Can anyone recommend a gender therapist in Pueblo, Colorado or very near it? I have managed to locate a few in Colorado Springs but this is at least 50+ miles away and because of my job and financial situations driving that far plus the cost of sessions would just be too much for me. I cannot seem to locate any gender therapists in my area at all and am becoming frustrated, I suppose I could always go to a regular therapist or psychologist and see what they can do but I've heard from a lot of people that if the therapist doesn't have any experience with Transgender patients it is usually pointless because they have no clue what they're doing. Help please!!

It never hurts to ask them if they have experience or know about transgender people.  They don't have to advertise as "gender therapist" to be helpful to you.  You're right, some may be clueless, and some may not be, but you still can't trust someone just because they call themselves a gender therapist.  You just have to ask the right questions and also know what kind of answers and direction you are going in.  Be upfront about your wants and needs .

I'm not in your area, so i can't really help with specifics.  I would just look for social workers, and psychologists.

Well, my therapist is in Denver, so I can't help there. You say you have found some in Colorado Springs; care to share?  I'd love to find one closer to home.

Sorry, I only know ones in the Denver/Boulder area.  Just wanted to wish you luck, though.  If all else fails, a non-gender therapist with trans experience should be fine.

@ Dana_H, these are the only ones I've found in or near Springs:

Kirsten Akse, Psy.D., P.C.
Clinical Psychologist
2411 N. Talon St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone : (719) 471-2120

Jane Rutledge, Ph.D
236 N. Washington
P.O. Box 1902
Monument, CO 80132.
(719) 481-1660

Stinks too because if I was just a little better off financially and automobile wise I could probably make it up just fine to see one of them but if one of my tires blew or something went wrong by chance with the car I'd have pretty much no way to fix it plus I am lacking financially at the moment and barely have enough money to cover the sessions so for the moment I guess I'm screwed. Another issue is I have not heard good things in general about the mental health professionals in my area. Somebody told me that there will never be a good time to transition and I'm now understanding what she meant.

Would it work to bus up?  If not I've heard good things about online therapists.

I was actually going to school in Pueblo last year. I wanted to start therapy as well, but I could only find people in the Springs and Denver. I ended up going with the online therapy route. It worked pretty well for me.

@ Lee, I honestly don't know if that would even be an option. The thing is I will likely need multiple sessions, in fact I think that's a requirement since I want to start HRT so I don't think taking the bus would work. Plus I just don't know with my time constraints and everything. I kind of need something close because of my job and school.

@ Jake P, I've definitely been considering online therapists as well. I've found a few good ones but I'd just like to be certain I've explored all my options before I do something like that. But I have heard good things so we'll see.

Also, if your work or school or parents insurance covers mental health, then by all means I think you should attempt to find someone in your network, or even use your provider to find names and phone numbers.  You can ask these therapists point blank whether they have experience with transgender people, or knowledge about them.  Finding a therapist that works for you is sort of like dating, and is much better if insurance picks up the tab!

The thing that scares me about "online" therapists is that I wonder if local doctors will take their letters seriously, even if they have the right credentials.

It's just been my experience that there were no "gender" therapists nearby me, and the ones at a distance lacked the right qualifications or insurance network, and it seems I'm pretty lucky to have found someone close by me that knows what s/he's talking about and is helpful but doesn't "specialize" in gender stuff.  Like you I'm looking for HRT, so I hope this works for me, but when it comes down to it, I'm going to someone for their knowledge, only their support and advocacy (HRT letter).

There's different ways of doing this, but if I were you, I'd just get in touch with as many licensed social workers and other therapists in your area, and anonymously explain what you are looking for.

@ Embla, well it's looking more and more like that's what I'm gonna have to do. Like you I have reservations about whether an endocrinologist or any other doctor will accept a letter from an online therapist. I'm still on my parents insurance and I know behavioral health is covered under the policy I just know that that limits who I can see if I rely on them to pick up the tab. I've decided I'm just going to ask my family doctor when I see her monday if she can recommend a good psychiatrist or therapist, preferably one who has experience with Transgender issues. My patience ran out trying to find one on my own so it looks like I'm just gonna have to settle for what I can get. Like you said as long as they are helpful and know what they are talking about I don't think there should be any problems. My worst fear is getting a transphobe or homophobe who will discourage or try to block me from doing what I need to do.