned to trust someone, which was really hard for me. If it wasn't for her I don't know if I would be as happy and hopeful as I am now. I saw a gender therapist later on, I was quite nervous, but I'm nervous in any new situation  :laugh:. It went alright, although I was hoping to get a letter for HRT right away, (naive of me I know  :laugh:) so I was a bit distraught. My gender therapist pushed me to start a partial real-life experience and to tell a friend or family member. HRT was the carrot dangled in front of me. I'm glad he did that though, not sure if I would ever have told my family without some encourgement  :)

I was incredibly anxious. It went well though. She complemented my argyle socks. :D

I'm still seeing her and we're making progress.

Quote from: rejennyrated on March 23, 2010, 04:58:33 PM
It's much the same as what happens at the better UK GIC's only slightly less gladiatorial.

In our system the shrinks tend to play rough. From what I have seen of the US system many of the therapists there seem to adopt a less confrontational approach and try to work through the whole exploration of how their patients feel - the focus being on helping them to understand not just WHAT they want to do, but WHY they are doing it.

In other words in the U.S the psychiatrists actually have a positive attitude towards us instead of a negative one we have from the NHS!

My first gender therapy session is on Saturday of this week, being five days from now.
I guess you could say I'm nervous and confident. Nervous because of the fact that I don't know if she'll think that I'm a "basket case"
even though I'm perfectly sane,
and confident because I KNOW with every fiber in my being that I am a guy,
and that for the past years of my life this is all I have ever wanted, and all I have ever dreamed of.

I hope she can see that that is what I truly perceive myself as.  ???

It was many years ago. I arrived early and wanted to get on with it. I had been pre - warned by members of the transgender community I knew to avoid the NHS so I couldn't help being cynical about it.