Well I was finally contacted with a appointment. Jan 3. I am happy I got in or is have to wait 3more months she said. Now, I have a couple questions:
1:What are some questions I should ask my counselor? Anything I should make a point to ask them?
2: Are there any warning signs, things might say or ask that I should take as a red flag as far as them treating me?
3. Due to some events tonight, I'm getting pretty depressed. OS this something I talk to them about too?
Thanks for all the help in the threads I've made the past month, hopefully now they will becpme less andess about my problems and more helpful and upbeat.
Well, I was gonna let someone else answer because I don't necessarily have the answers to your questions, but I guess I'll take a stab at this:
I'd definitely ask what kind of experience they have in gender counseling - sure, someone with little experience doesn't necessarily make them a bad therapist, but I'm assuming that you're paying a fair bit for therapy, so I'd ask.
When I first met with my therapist, I remember being SO NERVOUS! Having not really spoken to almost anyone about how the issue, it took me a good couple of minutes of fighting through speechless hesitation to even SAY that I think I might be trans.
Fortunately, I've had such an awesome therapist that I really couldn't tell you any red flags to look for, but I'd be wary of anyone blatantly telling you what to do - helpful suggestions, yes, but from what I understand, therapy is more patient-driven and you working out your issues and making goals rather than them telling you specifically what to do.
Depression is definitely something I'd definitely talk with him/her about. When I first met with my therapist, I was about a week and a half off a seven month period of self-medicating (horribly unsafe and stupid of me), and the lack of hormones was causing quite a bit of depression and anger, both from a state-of-mind and knowing what was happening to my body. She helped me get past this, and, so far, she has been there along the way to help me work through any issues that do crop up.
It's your time and your money, so get what YOU want out of therapy.