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1st therapy session

Started by Tak, February 22, 2007, 02:15:38 PM

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Tak

She's a very accepting and compassionate therapist for someone who hasn't dealt with anyone directly who has gender issues. Ever since I first contacted her she's been doing a LOT of research, and she says she's willing to do anything she can to help me... including finding someone who could help me get on HRT... she says there's one psychologist in North Carolina that could be of assistance there, but I don't have a way of travelling that far. She said we could probably work something out. Considering there aren't any gender specialists that I can personally find in my area, it's nice that she's doing whatever she can, going outside the area even, to do what she can to help.

She's helping me with my anxiety, which has steadily been getting worse for many years that medication has either worsened or caused some other awful problem.

We talked about what I should do for work (my job wouldn't be a good environment to come out in...) and some other minor stuff.

The biggest part for me was she didn't ever question whether I was a woman or not, even though I couldn't pass in front of a blind deaf person at the moment.  She did ask me some rather odd questions, questions I'm sure were asserting I didn't have any other reasons for wanting to transition.

After I left I got lost on the way home. Hehe. I hate downtown Greenville.
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Steph

It seems as though you have found a good one Tak.  She's willing to go that little bit extra to ensure you are getting the care that you need.  She is also being honest and up front with you.  A good therapist will not question you, but they will help "you" reach a descision, provide insite, etc. but they should never tell that you are or are not anything.

Steph
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Tak

That always worried me. Telling someone everything and have them say "No, no you're not, that's just crazy!"

I have the social skills of a slug. Well, that's probably an insult to a slug's social skills. >->; Telling people anything, whether about myself or not, feels very foreign.
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LostInTime

Your therapist may be able to call the one in NC and have some questions answered.  I know one who started off that way and is quite knowledgeable now.

Good luck.  :)
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Julie Marie

If she hasn't already, have her check out the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care.  This should help her immensely.

That she's so enthusiastic about learning is a good sign.  If she gets the information she needs, like learning the SOC, she may feel confident enough to write your HRT letter.

Good luck!

Julie
When you judge others, you do not define them, you define yourself.
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Kate

Quote from: Steph on February 22, 2007, 06:40:46 PM
A good therapist will not question you, but they will help "you" reach a descision, provide insite, etc. but they should never tell that you are or are not anything.

Except that they're supposed to diagnose you as being a "true transsexual" if you want HRT or SRS ;)

Kate
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Steph

Quote from: Kate on February 23, 2007, 11:37:06 AM
Quote from: Steph on February 22, 2007, 06:40:46 PM
A good therapist will not question you, but they will help "you" reach a decision, provide insight, etc. but they should never tell that you are or are not anything.

Except that they're supposed to diagnose you as being a "true transsexual" if you want HRT or SRS ;)

Kate

Quite true Kate.  Let me expand that a good therapist will lead you to a decision, and based on the road it took to get to that decision will be able to diagnose something.  Maybe GID, maybe something else.

I think that most of us go into therapy thinking or knowing that we're GID, some enter just plain hoping and other enter totally confused as to what the heck is going on.  To me therapy is the road you and the therapist take to reach a decision.

Steph
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Tak

To me therapy is a necessary step. The main thing is I have to keep everything in perspective, not get my hopes up for a sudden miracle, and take everything one small step at a time. I know this and have for a long time, but I don't always feel that way. Sigh.
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Maud

Quote from: Kate on February 23, 2007, 11:37:06 AM
Quote from: Steph on February 22, 2007, 06:40:46 PM
A good therapist will not question you, but they will help "you" reach a descision, provide insite, etc. but they should never tell that you are or are not anything.

Except that they're supposed to diagnose you as being a "true transsexual" if you want HRT or SRS ;)

Kate

Closest thing I ever got to that was "you have quite a clear transexual history both in what you've told me and from what I've read in your medical records" then it was all HRT talk.
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