The person that I have been talking to for the last few months is a "Licenced Professional Counselor" or LPC in Georgia. This is an umbrella that covers Family counselors, Social workers and the like. Are they qualified write a letter to an endo or would I need to see someone else?

I really like her and want to keep seeing her but I also would like to start HRT soon. I am a bit torn on this.

Does anyone know what I would need to do?

Personally I think that a gender therapist (psychiatrist/psychologist/PhD) is the right person to go; however, being comfortable with your therapist is also a must.  I am not sure if LPC is actually qualified to explore the complexities of gender identity.  Does she have experience with TG/TS issues?

tink

I believe the Standards of Care (SOC) just say that the letter should come from a "mental health professional."

But it seems most therapists who DO have experience in treating GID also have doctors they routinely work with. If your therapist doesn't have any resources, then the requirements will vary per doctor/endo. Some might be happy taking a letter from your person, some may only work with referrals from therapists they work with, and some will evaluate you for themselves. It varies.

You might consider calling around and just ask the doctors/endos what they need.

~Kate~

Quote from: Tink on June 25, 2007, 10:08:21 PM
.  I am not sure if LPC is actually qualified to explore the complexities of gender identity.  Does she have experience with TG/TS issues?

tink

Well, the way that I discovered her was by Calling Cigna( My Insurance company) and asking for a therapist who specializes in Gender issues. She was first on the list. I have never been sure of her TG/TS experience. She seems to know about it but also seems to be learning about it while dealing with me. I like that she focuses on more than that one part of me but I just do not want it to become a stumbling block on my way to transition.


I will do what kate suggests but I always feel silly talking to strangers about it since my voice is somewhat deep and during the day I just look like a run of the mill guy (for work)

What is a Therapist? is it a shrink? is it a psychiatrist?....to my knowledge we don't have Therapists here in the U.K.

Quote from: Berliegh on July 05, 2007, 03:03:05 AM
What is a Therapist? is it a shrink? is it a psychiatrist?....to my knowledge we don't have Therapists here in the U.K.

it can be a psychologist, a psychiatrist or someone with a Master's (M.A. or M.S.) or PhD degree who specializes in gender issues.

Quote from: Kara on June 25, 2007, 09:58:55 PM
The person that I have been talking to for the last few months is a "Licenced Professional Counselor" or LPC in Georgia. This is an umbrella that covers Family counselors, Social workers and the like. Are they qualified write a letter to an endo or would I need to see someone else? I really like her and want to keep seeing her but I also would like to start HRT soon. I am a bit torn on this.  Does anyone know what I would need to do?

I'm not sure it really matters the qualifications of your primary therapist as long as they have a State license and knowledge and/or experience with gender issues, but their professional relationship with your physician or endochronologist who will be overseeing your hrt is important. Most of the latter won't prescribe hrt without a recommendation from a recognized therapist they know and who will ensure you're ongoing therapy with them. Another key is that for other needs where you will need a letter from a psychologist or psychiatrist, but the same general practice applies, professional knowledge of your primary therapist is important. The most important part after that is a therapist who you're comfortable with and trust to discuss any and all aspects of your life issues. You're not there to play mental games but help you with your thoughts and feelings and with the decisions with your life and transistion.

Typical legal claim, "Your experience and mileage may vary."

Any mental health professional with a masters can write the HRT letter.
I have a LCSW.  Which means they have a masters in clinical social work.  An LPC probably has the same thing. (What they call it state to state varies). They do not need to be a psychiatrist or psychologist. 

Just ask your therapist for your HRT letter. 

Quote from: Amy T. on July 06, 2007, 06:19:22 PM
Any mental health professional with a masters can write the HRT letter.
I have a LCSW.  Which means they have a masters in clinical social work.  An LPC probably has the same thing. (What they call it state to state varies). They do not need to be a psychiatrist or psychologist. 

Just ask your therapist for your HRT letter. 

Agreed. I live in a small town that has 3 therapists. I got lucky on the first one I went to (an LCSW). She had little knowledge about GID but since I've been seeing her (6 months) she has read several TS books, watched TS documentaries, and searched the internet for TS information. After 4 months she (and the psych sponsoring the clinic) wrote the HRT letter. Finding an MD to monitor the HRT.. well, that took a little longer.

Dora

Since I had a long-standing relationship to a therapist (clinical psychologist, in this case) who knows me well already, she's the one I approached with this issue, and initially, after reading the SOC, she felt she didn't have the special training or experience in gender issues and would want to refer me out to someone else for purposes of the letter and all. 

However, after three months of sessions in which we discussed my GID issues and my transitioning thoroughly and being satisfied that I met the criteria, and after she had a chance to read up a bit and confer with a colleague or two with more specific experience in GID issues, she decided that she'd be okay with doing the letter after all, which was fabulous for me because I would have had to pay another therapist out of pocket, and my financial resources are very limited.

Unless your situation is for some reason unusually complicated, I would think any experienced therapist who is willing to educate themselves a bit from the readily available information, or consult with someone for guidance, should be able to give you a hormone letter. 

Anyway, the fact that I wasn't forced to go to a gender specialist saved me probably several months of time in my process and many hundreds of dollars.  I'll have my letter in hand this week, and be able to start finding a doctor to get things going.

Obviously, if you're approaching therapists cold with this, you want to be careful, because as in many other professions, credentials alone do not a good therapist make.  If I didn't know someone, I'd try to get references from other people.

Quote from: Rob on July 22, 2007, 01:49:26 PM
Anyway, the fact that I wasn't forced to go to a gender specialist saved me probably several months of time in my process and many hundreds of dollars.  I'll have my letter in hand this week, and be able to start finding a doctor to get things started.

How true... my fear is with a gender specialist I would spend many months and lots of $$$ to get where I am now. OTH, it could be a minefield if you're not clear on where you are heading because you don't want a rubber stamp letter either.

As to finding a doctor, I suppose going to a gender specialist would make it easier get the hormones since s/he probably has connections.

Dora