Hi there! Sorry for my english

How to get diagnosed with gender dysphoria in san francisco? Can I just contact with a local psychologist, set up a meeting, and whats next? How does the whole process happen?

And second question - is it possible at all to get diagnosed if I am a foreigner? I am going to stay in SF for a little while, so I wanna know if I can see a psychologist and talk openly about my problem (in my country it is almost impossible to do).

i would be really grateful for any information. Peace

Hi, Alex!

Welcome to Susan's.

You should try to find a therapist (psychologist) with experience in gender issues.  They will help you to figure out whether or not you have gender dysphoria.  And, if you do, they will be able to refer you for treatment.

Anyone can access health care, but you either have to have insurance that will pay for it or you have to pay for it yourself.

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It sounds so easy, to be honest
So first I find a therapist, then if we come to conclusion that I have gender dysphoria - I will be able to get treatment despite the fact that I am a non-resident? (payment is not a problem, I can do it by myself)

I know that I do not have any mental illness (I got psychological assessment) so I dont need a really profound psychological analysis, I just need to focuse on gender issues. Every case is different, I understand, but I am also wondering how long does it usually takes to get diagnosed?

Quote from: Alex1995 on February 05, 2018, 11:11:05 AM
It sounds so easy, to be honest
So first I find a therapist, then if we come to conclusion that I have gender dysphoria - I will be able to get treatment despite the fact that I am a non-resident? (payment is not a problem, I can do it by myself)

I know that I do not have any mental illness (I got psychological assessment) so I dont need a really profound psychological analysis, I just need to focuse on gender issues. Every case is different, I understand, but I am also wondering how long does it usually takes to get diagnosed?

In countries like the U.K. and Canada that have government health insurance, residency status does affect whether you get coverage.  That is not the case in the U.S.A., where you just have to be able to pay for it.

How long it takes to get a referral depends on your own personal history and issues.  Some people take years to come to a decision, others do it in as little a three hours.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 05, 2018, 11:46:42 AM
In countries like the U.K. and Canada that have government health insurance, residency status does affect whether you get coverage.  That is not the case in the U.S.A., where you just have to be able to pay for it.

How long it takes to get a referral depends on your own personal history and issues.  Some people take years to come to a decision, others do it in as little a three hours.

You are very helpful, thank you so much!

Also, to be clear, if you're paying for everything on your own, I don't believe there's a specific process you need to worry about anymore.  Many of the referral requirements you'll hear about are in order to have insurance pay for a specific treatment or procedure.

In any event, a good first place to start is with a therapist who understands gender issues - and luckily, there are quite a few good ones here in SF to choose from.  But the point of therapy, in my opinion, is to help you figure out what you need (not necessarily to get an official diagnosis, unless you need one for insurance). 

I explain that for a couple of reasons.  (1) You asked about a diagnosis.  I don't really think you need an official diagnosis in order to transition.  In fact, I'm preparing to start transition, and I've never officially been diagnosed by my therapist - although I'm sure she'd be happy to give me that diagnosis if I needed it for some reason.  My doctor wants wants to be sure I know what I'm getting into, and she's glad I'm in therapy, but I've never been "diagnosed" by either my doctor or my therapist.  That said, some doctors may require a diagnosis or a specific referral, but I understand there are a growing number of doctors here that are adopting the model that my doctor has.

(2) You asked about how long it would take.  I think it depends.  I was ready to transition after about four months in therapy, when I had a breakthrough and realized I was trans.  My therapist didn't really diagnosis that, but she helped me find myself and come to that conclusion on my own.  I think the best therapists are there to help you figure it out on your own.  That's why it's hard to say how long that process would take. 

I don't know if that made sense or not.  But - yes - definitely start with a therapist if you have not been in therapy before, and go from there.  I guess I just mainly wanted to clarify that there's much less official process that you would need to be concerned about here.  You can get treatment as a non-resident - nobody will turn you away if you can pay.  And, as long as you can pay, you should do the steps that make the most sense to you.

Erika

P.S. - welcome to Susan's (and separately, welcome to San Francisco!)

1.  Use Google to find three or four gender therapists in San Francisco.  2.  Contact them and find one who can see you and that you can afford.  3.  Once you are diagnosed, or are sure you are transgender, you will need an endocrinologist to prescribe hormone therapy.  Try to find an endocrinologist who will give hormones on an informed consent basis if you can, this will make things go faster.  You do not need to be a citizen or resident to obtain medical care, but if you do not have California health insurance coverage, then you will have to find doctors and therapists that take payment in cash and pay cash (or equivalent) for services.

sf_erika, CarlyMcx

Sequence of actions is much clearer from now on, I did not really expected such feedback. Thank you guys for contribution, that is very nice. Good wishes!