In Germany it is prescribed in accordance with the law, is by the examination of two different therapists during at least two years. My therapists were the sexual doctors Dr. Wille (Keel) & Dr. Arentewitz (Lübeck) (or so similarly written).
Dr. A. experiented that I was heterosexual, at best bisexual. Dr. W. meant which lesbians would be "asexual and childishly" (original citations). Both had a phobia against lesbians. And both had in their head certain pictures about trans-sexuality which we had to fulfill to be admitted for the operation. And, besides, Dr. W had. TWO PROFESSOR'S TITLES, and was a leader of a sexual-medical institution in Keel, and had written several books. He was applied as a AUTHORITY. My both expert opinions which were also necessary for the change of the given name and the licensing for the operation (with it the health insurance scheme all costs) enclosed in each case about 30 sides.
How were your therapists? Which experience have you gained with them? Were they also such idiots like my both specimens of the genius "therapistus idioticus"?

It's funny, I remember when I first started coming here, and familiarizing myself with the steps of early transition. I heard aallll kinds of therapist horror stories. But as it turns out, therapy/my therapist is probably the one thing that has gone consistently well in my transition. He was supportive of me before my parents were. There was never any "gate-keeping", my identity was never questioned or undermined. The fact that I am also gay and trans never posed an issue. I guess I just got lucky in this category. Lord knows I'll take my luck where I can get it

Quote from: Witch of Hope on July 13, 2009, 06:13:11 PMHow were your therapists? Which experience have you gained with them? Were they also such idiots like my both specimens of the genius "therapistus idioticus"?

lol Never really believed in "therapists" or any real "authority" outside perhaps of a healthy respect and close personal relationship with our Almighty Creator but my favorite SO, a loving and brilliant Genetic Lady (a "GL") via her daughters no less, recently sent me the following and I thought it worth sharing . . .

"Salvation" indeed can come in many forms!

Quote from: The following is a paragraph from Dallas Denny's essay Transgender Communities of the United States in the Late Twentieth Century
" Many of those who subscribe to the transgender model tend to see themselves as both man and woman, or neither, or as something else entirely. Moreover, there is no "proper" sexual orientation. Most important, the transgender model allows both transsexuals and nontransesexual transgendered people to view themselves as healthy and whole. The transgender model legitimized those who had not fit comfortably into the limited number of categories that had been open to them previously. Gender-variant people were no longer forced to choose restrictive transsexual or cross-dresser or drag queen/king roles, each with its own behavioral script. Suddenly it was possible to transition gender roles without a goal of genital surgery, to acknowledge one's gender dysphoria and yet remain in one's original gender role, to take hormones for a while and then stop, to be a woman with breasts and a penis or a man with a vagina, to blend genders as if from a palette. It was possible, and even preferable, to be out and proud, rather than fearful and closeted. Not surprisingly, this new and improved self-concept soon led to demand for political equality and justice."

(p. 182, Transgender Rights) Our "gender roles" in society general are drastically changing and anyone who favors reinforcing old, outdated notions of what it means to be "male" "female" deserves to be left in the dust as I cannot help but feel our real purpose in life is to transcend those ancient, artificial roles & barriers! While the forms that we all seek are by our very nature imperfect and divided the true relationship between a perfect expression of knowledge and "Godly Intent" is wholly androgynous and anything that trys to restrict or limit that flat fact is doomed to fall short from the start!

Especially if one is older, with more of a "past history" than an undeterminable future, andrognony can often be a very viable, desirable alternative to going "full stealth" not to mention more socially honest and closer to the truth and when the often very real risk of great loss seems to outweigh the almost always uncertain benefits of full transition it's like one will eventually be forced, one way or another, to consider & accept certain things, the human condition in general, and ask oneself "so, what is the bigger picture, the whole point anyway?""

Quote from: my 'GL' SOThank-goodness our daughter had this book lying around her house, and our [other] daughter decided to take it back to [us] to read. I say that is a positive serendipity because 'J' [me] needs all the resources available to help her understand GID. I think this passage aptly describes Kiera, but I am not sure that [her "her-to-be"] has internalized the message yet.

Thx "J" For Everything You've Done! It's Gonna Be OK, You Just Wait and See! Sometimes True Love means being willing to completely let go just to prove that We will always be here Welcoming if one should leave and/or ever decide to come back!

First of all, here here to what Kiera said! There is a staggering amount of ignorance in the psychiatric and psychology professions about us. And those that try to pronounce your gender state with the voice of God had darned well better be up to date on the latest research and standards of care.

But actually, my experience has been 100% positive with my own therapist. From the very start she was supportive and understanding. Never pushy. Never resistant to my own explanation of my identity and my conflict. She was always willing to help me explore options that I chose, rather than trying to impose some pre-determined role upon me. I would keep looking if I ever found those like you described.

Therapists are O.K. but I rather spend the few dollars I have on removing my beard.

First let me state I am not in any fashion perfect.  Many of my own problems are caused by me.  With that said I went to a TG support group that was visited by mostly TS folks.  I would be considered "different".  Even though I do crossdress I would not consider myself a CD.  Even though my feelings are similar to many TS folks I continue to live in my birth gender and would not consider myself TS.  I go to support groups to try to learn and I do not go to be a member of an exclusive club.  I agitated the chairperson/ therapist unintentionally and got the comment "Maybe you should be part of another support group."

Wow!  Let's start a support group for the closeted gender variant people.  Fortunately some of the TS folks are super nice and have been great help to me or I would run back to the closet to hide.

One psychiatrist (different person) told me the other day, "You know if you want a little surgery a doctor might require a letter."  Wow again!  Do you think I go to a psychiatrist so that I can get their letter?  If I want, I can get around letters.  In the end we should be trying to make our lives a little better.

My biggest issue right now is hiding, lying and secrets.  How can I find ways to cope?  I consider what I do coping mechanisms not transitioning.  My experiences with therapists would be positive overall.