visit to pshychiatrist & gender clinic

[Crissy]

:mad:

Hi i have just told my gp that i suffer from gender dysphoria , he is going to refer me to a psychiatrist for an interview.

im really nervous and scared of what they will ask, and do , does any one else have experience of this.

i have been cross dressing for over 12 years and im not sure where i want to go. i dont want to hurt my family , but i know Crissy is the real me under neith.

After the interview he told me there may be a clinic in Charring cross. Does any one have experience of this and what they do?

finally if you dont go down the transgender route , do the clinic offer any other support through this time.

I really need some other girly help on this one as i want to be prepared for what they say and do.

Thanks

Crissy

[Faye Emmette]

I'm sure they're not going to lock you up or give you some electroshock therapy so relax and follow the course.
I do think though, that a psychologist would be a more appropriate ( and less expensive).
Please be calm and assured that anything you tell them remains in their four walls so don't worry about what questions they ask. That way you can answer all questions and they can resolve whatever problem you have with your gender dysphoria. Or do you want to post them here and maybe we can save you a lot of time money and anxiety. :cool:
Take heart sweety.
F.

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

If possible, try to insist on a therapist who's familar in transgender issues. Here's one list (http://www.drbecky.com/therapists01.html). Drs. Richard Green and Don Montgomery are listed at the Gender Identity Clinic at Charing Cross, so you should see if they're still there.

Most therapists aren't familar with TG issues and there's a risk they'll only know about outdated theories, or you'll end up having to educate them.

Faye said, whatever you say to them will remain confidential and they're trained to be non-judgemental. One of the things you'll probably work on is helping you determine whether you're truly transexual, and if you are, whether transitioning is something you want to do and whether it's a suitable solution.

(I realize you feel Crissy is the real you, but since SRS is obviously a life-changing event there's what are called the Benjamin Standards (http://www.tc.umn.edu/~colem001/hbigda/hstndrd.htm) used to try to ensure that people who will end up regretting SRS don't undergo it. Typically this requires living full-time for as a woman for a year, before being considerable a suitable candidate for SRS.)

If you go down the TS path, the therapist should help you cope with the inevitable issues that will arise.

We obviously are willing to help you, but we're not trained experts -- especially when it comes to other issues (such as depression, etc.) that may also be a factor in how you're feeling. So a professional will be able to help you more effectively.

Good luck!

[BeckyCath]

Hi Crissy

Good luck with CHX (Charing Cross Hospital GIC), i think you will need it!

From your GP, you'll be referedto your local NHS psychiatrists, A local psychiatrist in your area will "asses" you to diagnose "Gender Identity Dysphoria", this assesment usually takes about 3 hrs spread over 2 sessions, I'd suggest you attend these sessions dressed as a woman!
They will mainly be assesing to see your mental state and to see if any feelings of GID are a sympton of any other serious mental health disorders that would need treating before embarking on treatment for Gender Identity Dysphoria.

Yes Darla raised the point that if they're not specialists in GID they won't know what they're talking about, but that's not the case, the psychiatrists aren't specialists in gender issues, but most psychiatrists who do the assesments are consultant psychiatrists, so they do know a thing or 2!

If they diagnose you GID, they will refer you to a GIC, most likely CHX, and CHX currently have a waiting list of about 12 months before 1st appt.

Prof Green is due for retirement. He will ask you all sorts of rude questions, like "When was the last time you masturbated?" and "Does dressing as a woman sexually excite you?" he has all sorts of out dated theories, and of course, you will be expected to divorce your partner (if your married) and go full time and be living as a woman for atleast 3 months before they will prescribe you hormones. Be prepared also to have CHX dictate to you how to dress, they seem to veiw trousers as "reversion to male role, showing ambivalence to gender reassignment" and as a result they will remove you from their "programme"

Personally, I managed to avoid the CHX process, and faught my PCT to be refered to Leicester GIC, and i see them in January...

So, Crissy, if it'swhat you want, then good luck, but be prepared for lots of frustration, lots of endless waiting and if you go to CHX, lots of rude questions

Feel free to PM and ask more questions, but at the end of the day, only you know how you feel, and if you can't be honest in a situation like this where can you be honest? You need to answer every question honestly, and not tell the psychiatrists what you think they want to hear, they are wise to the internet and "coaching"...

Rebecca

[BeckyCath]

I'm sure they're not going to lock you up or give you some electroshock therapy so relax and follow the course.
I do think though, that a psychologist would be a more appropriate ( and less expensive).
Please be calm and assured that anything you tell them remains in their four walls so don't worry about what questions they ask. That way you can answer all questions and they can resolve whatever problem you have with your gender dysphoria. Or do you want to post them here and maybe we can save you a lot of time money and anxiety. :cool:
Take heart sweety.
F.

Hi Faye

In the UK, it's only psychiatrists who can refer onto an NHS gender clinic...

There are private practioners, such as Deenesh Khosal in Leicester... and there's someone in London... It's about £180 for the 1st appt, and £90 a half hr appt after that, and strict adherence to the HBSOC...

Rebecca

[Faye Emmette]

Chrissy, what I wish for you is to do what you feel is right at the moment and worry about it tomorrow. Keep as calm as possible and look more around to see 'you are not alone'.
The advice here has come from experience and knowledge of what you may be feeling, incl Family matters and I hope we can allay your fears.

And thanks Becky for the info on the NHS. Things are a bit different here.