I have an appointment with a gender therapist on Thurday at 1:30 pm.  Guess I just took the first step.

It is said that a journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.  My trip to authenticity began when I accepted who I was, and began to reconcile that with how I lived.  Without someone to talk to, in a space where it is safe and where experience and training trump supposition, I could not have continued the exploration of who the person called Julie is.  Yes the first step has been taken, congratulations.  I hope that you find comfort knowing that it is one of the hardest, and one of the most enriching.

Hugs,
Julie

Quote from: JulieBlair on May 06, 2014, 10:06:18 AM
It is said that a journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.  My trip to authenticity began when I accepted who I was, and began to reconcile that with how I lived.  Without someone to talk to, in a space where it is safe and where experience and training trump supposition, I could not have continued the exploration of who the person called Julie is.  Yes the first step has been taken, congratulations.  I hope that you find comfort knowing that it is one of the hardest, and one of the most enriching.

Hugs,
Julie

thank you so much for the inspiring words, Julie!  Thank you. 

Good on you, Aly!

I hope all goes well and that you find the answers you're looking for.

Cheers,
Teg

Quote from: Sincerely Tegan on May 06, 2014, 10:33:40 AM
Good on you, Aly!

I hope all goes well and that you find the answers you're looking for.

Cheers,
Teg

thanks Teg! 

Good for you. I love good news.
Best of luck with the therapist. It is a big step forward.

I wasn't nervous when I first met my gender therapist, but the road to the doctor before that was really a hard thing to do. It took me months to make that call.
It's not easy to do, but absolutely worth it. I wish you well.

Hey, where's that quote from! ''Facing your fears would be far less painful.'' It reminds me of something, but I can't catch..

Quote from: Feather on May 07, 2014, 03:23:09 PM
I wasn't nervous when I first met my gender therapist, but the road to the doctor before that was really a hard thing to do. It took me months to make that call.
It's not easy to do, but absolutely worth it. I wish you well.

Hey, where's that quote from! ''Facing your fears would be far less painful.'' It reminds me of something, but I can't catch..

i was! i was even confused whether to go with a male therapist vs a female therapist but i chose a male therapist and its working well. a female therapist would of written me a script and sent me on my way. wouldnt of been much help there

Quote from: Feather on May 07, 2014, 03:23:09 PM
I wasn't nervous when I first met my gender therapist, but the road to the doctor before that was really a hard thing to do. It took me months to make that call.
It's not easy to do, but absolutely worth it. I wish you well.

Hey, where's that quote from! ''Facing your fears would be far less painful.'' It reminds me of something, but I can't catch..

I'm moderately nervous about going, but hopefully I'll be collected once I get there.

You can do it, Aly. There's no way you can do worse than I did at my first meeting.

Just remember: in that room, you have permission to just let it all go- the fears and the tears. You can open up in there and let Aly say what's on her mind.

Good luck, little sis.

Teg

I guess that moment is about to come for me, lol 
Still a bundle of nerves though.

If you weren't a bit on edge, you wouldn't be paying attention.    Hang in there, sharing who you authentically are gets easier and more natural in therapy really quickly.

Julie

That's a HUGE first step!! Congrats!!

I remember my first therapy appointment - I was very nervous but I was resigned to doing this. I nervously waited outside her office, and then her door opened and I got invited into her office and the session started. Her first question to me was why I was there - *gulp* - but I had resigned myself to be brutally honest so I dumped my dirty laundry right there on the floor in front of her in a nonstop torrent. Afterward I felt a huge sense of relief, and I knew that I finally was on the path to healing.

Remember, the therapist is there to help you and they have already heard it all before. Be honest.

I'm glad you are taking this step.  Don't worry, about fear.  What's the worst that could happen by seeing a therapist?  It's much easier in reality than what you feel.  And I know that because I was panicking on the day of my first appointment and couldn't even call the office to schedule an appointment.  I had to do it through email at first.  It will be okay.  And congrats on this step. 

Well......here goes nothing

Quote from: Alyssa Rae on May 08, 2014, 12:11:25 PM
Well......here goes nothing

good luck and knock em dead xD

Let us know how it went!!! (:

It went well.  My therapist is also transgender, so that was kind of neat.  I was still very nervous and probably incoherent.  At least it felt like I was.  I still have the same fears of potentially losing a lot if I continue down this path, but I did find out, surprisingly enough, that someone at my workplace had transitioned.  Obviously she couldn't disclose the who or when, but the simple fact that I was completely unaware of it brings me hope of acceptance.  Interestingly enough, after disclosing my medical history, she believes I may be intersex and never knew it.  Two conditions I had as a young child coincide with being intersex, but I'll have to have tests to be certain.  Kinda blew my mind to be honest.  My next appointment is Tuesday, so I won't have a long wait in between sessions.  Not to mention I found out that everything medically available for transition aside from SRS is right there.  Ten minutes away.  Still trying to wrap my head around everything, which is why I haven't posted since I went to the initial session.

Quote from: Alyssa Rae on May 10, 2014, 07:41:27 AM
It went well.  My therapist is also transgender, so that was kind of neat.  I was still very nervous and probably incoherent.  At least it felt like I was.  I still have the same fears of potentially losing a lot if I continue down this path, but I did find out, surprisingly enough, that someone at my workplace had transitioned.  Obviously she couldn't disclose the who or when, but the simple fact that I was completely unaware of it brings me hope of acceptance.  Interestingly enough, after disclosing my medical history, she believes I may be intersex and never knew it.  Two conditions I had as a young child coincide with being intersex, but I'll have to have tests to be certain.  Kinda blew my mind to be honest.  My next appointment is Tuesday, so I won't have a long wait in between sessions.  Not to mention I found out that everything medically available for transition aside from SRS is right there.  Ten minutes away.  Still trying to wrap my head around everything, which is why I haven't posted since I went to the initial session.

Great news for you!

I can't speak for anyone else, but those first steps were the hardest for me.