So I just got back from another therapist appointment (I think the 3rd appt.) with the same therapist who I made a topic about a while ago.
And now I need some input and advice about where to go from here.

I actually found out a lot more about my therapist today than I did before.  Firstly, I know WAY more about trans-related issues than he does.
He told me that he'd had several transgender patients before. but after what he said, I don't know if I believe him, because he didn't know transgenders go
about getting things like hormones and surgeries.  The only reason I wanted to see a therapist was so I could get a letter to start T. 
He was like, "Well I don't know how ones goes about getting on hormones, maybe you should go ask your doctor."
I was like, "..." That just defeated the whole purpose of how I had planned to get on T.

So now I don't know what to do.  I feel like I'm going to end up going on a wild goose chase now.  If I go ask my doctor, I don't know if my doctor's even going to know.
My insurance is with Kaiser Permanente. and one thing the therapist did say was that he's pretty sure Kaiser won't cover any of that.
which is fine with me.  I don't care if I get insurance  coverage, I'll pay for it myself.  But then how do I find out who I can go to.   I don't know who could tell me that either.
Without going through Kaiser, I have no idea how to find doctors or therapists.

I live in Vancouver, WA, which is pretty small.  So I'd probably have to go to larger nearby city which would be Portland, OR.

So here my question:
Can someone help me here? lol Where should I go from here?  Should I give up trying to go through Kaiser?  How do I find a therapist and/or doctor who could prescribe me T?

Hey John.  I'm sorry that your appointment was, well, disappointing.

It sounds to me like your therapist is confusing being transgender with something else (like cross-dressing maybe).  You could ask him if he is familiar with the WPATH Standards of Care (http://www.wpath.org/publications_standards.cfm).  That's basically (but not always) how trans people "go about getting on hormones."  I printed out a copy for my therapist for her records.  If you have access to a printer, I suggest that you print him a copy.

As for whether Kaiser covers trans related health care, it may or may not.  I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Kaiser lifted its exclusions on, at the very least, hormones and therapy.  But that might just be in CA.  You can always check your individual plan for exclusions.  There are several ways to do that.  You can check online (if your insurance has that option), check your personal booklet (if you have one), check with your HR department at work, and/or call a Kaiser representative directly and ask if they exclude trans related health care (mention specifics).

I've never had Kaiser, but with Aetna and Cigna, they have a provider database that you can search.  It lists all of the providers that you can go to "in network."  It's likely that Kaiser has something similar.  Pretty sure there are a number of people in the forum that see therapists/endos/physicians in Portland, OR.  I suggest using the search here or creating a new thread in Transsexual Talk asking about therapists/endos in the area.  T-vox.org and other websites might have more specific information for you (like this website I just found through google: http://www.sarabecker.com/t/index.html).

I have a great therapist I found by searching gender therapists in my area on google. It might be good to ask questions before making an appt too.

I live in Portland and go to Reid (Reed?) Vandenberg. He is now at the Q center in North Portland. While he does not take insurance he works on a sliding scale and is a Trans guy. Totaly understands the whole process and works with or refers patients to a few local doctors for T. Defintiely check him out he is awesome.
Send me an email if you have any questions.
Cheers, Myles

I also went to Reid in Portland and he is great.  And when I had Kaiser, they covered my HRT.  And I even had a doctor, through them. who was very familiar with Transsexual patients.

Quote from: Irish Janet on July 14, 2011, 11:16:38 PM
I also went to Reid in Portland and he is great.  And when I had Kaiser, they covered my HRT.  And I even had a doctor, through them. who was very familiar with Transsexual patients.

Really?  Kaiser covered HTR?!    Where did you live at that time?  Just curious if Kaiser is different on other places, like CA.
I guess my therapist guy really doesn't know anything if he didn't even know that Kaiser can cover that.

I live in Portland, OR.  And it was thru my employer at the time.  I stumbled across my HRT Doctor thru my PCP, she knew nothing about trans issued but asked around and my HRT Doctor was in the very same building.

Hey, Adio, thanks for your reply.

Quote from: Adio on July 14, 2011, 08:21:19 PMHey John.  I'm sorry that your appointment was, well, disappointing.

