A long past due encounter with my first therapy session!

[Danika140]

I had my very first therapy session this last Wednesday here in Tampa. I felt very good and relaxed during the session as I knew she was a professional so I told her everything I could. I communicated my thoughts and feelings of being "different" throughout my life to include my assessments of why I was acting this way and the reasons for it. She was very impressed at my intuitiveness and very excited in helping me progress. However, I got the impression that she has very limited experience working with transgendered people as I did most of the educating in terms of resources to include this wonderful forum.

Aside from my initial thoughts of her experience, I feel very good about working with her! I haven't felt this sense of serenity and at ease since I was in Iraq doing what I do best.

I'm at the point that I am so open about who I am that I will answer any questions regarding my therapy session. I owe a lot of my willingness to accept therapy so soon from this site and the wonderful people here! I feel like I belong here and that I am not different at all when I am chatting with the amazing people who frequent these forums!

v/r

Danika

[Rianna Humble]

Hi Danika, that's great news about how well your therapy went! :hugs: It seems that she is eager to help you and that you feel at ease with her, so that should help matters a lot.

I know that the emphasis on this board is often to get an experienced gender therapist, but how is anyone new to get the experience if we won't use them?

[Shapeshiffter]

My therapist had no experience. I was her first. we both learned together.

[Jorja]

Hi Danika,
I am glad to hear you have found a therapist you are comfortable with. It would appear she is easy for you to talk to. If you are not sure of your therapist's experience in the transgender related area, simply ask her. If you are not moving forward or your questions and concerns are not being dealt with after a few sessions, then move on and find a therapist with more experience in this area.

[DanaR]

I have a friend that told me once, that it cost her a lot of money to educate her therapist.

[Danika140]

My therapist seems eager to learn and I'll learn and grow with her as long as she can help me progress in my transition. It's often said that the first step is usually the hardest so I am confident that asking for help was for the best.

I really like Dr. Carl Bushong (different therapist). He has a lot of experience in working with TG people and really asks you the hard questions to get you thinking about what makes you you and how you feel about it. He asked me what I wanted to get out of the sessions and gave me information to support or refute my research as well as statistics. He is an international resource meaning that you go to his website, book a session and he will call you. I was in Germany when I talked with him.

[Nicola2876]

Hi Danika

I too had therapy with someone with limited experience in dealing with TG people. She was very helpful and I got a lot out of the sessions but then I felt I was beginningto go over the same ground. I'm now waiting for specialist treatment from someone who deals with TG people all the time.

good luck. I hope you get the support you need xxx

[Kelsy]

Danika,

Therapy is a good thing and certainly helped me to reorder my thinking and presented me with
answers and direction. My therapist has seen a number of girls through transition and is
very knowlegable, challenging but compassionate. I look forward to my sessions and the refuge
I find there! Good for you!

Kelsy

[elizabethamy]

Therapists come in all types, but I'm happiest (as is the case now) with one who doesn't have an agenda and who helps me explore the unknown. I suppose if I absolutely knew what the TG issues were all about with me, and knew where I wanted to end up, I'd prefer someone with tons of experience assisting folks to transition. But for exploration, nothing beats an open minded therapist who can connect with the client, even if she is a little light on TG experience. Congratulations on your good start to therapy!

[Julia_in_Pa]

Danika,


Do you know why you feel like you belong here? It's because you do belong here.

There's something quite liberating about letting it all out to someone who is there specifically for you.

Excellent to hear.


Julia