Is there a point to it if you have no other issues and specifically went to get the letter for hormones?
From the folks I have talked with and those in group ... nobody continues with therapy unless they have other issues. However, if they are going for surgery many continue on until surgery happens.
I don't plan to continue in therapy after I get what I need.
In both your cases that hardly qualifies as therapy, more like being the trained dog and jumping through the hoop. It's a shame that there is not more offerings of informed consent, so you would not have to waste time and money, and so the therapist would not have to waste time and training.
I agree Tekla. I went with therapy because out of about 300 doctors I called only 2 of them would treat me even with my letter, none of them would have done informed consent. It's insane.
Continuing therapy after getting the letters may be a good idea. There are still a lot of issues we have to navigate through after the medical stuff. Coming out to people, work adjustments, etc. And a lot of us have past issues relating to our condition that still need resolved. We are changing virtually every aspect of our lives; people benefit from therapy for less.
Eventual surgery may be easier come by if you can show a series of letter/reports from a therapist showing how you have taken care of yourself etc.
Shouldn't be necessary but with the hindsight of 298 unhelpful doctors you don't want to have to fight another battle.
You can hit the HRT milestone without any problems, sure, but chances are changing that much about your life (pretty much everything) is bound to cause issues. Maybe not, but at least you'll have a regular appointment with a doc vs having to wait another month, or more, to get in to see someone. Give it at least a couple sessions, if everything is going great talk about seeing your therapist less, or maybe not at all with an agreement that you'll call if you need them. No guarantees they'd be able to work you in any sooner, but it might give you a leg up on someone else just reaching out for the first time.
I had one of the world's easiest transitions, in part because I had a helpful therapist from before coming out until when things settled down after surgery. She helped me keep on track, listened to my concerns, got me to consider things I hadn't, and helped me to avoid many pitfalls in the process. I thought that surgery would be the end of it - or the letters for surgery - but found that I still had some adjusting to do. Changing one's gender involves almost every aspect of your life. It benefited me to have some help along the way.
DISCLAIMER: I think that it is a mistake to view therapists/counselors as only door-keepers, but that is JMHO. Your experience and situation may differ from mine.
- Kate
My original plan was to move on as soon as I got what I wanted from my therapist.
I have my HRT letter and my SRS letter but I still make apointments.
It seems my gender therapist does more normal counsiler work than gender work. Hell when I had my heart attack she was acting as a trauma counsiler.
I won't say that gender doesn't come up. It does, some times it comes up in spades but most he time I see her it is about normal life issues.
I think it helps that my therapist is also a Shaman and we work togather spiritualy on top of mentaly.
Have you had top surgery yet, and do you plan to have top surgery? You might want to get a letter for that even if you have no immediate plans to go under the knife.
I agree with other people who say that issues can come up during transition--stuff that you never anticipated. You can always cut back to once a month or something (assuming that you have been going more often than that) and see how it goes.
I know a guy who knew exactly what he wanted--saw a therapist once or twice and got approved for hormones, top surgery, and hysto. And, well, lot of us wish he had stayed in therapy. ;D
I think it's an excellent idea to continue therapy after getting a letter for hormones. Such a good idea that my prescribing doctor made me sign something affirming I would continue therapy after obtaining T, and he does so with all of his trans patients (50+). I think it specifies a certain number of months - just a few. At any rate, even if it wasn't for that, I'd be continuing therapy for years. Not just because I have psychological conditions and some unfortunate family dynamics... for heaven's sake, I spent all of my life in the wrong body, called by the wrong name, treated as the wrong person, and terrified I was going to be disowned by half my family. There is no way after all that I'm going to get a magic letter and skip off into the sunset. And honestly, I think after those sorts of experiences, few trans people will be able to, or should try to do so.
If you don't need to work so you can buy that person a retirement house on the shores of Maui. Or maybe you do.
Thanks everyone :) I think that I might postpone this upcoming session until after I start T. Once a month after that and I'll just see what happens.
You will probably find that you will know when you no longer need it.
Thanks everyone :) After reading your replies and thinking about it a lot I think I will be postponing it until after I start T and then going once I month until I am sure I don't need to. All we talk about is why I should be on testosterone. I guess if we find something else needed to be discussed I will continue sessions and if not I won't.
Quote from: Michael Alexander on December 16, 2010, 08:12:20 AM
Thanks everyone :) After reading your replies and thinking about it a lot I think I will be postponing it until after I start T and then going once I month until I am sure I don't need to. All we talk about is why I should be on testosterone. I guess if we find something else needed to be discussed I will continue sessions and if not I won't.
You're not avoiding talking about other issues are you? I'm not trying to be judgemental, far from it, but even the most well intentioned people take a long time (like as in a year long time) to really open up with their therapist - until then they mostly talk about "safe" topics. What about the other issues, outside of HRT, that go along with transition?
Regan, my outside issues are only everyday life things like trouble finding a girlfriend. Not because I'm trans but because I just haven't met the right person. I have been full time except at home for four years and full time everywhere including home for one year. There really aren't life issues. My job that I just sorta got hired at is aware I'm trans so no trouble there. I go to school online so no trouble there. There really isn't any issues I need to talk about.
I'll probably keep going even after I go on T...but I do have issues. Lots of them. ::)
Quote from: Forum Admin on December 15, 2010, 01:11:41 PMContinuing therapy after getting the letters may be a good idea. There are still a lot of issues we have to navigate through after the medical stuff. Coming out to people, work adjustments, etc. And a lot of us have past issues relating to our condition that still need resolved. We are changing virtually every aspect of our lives; people benefit from therapy for less.
This is very true, especially if you live in an area with few trans people and no support groups. You'll also need letters for surgery too so you may have to have return visits.
Although I don't need the help any more, I will go see my therapist After SRS. As a post-transition follow-up. I am sure issues will come up as I begin my new real life as the woman I was meant to be.