From my understanding you need to get a letter for HRT.. ( care to explain further?)

I don't understand which ones cover what. (Does it matter what degree they have?)

Anyways so I found this one, can someone confirm from that website if she is legitimate to handle gender therapy?

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=43099&sid=1326041934.9971_5337&county=Los+Angeles&state=CA&zipcode=93536&zipdist=5


P.S!

Thanks for all the help. 

Hi Eva,

Here in Oz, as I suspect is the same in your part of the world, a therapist or psychiatrist option is require to determine whether you have some form of Gender Dysphoria, that requires treatment using HRT. Once this dysphoria is established the letter can be written to the endocrinologist recommending HRT as a form of treatment.

The psych or therapist cover the endo. All 3 of which need to be licensed through the appropriate health system regulatory authorities. For your own sake and well being, it is better to engage a therapist or psych that are familiar with TG issues.

As for Ms. Larsens, I can't really comment on her methodologies, performance or outcomes. Personally I'm a bit suspect of her spiel, it has over tones of Gender issues being a sickness of some description, implying that it can be 'cured.' If that is her modus operandi, personally I'd avoid her like the plague. If not, have a session with her to ascertain how comfortable you are with her and decide. Ensure she doesn't put words into your mouth you are not comfortable with. Make sure she understands and respects your thoughts and feelings.

Hope it works for you. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine 

Besides whatever you're already doing, I'd suggest checking some local support groups and talking directly to those who have taken this path already. They will know local connections for therapy, endocrinologist etc. Best of luck.

Catherine and Kahlan gave good advice. From my experience with therapists (only once for GID related issues but several times for other issues) many aren't worth the air they breath let alone the hundreds or thousands I've spent seeing them. In this day and age you DON"T have to restrict yourself to a therapist in your area. I was doing therapy with one fellow (worth the time and money in that case) who was in CA and I am on the east coast. That was before Skype even, like just talking over the phone. I recently exchanged emails and he now uses Skype about half the time with distant clients. With Skype it's even better than a plain phone conversation. In the year and half I did therapy with him, we never met in person but he was able to help me immensely.

Go in with a ton of questions which you have prioritized. Some of their answers will be deal breakers, some you may just have strong preferences toward one viewpoint or another, and some won't matter that much. Know which is which and be honest with them, brutally so if necessary and feel free to move onto someone else if you find one therapist isn't meeting your needs. I'm not advocating finding someone that just feeds you what you want to hear, but if their treatment paradigm is diametrically opposed to your idea of what you need, it will just make everything you want to accomplish much more difficult.

Just a few things to think about.....

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 08, 2012, 11:34:20 AM
Hi Eva,

Here in Oz, as I suspect is the same in your part of the world, a therapist or psychiatrist option is require to determine whether you have some form of Gender Dysphoria, that requires treatment using HRT. Once this dysphoria is established the letter can be written to the endocrinologist recommending HRT as a form of treatment.

The psych or therapist cover the endo. All 3 of which need to be licensed through the appropriate health system regulatory authorities. For your own sake and well being, it is better to engage a therapist or psych that are familiar with TG issues.

As for Ms. Larsens, I can't really comment on her methodologies, performance or outcomes. Personally I'm a bit suspect of her spiel, it has over tones of Gender issues being a sickness of some description, implying that it can be 'cured.' If that is her modus operandi, personally I'd avoid her like the plague. If not, have a session with her to ascertain how comfortable you are with her and decide. Ensure she doesn't put words into your mouth you are not comfortable with. Make sure she understands and respects your thoughts and feelings.

Hope it works for you. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Thank you for all that information! appreciate it. 

Quote from: Kahlan Amnell on January 08, 2012, 12:20:17 PM
Besides whatever you're already doing, I'd suggest checking some local support groups and talking directly to those who have taken this path already. They will know local connections for therapy, endocrinologist etc. Best of luck.

I live in a smallish town, the LGBT center..well doesn't exist.

Quote from: chrishoney on January 08, 2012, 01:42:23 PM
Catherine and Kahlan gave good advice. From my experience with therapists (only once for GID related issues but several times for other issues) many aren't worth the air they breath let alone the hundreds or thousands I've spent seeing them. In this day and age you DON"T have to restrict yourself to a therapist in your area. I was doing therapy with one fellow (worth the time and money in that case) who was in CA and I am on the east coast. That was before Skype even, like just talking over the phone. I recently exchanged emails and he now uses Skype about half the time with distant clients. With Skype it's even better than a plain phone conversation. In the year and half I did therapy with him, we never met in person but he was able to help me immensely.

Go in with a ton of questions which you have prioritized. Some of their answers will be deal breakers, some you may just have strong preferences toward one viewpoint or another, and some won't matter that much. Know which is which and be honest with them, brutally so if necessary and feel free to move onto someone else if you find one therapist isn't meeting your needs. I'm not advocating finding someone that just feeds you what you want to hear, but if their treatment paradigm is diametrically opposed to your idea of what you need, it will just make everything you want to accomplish much more difficult.

Just a few things to think about.....

With Virtual therapist can they give out HRT/GRS letters? ( Of course following the guidelines and etc)