I really need therapy and want to start transitioning soon, but am not currently employed, so I am kind of broke right now...

So, does anyone know if there are gender therapists in the United States that will take payment plans or something?  I can't afford insurance right now, either, but if at some point I can, are there any insurance plans that would cover the therapy?  What about HRT or even surgery? 

Are there any options for me right now?  I don't want anything for free or anything like that, but I also don't want to have to put my life on hold when I have no idea when I will be employed again.  I look for a job every day and am not sure why I haven't been hired yet.  Maybe I look androgynous and that might make people in this area uncomfortable?  It is a pretty conservative town and also pretty much feels like the Christian capital of the world.  I'm still trying like crazy... both on line and in person, but the few times I've been lucky enough for an interview, I wasn't chosen. 

I know this covers more than just therapy, but I put it here since that's pretty much the first step.  If it's in the wrong place, I'm so sorry

If you live near a major metropolitan area there may be a LGBT clinic that helps TSs.

The absolute best "first step" you can do is a local TG support group. Especially if it is one that has a transitioning or TS focus. For me, it totally changed my life. At an intellectual level I knew plenty about being a TS having been researching it since the 1970's. I am even in a 30+ year relationship with a post-op MTF. Nevertheless, I was floored after my first group meeting. By the third I was absolutely convinced I needed to be there and haven't missed one yet in 3 years. BTW - I wasn't going to transition and still am trying to avoid it. My reason for the group was for the support and help in just dealing with my gender issue which was the root cause for so many other issues in my life.

I live in a rural area of WV. The closest support group and therapists are some 90 miles away. Even further for an endo or for a "gender therapist". Being 6ft tall and relatively skinny woman in a sea of 5'6" 200+ lb women I tend to stand out for that along with mostly being in a skirt or dress. I sometimes get the bit too long lingering look but nothing worse. No way can I know what is in their mind. (And I have way too much experience from my 20's in the metro NYC area to tell me what a too long look can lead to)

Transitioning to full time is an expensive undertaking. Most insurance will specificaly exclude any and all transgender related expenses, even therapy. Get a job, save every dime, shop in thrift stores, put off for tomorrow. Most of all don't loose the dream.

Thank you for the reply!  I'll see what I can find in my area in the way of a support group.  I do think that would help me, too.  There's one I know of in Denver, but that's not exactly "close" and I think I found a place that does reasonably priced therapy/counseling there, too... so there may be enough resources there to where the drive will be worth it.  I'm still looking for a support group here, but if I can't find one I'll see about getting to Denver for one... only problem with that is that gas is so expensive right now.

I'm glad that I already enjoy thrift store shopping... haha