Made an appointment!

[Brooke B]

Good evening all,
I've been so confused lately with cross dressing, career and family life, and just have been under a lot of stress. While cross dressing has normally been a way to relieve stress, it also has created a lot lately also. Not sure where this is all going in my life, it has grown more visible in my way of life. Scared where it might lead I've decided to book an appointment with a gender therapist to get a professional take on my personal life. While I pondered for quite some time I just did it and am slightly excited to be moving forward to see what feels right for me, I'm also scared as hell. It's not for a little while yet, but please wish me luck.

[Tracii G]

Good luck I hope therapy is just what you need to get a hold of all your feelings.

[mechamoose]

A gender therapist is a great step, if for nothing more than to help you understand yourself.

Ideally, it could give you a light to guide your path.

'To thine own self be true'

<3

- MM

[Connie.Marie]

Good Luck Tammys31,
Hope you find your path..

Hugs, Connie

[KristinaK]

Good for you! I started seeing a therapist when I first started crossdressing and continue to see one. It helped me quite a bit and still does to this day.

[Becky Blue]

Good luck Tammy... a good therapist can really help you sort yourself out..

[Aunt Kelly]

I'll wager that you will look back on your decision to seek counseling as one of the best you've ever made. Not that it's going to provide instant resolution, but it may well be the only path to any resolution for you. Good luck.

Hugs,


Kelly

[Elizabeth G]

Hi Tammy,

I started seeing a gender therapist after my wife learned of my crossdressing and after my first two sessions alone my wife joined me (as a matter of fact we have another appointment this afternoon). In my case I consider it to have been one of the best decisions I have made in a long time and my wife is off a similar mindset. We have benefited greatly from the experience and while you're mileage may vary I truly believe it is a step worth pursuing.

I wish you the best of luck.

Elizabeth

[BrendaPDX]

Good luck Tammmy, We are hear for you, I hope all goes well and you can find some relief to your stress. Take care, Brenda

[Sarasometimes]

I also understand your fear of what might develop, but that is in essence why we go. We go to help understand our needs and also how to manage them within our personal situation.
I go to a therapist for gender and other things and once I found skilled well-trained therapists I have never doubted the benefits of going.
My point is, just as your therapist will learn about you and question you, you can also interview the therapist of their experience and training in gender therapy. I think 2 excellent questions are, do you have clients who come to therapy dressed? and, Can I come to therapy dressed either fully enfemme or a blend. I feel these quickly give you a feel for their experience level and also their comfort level.
I went to about 8 "gender"therapist before I found my first GENDER therapist. The first 8, I trained in gender while paying them, not good. They need to be capable and a good fit. You need to be able to trust and feel comfortable with them, otherwise I suggest you switch therapists.

Good gender therapy is worth the cost and effort if you have questions about those aspects of your personality. Good Luck and keep us posted, please.

[karenph]

Tammy, Hope you get answers you are looking for out of the therapy!

[Brooke B]

Thank you all for support. That's the great thing about this place. 10 years ago I would dress and feel so ashamed. Then I found this site, and what an eye opener. I've grown so much in feminine personality after joining, hence the situation I'm at now. If you would have asked me back then if I could see myself now I would have never imagined. You all are so wonderful!

[mechamoose]

280708

Her Nibs told you to...

[Judy-Somthing]

I feel the only reason we feel ashamed is because so many think it's weird!
When I dressed as in my teens I dressed with friends, some times three of us guys would dress and girls thought it was fun doing our makeup.
As we became young adults it seemed like everyone went into the closet. I never asked my friends if they still dress.
And over the years when my friends would ask if I still dress, I would say I grew out of it, due to being afraid of what they would think!

[rocval2001]

Good luck we are with you.

Valerie

[xNicolex]

Good luck Tammy. Therapy really helped me you'll be fine :)

[Steph65]

Good Luck Tammy Best wishes and hope you seek what your looking for.

