I returned to Australia last year having started hormone therapy in the US   This stopped when I underwent FFS  and now need to find a good therapist in Sydney.  Having cross dressed for years I first thought that I was a tv but now believe that I am tg, I just dont know which part of the spectrum really fits   My sense is that I could be androgyne but probably will want/need to fully transition  Am married with 2 children  (both finished high school) My wife is aware of my situation and my need and decision to finally progress/address my gender identity after many stops and starts, purging etc   Have been looking for a therapist in Sydney that is respected, experienced with folk like me and well connected with endocrinologists etc   The Gender Center referred me to GPs/Psychiatrists but my sense is that I need several sessions with a good therapist before speaking with a supportive GP and endocrinologist   Recommendations most welcome

Most of the good therapists here in Australia are either psychiatrists or psycho-therapists.. If you've had psychiatrists suggested, go see one of those..

Just for interests sake, here in Adelaide they are all either psychiatrists or psycho-therapists. Mine is a psycho-therapist and he's been great..

Good advice.  A close friend (who is a psychotherapist) thought I should spend time with a psychotherapist before seeing a psychiatrist in order to do the 'necessary work' so have been searching the yellow pages and relevant web sites  However really would like a recommendation from soemone with direct experience or local knowledge so I dont end up interviewing multiple therapists - it gets pretty expensive 

Hi Helen,

Welcome to Susan's. The best TG family on the web, bar none. You are certainly among friends here, and I hope you enjoy your stay.

The Gender Centre have a very good resident therapist that may be able to satisfy your initial requirement, before proceeding on to GP/Psychotherapist/Psychiatrist. I current visit him and will use him as my second medical referee.

Dr. Jon Hayes is a very respected Endo in Sydney for the TG community. He practices at St. Leonard's, Bondi Junction and Mona Vale. Very easy and accommodating man. As for Psychiatrist, I'm not fully conversant with ones in Sydney, as I use the Head Psychiatrist, NSW Health Commission Northern Region, for several reasons. Regrettably he may be a bit far for you, as he practices at Warners Bay, which may not be convenient for you.

If you would like further details or information, I have PM'd you with my contact details. Until you have 15 posts, you will not be able to PM me back.

Looking forward to hearing more of you in the coming months. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Hi Catherine

Really appreciate your advice   Will follow up my email  Cant tell you how much I appreciate your help and guidance

Already feel welcome

Thank you very much   It means a lot to me

Helen

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 21, 2012, 07:54:48 AM
The Gender Centre have a very good resident therapist that may be able to satisfy your initial requirement, before proceeding on to GP/Psychotherapist/Psychiatrist. I current visit him and will use him as my second medical referee.

I can second that recommendation. He's a very easy going fellow, and has a conversational feel to his work. I've found him more 'helpful' than the psychiatrist (which you will need to go see Endo)

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 21, 2012, 07:54:48 AM
Dr. Jon Hayes is a very respected Endo in Sydney for the TG community. He practices at St. Leonard's, Bondi Junction and Mona Vale. Very easy and accommodating man.

Again- great bloke. Really easy going, and  for a doctor actually seems concerned in your progress. He's been involved in the TG community for a LONG time I believe.

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 21, 2012, 07:54:48 AM
As for Psychiatrist, I'm not fully conversant with ones in Sydney......

I actually found Patrick Toohey to be accommodating, yet professional. As a psychiatrist, the sessions have more of a being examined type feel, and he definitely controls the sessions- although you do all the talking.

Peter Maundrell is a fantastic GP for referrals. He's well versed in TG issues, and I believe al these doctors actually know each other, which is good.

Being new to Australia you might not  realise that the GP- bulk bills( free), and the others can be claimed back on medicare. Over 90% of the cost refunded, which should definitely help.

Sincerely hope that helps

Jenny

OXOXOXOX


PS ... 100 posts!!!    Woo Hoo !!   

I initially saw the counsellor at the gender centre (it was gaye stubbs at the time) but after a few weeks moved to Catherine Wilson at uplift psychological services.  Catherine is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, but she is definitely well versed in trans* related stuff.  If you're willing to travel a bit further there is also a free counsellor in Canberra.

