First appointment

[vetobob9]

I have my first gender therapy appointment this afternoon. I feel unready for it.

[Megan G]

Nothing to worry about, just be open and honest and everything will be good. Be yourself, they are there to help you..

Trish..

[I Am Paula]

My only advice- walk in as tell them this is about gender. Too many people try to skirt the issue talking about other thing, hoping gender might come up. Therapy is too expensive to talk about you dog, when there are bigger issues.
Pardon iphone typing!

[traci_k]

Nothing to worry about. I walked in told her it was about anxiety and depression as work EBP was covering it. Here's the real issue - gender. Went great from there. When I had to stop for awhile changing jobs, left with HRT letter.

Best wishes all will be well.

Hugs,

Traci

[Angela Campbell]

I walked in dressed as me, and said I want to transition, where do we begin?

[vetobob9]

I just got back from the appointment. The psychiatrist was not at familiar with the process. Apparently the VA does not use the term gender dysphoria and instead uses the term gender identity disorder.

She asked me some questions and referred me to an endocrinologist. She said I had gender identity disorder and anxiety disorder. I am being referred for the GID. She said I would get a call from endocrinology in a couple of days to set up an appointment in Long Beach.

She was not sure about what she was supposed to do because she had never dealt with transgender issues before. I guess she learned some new things today.

Angela, that is what I said when she asked me why I was there. LOL

[Angela Campbell]

GID is the term used previously and has been replaced with gender dysphoria in the latest DSM 5 (published in 2013). They are using old info. I would ask them about that.

[vetobob9]

That is why she had difficulty with the system when she was trying to find the right channels to refer me to. She kept typing in gender dysphoria but nothing came back. She even tried the sex clinic or what ever it is called.
Then she tried GID and she got some results.

But the VA has not updated their info to match the new DSM V. When I was in her office I saw she had a copy of DSM-IV. She had heard of some of the changes to DSM-V but did not have a copy with her.

[Daphne Renee]

I was very nervous the first time I went. I have only been there a few times. Life events have gotten in the way and had to miss a couple of times. I kind of look forward to it now. I am sure you will after a few times as well.

[Janelle_C]

I'm sorry your therapist is not experienced I transgender issues. If at all possible it so important to talk to someone that knows these issues. I hope you can find someone.