You're pretty much like I was when I joined this site last year.  Time and talking will make the difference.  I'm impressed you were able to seek out and open up to a therapist so early.  I never had a therapist - I just had this group here for a while to bounce things off of.  Eventually that got me to the point where I could visit a local support group which helped me gain the nerve to come out to friends and family.  It also kick-started going part-time in public.  The once 'impossible' became routine.

I started transition at 31, ended at 32 (and GRS at 34). I have been fortunate, in that I'm very happy with the overall results from HRT, and I was taken for female "accidentally" - dressed as and presenting as male - by around six months into it. It was 3-4 months before I could pass when dressed up and looking female, I think? Anyway, the amazing thing to me has been that HRT makes all these tiny, subtle changes, so small that you can barely identify them, but it all adds up to this largely subconscious "this is a woman" signal to everyone around you. I wouldn't say I'm pretty enough, but that's the societal pressures on women, as you've said; I think most women wish they were prettier.

I was also lucky enough that my wife stayed with me and my job was very accepting, so I can only wish you luck there.

I started hormones a few months after my 32nd birthday, 34 now and happy with how things have gone physically.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144104.msg1174224.html#msg1174224

Sure my boobs could be bigger (36B at the moment), but I look like a girl and pass without issue. (Reverse passing, eg when traveling on my male passport is more of an issue )

There's definitely a dearth of folks that transition in their 30s.  Either you know what you want when you're young or you suppress all your life and become a late transitioner.  For me I started in my early 20s but pulled back because of the desire to reproduce.  Having a three year old, I would not have wanted it other way.

Physically, hormones are a crap shoot I think, especially in your 30s.  They have had a dramatic impact on my shape but I know girls for who that is not the case.  Being healthy, eating well and doing exercise probably helps, as premature aging your body (smoking, poor diet) doesn't help anything.

I am transitioning in my 30s and I think it is going okay. I passed by day 73 and have never been clocked when presenting as female. Though, I don't pass as male anymore without effort. So there is that. I will prolly never be pretty, or pretty enough, but that's okay. I think the nicest change is the thing that HRT prolly had little effect on: I don't care anymore. I don't care what anyone thinks. I was not feeling so great today and started to cry on the bus and I simply did not care. The crying isn't from HRT. I've always been prone to crying but I usally hide it somehow. I would hide it anyway I had to. I'm super emotional. I didn't today. And that is my favorite part of transitioning. It prolly helps that everyone thinks I'm a woman and I'm not worried about people laughing.

Anyhoo, you can feminize at 30 so yeah don't worry about that. Also, my skin is so soft. In fact, my BF was commenting on it and then he put a bag there and was like you're so soft I need protection to touch you. I guess you had to be there but I laughed for like a 10 minutes. It's still funny. Other changes: boobs, facial changes. Sadly, I still need a bigger butt. :-(

I'm 29, just starting out.  Yeah wish I would have started younger, but better now than never!

  It was kinda cool that this thread from more than a year ago just got bumped up.  At the time I had posted in it last it was roughly two months prior to my starting HRT.  Reading back through what I said, it sounded like I had a really good grip on my situation.  I can't say I wasn't anxious but it seems the way I was talking was subconsciously meant for my own ears in order to keep me calm and rational.  Certainly I think everything I said is still good advice for anyone just starting out now but keep in mind it took a lot more personal strength than it appeared to get me to where I am today (nearly 13 months HRT and 83 hours of electrolysis later!).

  I'm still in my 30's now.  Maybe more 30-somethings will feel like posting again too.

P.S. I just hit post number 800 - another major milestone!