If you're going to go down the whole seeing a therapist first thing you should get a referral from a GP to see a psychologist/psychatrist.  My GP had me fill out a bunch of forms that gave me a 10 session medicare rebate thingy, this allowed me to basically have my sessions for free.  I think it's for depression, but just fudge a few of the questions and you shouldn't have any problems.

If you find yourself being frustrated by psychs and endo's and just want to start hormones you can also bypass the whole thing and go directly to a GP who will write a script.  There are a few in Canberra that I know of, not sure about sydney though.

Quote from: atheuona on January 29, 2012, 07:48:11 PM
I initially saw the counsellor at the gender centre (it was gaye stubbs at the time) but after a few weeks moved to Catherine Wilson at uplift psychological services.  Catherine is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, but she is definitely well versed in trans* related stuff.  If you're willing to travel a bit further there is also a free counsellor in Canberra.

If you're going to go down the whole seeing a therapist first thing you should get a referral from a GP to see a psychologist/psychatrist.  My GP had me fill out a bunch of forms that gave me a 10 session medicare rebate thingy, this allowed me to basically have my sessions for free.  I think it's for depression, but just fudge a few of the questions and you shouldn't have any problems.

If you find yourself being frustrated by psychs and endo's and just want to start hormones you can also bypass the whole thing and go directly to a GP who will write a script.  There are a few in Canberra that I know of, not sure about sydney though.

Mental Health care plans cover free psychologist visits but I'm not sure that applies to psychiatrists, psychiatrists are doctors and can bill you directly how they wish.

Quote from: Asfsd4214 on January 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
Mental Health care plans cover free psychologist visits but I'm not sure that applies to psychiatrists, psychiatrists are doctors and can bill you directly how they wish.

It definitely applies to psychiatrists, you may not get completely free sessions but there is a rebate.

Quote from: atheuona on January 31, 2012, 03:12:37 AM
It definitely applies to psychiatrists, you may not get completely free sessions but there is a rebate.

Yes but you get a rebate regardless, I don't think you need a health care plan for it. Whereas you do to get subsidized psychologist visits.

Quote from: Asfsd4214 on February 01, 2012, 08:26:34 AM
Yes but you get a rebate regardless, I don't think you need a health care plan for it. Whereas you do to get subsidized psychologist visits.

You can get the normal medicare rebate plus a further subsidy based on some arcane system I don't understand.  Esentially my GP made me answer a bunch of questions (mainly relating to depression) if I met some certain score on the test it meant I was eligible for 10 sessions with a psychatrist at a reduced cost.  I was then able to claim it on medicare and get a further reduction.

Really good advice so have met with Dr Jon Hayes - he heard my history and immediately started me on hrt  (his suggestion - no prompting needed)  Have found another therapist, Tracie O'Keefe, quite good, if a little blunt and confronting   Also sought and took Jon Hayes advice and did met with Dr Toohey - he is old school and nothing like my Chicago therapist Laura Grimes; he will be expensive and as predicted is taking a traditional approach (childhood forward) .. will see where it goes but will not let it go too far if it looks unproductive   Fingers crossed but I am moving forward   Many, many thanks for your advice and support

Hi Helen,

Really pleased everything is moving forward for you. Jon is an awesome professional. It's good you are showing tempered skepticism towards Dr. Toohey, that 'old school' approach doesn't work as well as it used to. Hence they tend to get a bit 'lost', and so do you.

If it doesn't work out, maybe the short trip up the expressway to Warners Bay won't go astray. At least you'll get your LETTER that way.

