I've just sent off an email (and paperwork) to schedule an appointment with an actual gender therapist, and I am freaking out a bit.
The therapist is on the other side of the globe, and there's no way for my insurance to cover it, but that isn't why I'm a bit freaked out? I've even had therapy before, so I shouldn't be freaked out, but the whole having to use my words, out loud, to talk about this... it's a bit scary. I'm hoping that it'll help me work up the courage to come out to my family within the next year, and also function as an ace up my sleeve in case they don't believe me. "Actually, I have been talking to a mental health professional.." sort of thing.
I guess I just wanted to share this here, cause I'm...excited? about taking the first step out of my eternal closet.

FWIW, I was very uncomfortable w/the idea of online therapy as opposed to face-to-face b/c I want to read body language. But, b/c I couldn't find anyone locallty, that's what I had to go w/ for a while.  I had two separate sessions w/ 2 different therapists.  The first therapist had gently discussion to get the convo going and keep it going.  It went better than I thought.  The 2nd therapist also knew how to keep the session going, although I wasn't as anxious that time.  Anyway, both the sessions went fine.  (I changed to the 2nd therapist b/c he was establishing an office within a 1.5 hour drive and I really want that face-to-face relationship, but the online thing was okay, much better than no session at all.

Congrats! I am in the process of switching from one online therapist to another. Make sure you're very clear about what your goals are with therapy and if you have any expectations for things up front (ie. referrals for hormones, surgery, etc.). I thought I was on the same page with mine, but after my last session I'm not feeling like we are. I hope yours goes better than mine!

Online sessions are awkward, but better than nothing I suppose. I have my second appointment this week, still trying to figure out whether I made the right choice by doing this online thing with a gender therapist instead of a regular therapy session with the therapist I've been seeing for a few months. Hope your session goes well!  I sure hope mine does..

Online is nice because they do not judge you for what you look like or the clothing choice. One of my old therapists had me take a personality test and they felt the need to write down how I dressed. There are a million reasons why I was wearing the andro clothes from highschool, it isn't for a stranger to comment on unless I spilled food down the front of me - then tell me because that is embarrassing.

I'm from Denmark, so it isn't so much that I prefer Online Therapy as much as the fact that there's about a years wait for any kind of gender therapy here, including therapy, so I figured I'd getting a head start online.

Right, so I just finished my appointment, about half an hour ago.

The therapist I was talking to, Alexis Ungerer (thetransitionchannel.org), seemed really...good? It wasn't awkward, and she seemed to know what she was talking about. It was over google+ and there was a chat-box so I could still talk when my voice wasn't cooperating. She also talked about maybe getting a google+ group therapy thing going at some point. I feel better after talking to her, so thats something. She is also reasonable about rates, and is willing to write a letter that I can give my GP. So far, I'm pretty satisfied with the service I received.

Wow, I didn't know online therapy appointment was possible.
Congrats bro 

...managed to mortally insult my gender therapist over a misunderstanding. Yeah, I get that I was getting the therapy at a discount, but we agreed on a price in dollars, charging me in euros because it's 'my currency' (which it's not), then saying 'everyone says dollars even when they mean other currencies' isn't okay just cause I'm getting it cheaper than usual. I told them I would save up to pay full price, then THEY said that the lower price was fine and dandy. Me asking for an explanation for the change in currency, and thus higher price, isn't an insult, it's a request for an explanation. Also, calling me ungrateful even after I sent them a 'thank you' note after our first session is ->-bleeped-<-ing bizarre.

I don't know how the heck I'm supposed to feel.

Were you able to vet her and find reviews from other clients? Maybe she has done this sort of thing before.

Do bear in mind that if your communication took place by e-mail or chat, people can come across as abrupt or rude when they don't mean to. So maybe she thought you were abrupt. But I have to say that you seem pretty damned articulate to me, and her calling you ungrateful sounds unprofessional.

Maybe think about "seeing" someone else?

Yeah, I even followed some of her other clients on tumblr. During our session she seemed perfectly fine, but then as soon as I asked (politely) about the discrepancy, I am ungrateful. I even said that it wasn't to be ungrateful (I even used the word) and that I'd just like to know if I had misunderstood about the price. I even apologized in case I had said something to offend her.

I feel gutted and confused, and completely disheartened. How am I supposed to trust another therapist, when one that seemed fine, just turned on me like this? I honestly don't know what the heck happened.

I know what you mean. I had a couple of not-so-good experiences back when I was younger, and I swore off therapy for life. "Life" lasted for only about fifteen years, but I might actually have helped myself out if I'd stuck with it. Maybe I wouldn't be so twisted up now.

So learn from me: Absolutely question this particular therapist and any possibility of trusting her. But keep reminding yourself that this is just one experience with one therapist. Give yourself time to think and to recover. But don't give up entirely unless you honestly believe that therapy with a good practitioner has no value for you.

I am sorry. It's freaking hard to open up to people, and then stuff like this happens.

Hmm that is strange. I'm seeing someone online in the UK now and he still gets paid in USD. Any fees/loss or gain in conversion to pounds is his problem. Perhaps she's never worked with someone outside of her country before?

Maybe, but if she says "dollars," then she needs to mean dollars.

Quote from: Arch on December 18, 2014, 07:31:23 PM
Maybe, but if she says "dollars," then she needs to mean dollars.

Oh, 100% agree. I'm just saying she may not have even thought about it if this is outside the realm of her prior client experience. Had she not gotten rude with OP, I would say it was a teachable moment.