Going to a therapist

[Diana L]

I have been really struggling the last couple of months. I thought I had pretty well come to terms with my dressing but since early in December the need to dress has been overwellming to the point that I have done some things unintentionally that have hurt my wife. I agreed that I should get some help. Yesterday I called some therapists and found one that has some experience with gender issues so I scheduled an appointment. After a couple attempts to schedule a time that would work she suggested tomorrow. I had already scheduled myself out of the office so I could dress. I usually go out to lunch, shop and run errands on these days so I asked the therapist if she would mind if I came dressed as Diana. She said she didn't have a problem with it so I am going as Diana.:)

[renee k]

Well good for you Diana, I think you'll find therapy very helpful. Also there's a book out there called True Selves by Mildred L. Brown and Chloe Ann Rounsley. That you may find helpful, my therapist had recommended it to me. I found it on Amazon.com. BTW I too went my appointments as Renee. She had no problem with me coming that way. After all it's who I'm on the inside. Please keep us updated and I wish you all the best.

Huggs, Renee

[Tina B.]

Well she is a gender specialist right, and gender issues are why you are going, so I think it's only right that you go as Diana, after all she's the one that needs the help.
Tina B.

[Alice Torn]

Wow. That takes guts! But, also would be fun. I don't dare go to my therapist dressed, as it is at a small VA clinic, with guy vets all over the place. Although she would not mind, I don't want to make a scene. Good success with your visit!

[Diana L]

Well I had my first appointment with the therapist today. Overall it went extremely well although there was one small surprise in the beginning. I got to the office right on time and walked in there is a high counter for patients t sign in and also a computer for the receptionist that was sort of hidden as I walked in. The therapist was waiting for me at the counter with the customary paperwork to fill out for insurance. I had just taken the clipboard when I heard a voice I recognized from behind the wall. I knew it was a woman I had met as Diana years ago and for some reason we keep bumping in to one another to the point that she also knows my male persona as well. Sure enough, she poked her head around the corner with a big smile and a "Hi Diana". We had a short visit catching up and then I went back to the therapist's office. Since this was our first meeting it was sort of a get to know each other session to see if we felt comfortable with each other. It went extremely well and I came away with a number of things to think about before our next session. The fact that I was presenting as Diana never came up except when I said I was more comfortable as Diana than as my male self. I would encourage anyone who is considering going to a therapist to be completely honest and go as the person you are. When we scheduled my next appointment she made sure that the day was one that I could go as Diana.

Diana

[az_azeel]

Diana i merged your two threads together... as the topic is the same and was only posted about yesterday... good luck though in your ongoing journey

[Pepper2783]

I just started it's hard, I hurt some friend almost hurt my brother. Hurt the person I love the most. It's no fun to feel like a monster. But you are doing the right thing it's not easy being us. Keep the faith gurl !

[LeannL]

Diana,
If I could make one suggestion, if you have the chance or the need due to your schedule, going to the therapist as you male self may be worthwhile once or twice. I usually visited mine en homme but did go several time en femme. The therapist was then able to see the difference in the way I acted and we interacted. My therapist found this useful as did I. It may not be as much fun but fun isn't the reason you are seeing the therapist.

Leann

[susiegrl19]

I have been seeing my therapist once a week for 6 years now for problems other then my dressing as Susie. Last year I came out to her and told her all about my desire to dress. She has been wonderful and very understanding. Since then I go every week dressed. What a releif it has been to have somebody on the outside know the real me.

[LitaKelley]

I wish I could even afford to go to a therapist.. just more obstacles in the way of me becoming more me

[Sharon B.]

Diana; Just read your thread on therapist for the last couple of months I thought about going to see one and I think I will after reading your thread.
I had thought as going as my feminine self and may see if that will be possible. It seems as I get older I find the need to dress more.
I will probably go there as both a woman and a male but would be more comfortable as a woman.
I will go once I leave this temporary employment at the middle of April.

[LeannL]

To all of the posters who are considering seeing a therapist, based upon personal experience and that of others I have known, it is important that you seek one that is familiar with gender issues. I have heard of therapists who have essentially read a textbook just before the patient arrived and then tried to act like they knew what to do. Others have spent months asking questions that a skilled therapists would never ask. Lastly, you don't want to spend time and money with one that thinks they can cure you. I had one that suggested that I try hypnosis to overcome my urge to dress. I suspect that I would be either clinically depressed or worse if I had followed her advise.

What I did to find a therapist was to search the Internet for therapists in my area that were somehow connected to the LGBT community. I included the larger LGBT group since I didn't want to miss someone simply because the link didn't include the T part. What I found was someone who was working with a TS support group in Providence RI even though I live in eastern Connecticut. (In the end, it was surely worth the one hour drive to see her.) I was cautious though. There is a clinic in CT that one could have thought to be a perfect fit. However, it appears to be a group that is wholly (or nearly so) focused on moving patients through to SRS which is not what I needed. So I would strongly suggest that it is more important to find a therapist that works routinely with CDs/TSs than one that is convenient. If you are dealing with multiple issues (who isn't), the gender specialists are capable of handling most other issues along with the gender issues.

Leann