Keep in touch and let us know how you are coping. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Catherine many thanks for your support and sound advice

Quote from: helen2010 on February 09, 2012, 02:07:46 AM
Really good advice so have met with Dr Jon Hayes - he heard my history and immediately started me on hrt  (his suggestion - no prompting needed)  Have found another therapist, Tracie O'Keefe, quite good, if a little blunt and confronting   Also sought and took Jon Hayes advice and did met with Dr Toohey - he is old school and nothing like my Chicago therapist Laura Grimes; he will be expensive and as predicted is taking a traditional approach (childhood forward) .. will see where it goes but will not let it go too far if it looks unproductive   Fingers crossed but I am moving forward   Many, many thanks for your advice and support

Apologies for reviving a year old thread but it seems appropriate to do so to keep the information in one place.

I too have recently arrived in Sydney and am also looking for a gender specialist. I emailed the gender centre and the only specialist they identified was Patrick Toohey as a Psych who deals with the trans community. Hence I was very interested and pleased to find the views posted in this forum.

I had also discovered Tracie Okeefe's multitude of web sites prior to finding this forum, but when I did some checking into her I found a rather long Sydney Morning Herald article which raised some concern about her qualifications. the article also made me aware of the lack of regulation regarding qualifications necessary to declare yourself a psychotherapist.

After reading this thread I intend to speak to my GP about a mental health care plan as that seems like a sensible way to facilitate some sessions with a qualified specialist.

I do have one question though, is it a requirement to have a Gender identity disorder diagnosis  and referral from an psychiatrist  before being able to see an Endo?

I contacted Helen to see how she was doing and we've exchanged a few messages.

One of the most pertinent things she had to say which wasn't obvious to me from her posts here is that Dr Toohey did promptly endorse her use of HRT. That outcome was a surprise to me considering some of the comments made about Dr Toohey. Hence I thought it important to make a note of it here to keep the information balanced and current. 

I'd like to update this thread to share my particular experience. The gender centre recommended Dr Patrick Toohey to me and so I went to see him for an evaluation. I found him to be a very pleasant man, easy to talk to, professional and I thought his line of questioning to be quite appropriate to ascertain where I am in life and what my gender condition is. Dr Toohey rapidly evaluated my gender status so there was never any hint of being milked by attending unnecessary sessions. Following my experience with Dr Toohey, I'd not hesitate to recommend him or see him again should I feel the need for therapy in the future.

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 21, 2012, 07:54:48 AM

Dr. Jon Hayes is a very respected Endo in Sydney for the TG community. He practices at St. Leonard's, Bondi Junction and Mona Vale. Very easy and accommodating man. As for Psychiatrist, I'm not fully conversant with ones in Sydney, as I use the Head Psychiatrist, NSW Health Commission Northern Region, for several reasons. Regrettably he may be a bit far for you, as he practices at Warners Bay, which may not be convenient for you.

Hi Catherine
My partner has just started transition and saw Dr Jon Hayes. He placed my partner on HRT. (MTF).

I am wondering if you can pm me and give me details also of the Warners Bay Psychiatrists details please as this is local to us. We are after more Psychiatrists with Trans experience/ trans friendly as found it very hard in the Newcastle region to find. The one that she already has seen a few times we are not sure we are a 100% satisfied with. Problem is also the GP that she has seen all her life is not very Trans friendly and has little experience and found it hard also to research and recommend local psychiatrists.

It is so new to us both so not sure where we should be going with it all. We are in our 30s.

Thank you 

Hi Ami,

And a big Aussie welcome to Susan's. I've PM'd a reply but not sure whether you can read it. You need 10 or 15 posts before that feature becomes available to you. Nevertheless I've also emailed it to you.

Hope you find the friendship here, warm, and your stay, long.

Huggs
Catherine

Hi everyone,

Just got my referral from my GP. She recommended Dr Toohey because he was the only one she knew of, but she said that she will fax through a referral to whoever I choose. I haven't heard great things about Dr Toohey so I'm a little hesitant to spend $200+ for an appointment with him. I'm a 22 year old FTM and apparently he doesn't really work well with young trans people.

An acquaintance of mine said that he went to Catherine Wilson at Uplift Redfern and she was very good but she has a long waiting list, which is fine if she's worth it.
Just wanted to know if anyone else has been to her, what their experience was like or if anyone has any other recommendations of Psychs in Sydney.

Cheers,

Beau