hidden therapy?

[Simply Joslyn]

I want to go see a local gender therapist so I can begin to find out what I should be doing here, but for about the next year I'm stuck at home with my parents paying school bills, I have no insurance of my own so I would have to use theres, problem there they don't know and they've shown me a lifetime of reasons for them not to, I just want to know what does the therapist show up as and what could I expect from that. I could wait a year but I feel like I'm losing more time everyday wasting it like this. Thanks for any help in advance

[MC-lite]

It depends on how your insurance works. It might just show up as psychotherapy, in which case, if your parents know that you're seeing a therapist they might not even give it a second thought. Ask your therapist about it.

Best,
:Miki

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Generalized anxiety disorder was my "official" diagnosis..

end of story as far as that goes...if your parents want to be involved in the therapy itself, that will not work... one idea is to just say you are depressed, tired and anxious (true??)..and feel like you need help..and you found a good therapist..

[Bree-asaurus]

Find a good therapist that specializes in GID.

They will know what to write to kind of hide the fact that you are there talking about GID.

I think my therapist also put something like Generalized Anxiety Disorder or something about Depression linked to unchangeable circumstances... blah blah.

Tell your therapist you need to keep the GID a secret for now and they'll know what to do.

If your parents ask YOU, tell them you are dealing with some issues regarding your place in life and you'll talk to them when you're ready.

[sandra-leigh]

One of the other members went through a similar situation recently; it might be useful to read her thread (http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?171781-Can-a-therapist-do-gender-orientation-AND-general-stuff&p=2805160&viewfull=1#post2805160).

[ameliabee]

My therapist billed under 'Depressive Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified'.

Also, yeah, make sure you find someone who's a specialist in gender issues. My HRT prescription was delayed by about five months because I made this mistake. DIYing did more for me than talking to the first therapist I tried.

[suzy1]

Or you could save yourself some money and sort your life out yourself. Some people do you know.

I have found that in America therapists seem to be the normal way to go for many. Its as if its taken for granted that an individual can’t seem to stand on there own two feet and need help from a stranger with some letters after there name.

Its not the same in the U.K. but we seem to get along O.K.
Yes I know some do not agree with me.

SUZY

[Bree-asaurus]

Or you could save yourself some money and sort your life out yourself. Some people do you know.

I have found that in America therapists seem to be the normal way to go for many. Its as if its taken for granted that an individual can’t seem to stand on there own two feet and need help from a stranger with some letters after there name.

Its not the same in the U.K. but we seem to get along O.K.
Yes I know some do not agree with me.

SUZY

It's not that people can't figure things out for themselves... but with support, you can figure it out for yourself, FASTER.

Why take the longer, more difficult road with more risks when there's an alternative?

Why walk 10 miles to work when you can drive a car or take a bus?

[Julia_in_Pa]

Everyone here has offered excellent advice for you Joslyn.
My therapist billed me under General Anxiety Disorder and all was well.
I'm also going to agree with what you said about waiting and wasting more time.
Do not wait, begin now and move forward with your life whatever that may be.


Julia

[Aprilrain]

Or you could save yourself some money and sort your life out yourself. Some people do you know.

I have found that in America therapists seem to be the normal way to go for many. Its as if its taken for granted that an individual can’t seem to stand on there own two feet and need help from a stranger with some letters after there name.

Its not the same in the U.K. but we seem to get along O.K.
Yes I know some do not agree with me.

SUZY

Your quite WRONG about how it works for TSes in the UK but then again your not TS so I'm not surprised that you don't know what you are talking about. From what I can gather IN THE UK one must go to ones GP who will then refer one to a Psychiatrist who then refers you to a gender clinic like Charing cross.

It works a little differently here in the US, generally speaking one seeks a therapist who can write letters for hormones and surgery. Like it or not GID is a medical condition and if one wants a medical solution to their problem there are procedures to be followed. even the most well adjusted and self accepting person in the world will be required to follow the WPATH guidelines if for no other reason than because Drs want to cover their own ass!

[suzy1]

It's not that people can't figure things out for themselves... but with support, you can figure it out for yourself, FASTER.

Why take the longer, more difficult road with more risks when there's an alternative?

Why walk 10 miles to work when you can drive a car or take a bus?

I think you make a good point Bree.
I had not thought of that. It makes sense. Thank you.

Just one thing though, I always think if you sort your problems out yourself you become a stronger person for doing so. I feel I have.

[whowhatwhen]

You don't need to tell them anything specific, just say that you have some general issues you need to work through.
I wouldn't wait too long though, talking to someone, at least for me has made me feel so much better and less stressed out.

Good luck!
:)

[Bree-asaurus]

I think you make a good point Bree.
I had not thought of that. It makes sense. Thank you.

Just one thing though, I always think if you sort your problems out yourself you become a stronger person for doing so. I feel I have.

That is true, to an extent. A lot of us deal with problems that could lead to suicide or other forms of self harm. If someone struggles to make it on their own, it may not end as pretty as you'd like it to. And regardless, we are all struggling to figure things out on our own. Support from family, friends and therapists help us push ourselves, but in the end, it's still US doing all the hard work. And I think you'll find that transsexuals who do manage to get through their issues, in any way possible, end up being extremely strong people. I think you really have to be in our shoes to realize what we go through and why we do the things we do.

It always looks easier from the outside.

[Stephenie S]

Dear Joslyn,

This is a non-issue. Any therapist will know how to bill your parent's insurance company. Your therapist would not be paid by many, or most, insurance companies if he/she billed for treating Gender Identity Disorder. Most insurance companies still do not cover GID. Your therapist knows this. He/she wants to get paid. They know how to bill for "Generalized Personality Disorder", or what ever. Don't worry about this at all. Find a good therapist and trust him or her.

Stephie