Mine's on Monday, and I'm feeling a bit iffy about it.  How did you feel about yours and what did you talk about?  Even though I know it probably won't happen, I'm half afraid that she'll tell me that I'm just a confused girl and to just deal with it.  I'm also nervous because I told myself I'd speak with my parents after the fist session, which is going to be....not very fun.  I'm sure everything will feel better once Monday's over, but I'm really worried about it. 

Well, this is how it went with my non-gender therapist...

Me: I want to be a boy.

Therapist: God doesn't make mistakes.

....*slap*...




Naw not really...I didn't slap her...but I wanted to.  But that's what I get for going to an ignorant therapist.  I'm sure you will be fine. A gender therapist is actually trained in this stuff.

Mine went really well. He knew I was an ftm before I saw him so I walked in as Andrew, he used proper pronouns, and I said
"I'm here to get my letter for hormones". But he's had hundreds of trans patients in the past. So really we just went over the details of my life to see what T might effect (nothing since I've lived full time for about 4 years).

If it's a different case for you they still shouldn't give you issues. They are there to specifically make sure you know the effects and that nothing else in your life that could cause a rough transition so it's normal to be nervous but it'll be alright man. Does this person have experience with trans people?

Mine went great.  I went to a gender therapist, so she knew why I was there.  We pretty much just talked about what she did and what the process would be if I decided to continue seeing her, which I did.  I was very nervous at first, but she's great and I'm not nervous about seeing her any more. 

The first time seeing coming out to my other therapist, who was just a regular therapist, did not go well, and I stopped seeing her after that meeting.  If your therapist isn't familiar with trans issues, that can lead to a not so good meeting (although this isn't always the case), so it just depends on what your therapist's qualifications are as to what reaction you're most likely to get.

I was uncomfortable before going the first time. And then I was late due to bad address/directions, which made me even more stressed. I had written out an "about me" essay for my therapist to read first, because I communicate much better in writing than talking in person. She read it and it helped us get started as a launching place.

I don't remember a lot of what we talked about, but I felt silly for having been worried. My therapist has a lot of experience with trans men and women, so she was cool. I know my therapist spent a lot of time telling me the downside of being trans, but that wasn't all we talked about. I also know that I felt pretty good about how direct she was and easy to talk to, even if I felt a little like she was talking "down" to me that first time. I didn't feel that way the second time onward, so I think it was just the getting to know you stuff, and her telling me a lot of things I already knew.

A good therapist won't tell you what you are, certainly not after a first session. If she says, "oh, you're just a confused girl," then you can be annoyed you wasted your time, and then go see someone else.

Also, the thing about talking to your parents? That's something to separate from the therapy session. You don't have to tell them on Monday if you're not ready. In fact, you can use therapy to figure out when to tell them.

I'll find out - on Monday. hahaha.

Alex, I hardly think being trans could be seen as God making a mistake when there are people with severe birth defects, mental illnesses, etc. 

I'm visiting one of the psychologists at my school as she's free, two blocks away from me, and won't show up on my parents' insurance.  According to the LGBT office here, they are all good with trans people, but I don't know anything about her background or experience.  They also don't take down the reason for an appointment when you set it up, so I'll have to explain it all.  We'll see how things go, and hopefully she'll either be able to help or send me to someone who can.  As for speaking with my parents, I wasn't planning on doing that Monday.  I'm just out of excuses not to at that point. 

Good luck to you too Tad

Meh, I don't know what the point of the therapy will be. I was reffered there the same time that I got reffered to the specialists.. thinking it would take along time for me to get into see the specialists. however therapy here has long waits and I got into the specialists first. I already got my T referal and such.. therapy.. will more likely now just be used to bounce ideas around for dealing with dad and his thinking that I can be cured. I got a call last week telling me they finally had a spot to squeeze me in, and I was like meh.. it will likely be a good thing, and it's cheap.. so lets do it. hehehe.

I forgot that you already got your T letter and all that.  Oh well, like you said, it can't hurt.

i was really nervous and looking all over the place, could barely focus and was really fidgety. that was 6 months ago and that's only gotten a little better.

you're at the exact stage that i am.
i had my first appointment on the 7th.
i also tod myself that i'd come out to my mum after my first session.
i'm ->-bleeped-<-ting myself about that still.
no closer to doing it.


my appointment, well, i have no idea how it went. i felt awkward.
and i couldn't answer all the questions my therapist wanted. it was kind of anti-climatic.
it had this HUGE build up of nerves and excitement and i left kinda confused. i guess i expected some kind of instant gratification.

oh and i was worried about the same thing. being told i'm a confused girl. I felt like he was going to say that the whole way through the session.
but he just asked more questions.
then told me that it a was fairly standard session.
hardest part of the session is keeping a clear enough head to remember or figure out answers.
but i think going into a therapy session, you know deep down. no matter how screwed up you feel, if you're 'confused' or not.
and the therapist is just looking to see what you know.