It sounds to me like your therapist is confusing being transgender with something else (like cross-dressing maybe).  You could ask him if he is familiar with the WPATH Standards of Care (http://www.wpath.org/publications_standards.cfm).  That's basically (but not always) how trans people "go about getting on hormones."  I printed out a copy for my therapist for her records.  If you have access to a printer, I suggest that you print him a copy.

So do you think I shouldn't give up on him and I should basically try to educate him?  Instead of, say, finding a therapist who will know about transgender issues, but also won't be covered by insurance?

Quote from: Adio on July 14, 2011, 08:21:19 PMAs for whether Kaiser covers trans related health care, it may or may not.  I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Kaiser lifted its exclusions on, at the very least, hormones and therapy.  But that might just be in CA.  You can always check your individual plan for exclusions.  There are several ways to do that.  You can check online (if your insurance has that option), check your personal booklet (if you have one), check with your HR department at work, and/or call a Kaiser representative directly and ask if they exclude trans related health care (mention specifics).

I tried to look online but couldn't find anything.  I never had a personal booklet, my insurance is through my parents, so they probably do, but we don't speak.
So I guess my only option is to call a Kaiser representative.  I didn't think of that myself, so thank you.

Quote from: Adio on July 14, 2011, 08:21:19 PMI've never had Kaiser, but with Aetna and Cigna, they have a provider database that you can search.  It lists all of the providers that you can go to "in network."  It's likely that Kaiser has something similar.  Pretty sure there are a number of people in the forum that see therapists/endos/physicians in Portland, OR.  I suggest using the search here or creating a new thread in Transsexual Talk asking about therapists/endos in the area.  T-vox.org and other websites might have more specific information for you (like this website I just found through google: http://www.sarabecker.com/t/index.html).

Hm, if Kaiser does have something like that, I don't know anything about it.
Thanks I'll check out those websites.

Quote from: Irish Janet on July 14, 2011, 11:49:43 PM
I live in Portland, OR.  And it was thru my employer at the time.  I stumbled across my HRT Doctor thru my PCP, she knew nothing about trans issued but asked around and my HRT Doctor was in the very same building.

And did you have to go through therapy first too?  If so, who was your therapist through Kaiser?

My therapist was Reid Vanderburgh and he was out of pocket.  He is at the Q Center.  I did have a carry letter, but basically it was by "Informed Consent".  I was DIY at the time.

I guess it all depends on the definition of Therapist.  That will differ from place to place, Social Worker, Psychologist, Psychiatrist etc.
Here you have to see a Psychiatrist specialising in Gender issues, so the problem doesn't arise, and there are not that many anyway.

hi john i recently had a very disappointing therapist appointment too, my doctor who supposedly knows about trans things has been extremely unhelpful and rather misinformed. he says minors cant get on T and its really hard to get on hormone blockers too. its really pointless for me to see him but i dont know where to go. i feel like im in the same situation. i really want to go to my friends doctor in jersey (im in NY).

Quote from: Irish Janet on July 15, 2011, 11:42:48 PM
My therapist was Reid Vanderburgh and he was out of pocket.  He is at the Q Center.  I did have a carry letter, but basically it was by "Informed Consent".  I was DIY at the time.

Oh, so I could (hopefully) just pay to see Reid, and then get a letter from him and take it to my regular doctor at Kaiser, and that should work?  What was the name of your HRT doctor? in case I would need to give that name to my regular doctor.
Thanks.

Quote from: anibioman on July 17, 2011, 05:51:39 PM
hi john i recently had a very disappointing therapist appointment too, my doctor who supposedly knows about trans things has been extremely unhelpful and rather misinformed. he says minors cant get on T and its really hard to get on hormone blockers too. its really pointless for me to see him but i dont know where to go. i feel like im in the same situation. i really want to go to my friends doctor in jersey (im in NY).

Oh, that sounds real disappointing.   Are you going to just get a new doctor?  Being in NY, hopefully you have a larger pool to choose from than I do in my small city.

 

Quote from: JohnAlex on July 17, 2011, 06:17:21 PM
Oh, so I could (hopefully) just pay to see Reid, and then get a letter from him and take it to my regular doctor at Kaiser, and that should work?  What was the name of your HRT doctor? in case I would need to give that name to my regular doctor.
Thanks.

Dr. Benjamin Brody out of the Rockwood Medical Center.  A letter from Reid should do the trick.

Check out Sara Becker, she's one of us, and is very good. She's in the Portland, OR area.

And Susan Scopes.