I'v been doing some very early research on therpists, and I've found out that there are about 3 or 4 therepists specializing in gender, trans and HRT therepy in my state. (I always feel icky saying any words like those two, because I feel like I'm labeling ) I don't plan to go to them until late spring semester of 2009, so that I have money piling up for the sessions (I know average costs, and my education money is stable )

So, I just wanted to get an idea from my loving Susan's community; do you all think that I should try the therepists in my state, or are there therepists you would STRONGLY recomend that I go to out of my state?  I'm asking early because I want to list them, and keep a record of suggestions that might make my life a bit easier.

Thanks in advance.

I'm not going to be able to make specific recommendations, but please tell us the state (and nearest large city) you live in.  If we have a choice of recommending a a therapist 200 miles away or 2000 miles away, we want to make the right call.

I forgot I posted this! 

I live in Missouri, and I live in the city (actually IN the city) of St. Louis.

I'm not looking for specifics, so much as your OPINIONS on using local Gender Therepists. I've read posts about people going from one state to another, and I just was wondering if that is REALLY neccessary, or if local specialists are just fine if they are conveniant? (My spelling is terrific-an abomination  )

Therapists aren't like surgeons - where there are only a few in the world who regularly perform such-and-such a procedure.  And if things don't work out, the worst that happens (usually) is you've wasted some time and money.  I would, however, suggest trying to find someone who has experience working with transgendered people.  Since therapy is something you'll probably be doing on a regular basis for at least 3 months, a local one would be better, if you find someone you are comfortable with, who has the experience and willingness to help you through transition.  Also, local therapists who specialize in gender-related issues often have contacts with local support groups, trans-friendly doctors, etc. 

If I understand correctly, people choose out-of-area gender therapists because they simply don't exist where they live.  Considering your city has nearly 3 million people in its metro area, your odds are good of finding a competent gender therapist in that area, if not in the city itself.

If that fails, you do have Chicago (~10 million metro) sitting 300 miles away.

You might want to try these links for info:

gender.org   http://www.gender.org/resources/programs.html

Int. Foundation for Gender Education: http://www.ifge.org/

and

Dr. Becky: http://www.drbecky.com/trans.html

internal links on the pages listed. They make a start for you anyhow.

Nichole

There are at least 2 very experienced ones in St. Louis. However at least one is quite expensive, I'm not sure on the other. I will send a Pm with more.

I have apparently a differing take on therapists... mine I've known for years, having gone to her for other issues.  And although she is not up on all the pertinent TG/TS issues - I've fed her lots of information - I feel very comfortable working with her because of her lack of any preconceived notions about it.  She approaches our sessions with an objective, unbiased and apolitical point-of-view, and is helping me to make the decisions myself.. not that therapists who specialize might be subjective, but it's just my feeling that sometimes working with someone who is not an expert can be just as rewarding.

I imagine most specialists will be pretty good. Closer to home is going to be best for the convenience. If you don't like them you can always try another, they are not created equally.

(Is it just me or does the therapist quality control seem a bit shabby in America? - results seem to vary wildly)

I'm in agreement with the others.  If you can find a good local therapist, who is knowledgeable of TG issues, and with whom you can feel comfortable talking to, then it would be your best option.  Traveling out of state for sessions can become quite costly, money better spent towards your local therapy sessions.  I was introduced to a therapist by another who didn't feel qualified to help me.  I saw this therapist for about three months.  I felt like I was going nowhere with her and had the distinct impression that she was trying to convince me that I'm not really female inside.  I felt like we were at odds.  I finally stopped seeing her and found a therapist who was knowledgeable of TG issues and experienced in this field.  She worked with me for six months and was very helpful in helping me to deal with my feelings and beliefs.  At the time I met her she was local, but just past the 4 month point she moved to another city about an hour away.  Still manageable for me.  Good luck with your journey!

Hi, I think you will find that the Therapists in St Louis that deal with GID are competant. I see Dr, Patricia Berne in Clayton, Mo (St Louis suburb) and am pleased with how she has worked with me over the last year.

Helen Friedman I was told is TS and supposed to be highly regarded. The others Im not sure about. I also reccomend Dr John Daniels for Endo related matters. He is at Wash U Med. He does require a letter from a Therapist of Psychiatrist spelling out GID though. I travel to St. Louis from Illinois because the Metro East has few or no persons that actively deal with transition. St Louis is also fairly LBGT friendy. Please PM me if can be of any help locating someone for you. Are you from St Louis or just attending their Universitys?  I also work at a St Louis Hospital. Hugs

Wendy

Is it just me or does the therapist quality control seem a bit shabby in America? - results seem to vary wildly

QC is pretty much non-existent.  Once you get your paper to practice its pretty much up to lawsuits to stop you after that.

Quote from: tekla on December 22, 2008, 11:54:24 AM
Is it just me or does the therapist quality control seem a bit shabby in America? - results seem to vary wildly

QC is pretty much non-existent.  Once you get your paper to practice its pretty much up to lawsuits to stop you after that.

Well, the same is mostly true of other medical practices.  The problem with psychiatric medicine is that the results of failure aren't visible, even in the really extreme cases where they cause death or total dysfunctionality.  This makes lawsuits less common, and makes them harder to win as well.

Or maybe, just maybe, they have no way to prove that they can 'cure' anyone, like other doctors can.

beh, therapists, they are not you, they dont know everything about you.  So your your best therapist.
Like when someone says "Your Crazy", you respond "Im not!" then they say "Thats what all crazy people say"

They just think they know about you, or use textbook ideas to make decisions. (At least in my experience)

I think that really good therapy exists somewhere between the totally useless that most people view it as, and the solution that therapists seem to extol it as being.

The best therapist I had might've been that way for unusual reasons, but still it was a good experience.  She, simply put, stated that she was less intelligent than me (I don't know if I agree with that statement, and I certainly didn't at the time being fourteen and her being thirtysomething with an advanced degree - I was easily taken in by such things back in the day), and therefore she would have to take extra care reverse-engineering me (my term, not hers) in order to fully understand me.  Thus began a methodical four-month process of me and her discussing things (I actually developed a thing for her - I don't know if she realized it).  It ended with her, as she put it, "Knowing enough to know he doesn't need me."  (I wasn't there of my own choosing, FYI.)

I was kinda let down by that... like I say, I rather had a thing for her.  And she was, at the time, the only person I knew capable of frankly and candidly discussing nearly any personal topic with me.