[Shely]

Good Luck Tammys3, what more can i add. This sounds so familiar to me, i also wonder just how far I can go with this. I find myself thinking about women's things be it jewelry, clothing, stockings, shoes etc all most all of the time. It is all about dressing with me, I am positive i don't want to change my gender, but why do i think about these issues so much. They call it a pink fog and i guess that's as good an explanation as any. But i can't see me doing this when i am 80, and that's only 12 years away. BUT i just LOVE dressing UP!!! :straightface:

[Angie G]

good luck Tammy hope it comes out good with it hun.:hugs:
Angie

[Sometimes Steffi]

The best thing I got out of therapy was to accept myself as I am. See my signature.

I even got a little help with the wife understanding, more tolerating than accepting, but as good as it will ever be for me.

And I've learned to accept that also.

[Brooke B]

Thank you girls so much for all the support! Its coming up next week and I'll keep you posted for sure.

[Sarasometimes]

Tammy, The toughest part may be walking in the door the first time but it is so worth it. Are you going to a female or male therapist? Just curious? If you wish to PM about anything that is fine too.

[rian]

Good evening all,
I've been so confused lately with cross dressing, career and family life, and just have been under a lot of stress. While cross dressing has normally been a way to relieve stress, it also has created a lot lately also. Not sure where this is all going in my life, it has grown more visible in my way of life. Scared where it might lead I've decided to book an appointment with a gender therapist to get a professional take on my personal life. While I pondered for quite some time I just did it and am slightly excited to be moving forward to see what feels right for me, I'm also scared as hell. It's not for a little while yet, but please wish me luck.
We feel all the same as you ....and we are trying to keep things at hand ...but this part of crossdressing and we love it ....

[Brooke B]

Tammy, The toughest part may be walking in the door the first time but it is so worth it. Are you going to a female or male therapist? Just curious? If you wish to PM about anything that is fine too.

I'm going to a female therapist. For those who have gone to one what was your choice?

[Jaymees22]

Hi Tammy, I went to a women therapist, too. I also went to a group run by a woman gender therapist. I thought both were helpful. Good luck I'm sure you'll be fine. Hugs Jaymee

[Sarasometimes]

I have only gone to female therapists with one exception. I went to a male when mine was out sick and it wasn't worth trying a second time. I just feel so much more comfortable talking about my dressing and the host of other matters we discuss. The more comfortable you are the more you are likely to get more out of your sessions. If we can't be honest and forthcoming we won't get the answers we are looking for. If at first you feel a bit uneasy that is normal, but remember you should not feel judged by your therapist. Also remember that they are required to keep whatever you tell them in strict confidence.
I'm confident you will really benefit from taking this step.

[Brooke B]

So I made it to my appointment this week. It felt so good being able to talk to someone and getting thing off my chest. It felt comforting and although didn't get to much insight, we talked about a lot of things so she has a baseline. She hit a few spots that really hit home. We'll see where this all goes i guess as we go on.

[Sarasometimes]

Glad to hear your first session went well. Sounds like you are off on the right foot. A possible question you could ask her is if she gives homework. Mine does on occasion depending on what we are discussing and I find that doing it does help.
Keep us posted, please.

[Brooke B]

I wanted to check in and say hi to all my girlfriends here. Update on what's been happening. I've been to several appointments now and I have to say its nice. Comfortable and relaxing. My need to not hide anymore is being more prominent. It hurts to see my marriage struggle though. Cross dressing aside our marriage has been very rocky. I'm not sure if she knows what she wants. She hasn't known about it for a few years now but we live in a DADT situation. Now that I've been going to therapy the conversation has been brought up and its getting ever so clear that my cd'ing is never going to be accepted. I've been on course to accept that if that ever becomes the final tale. My children is what fears me the most as they mean the world to me. No one has ever known about this side of me before but I am on the verge of informing my mother about me. The true me! When that day comes I pray to God that she is understanding. My decision to let her know comes in light that if a divorce is unavoidable she is going to know one way or another. Hope all is well with everyone here and I'll keep checking in. Good night girls!

[Tracii G]

I wish all the best for you I really do I can't imagine being in your shoes.

[Trione]

Bless you for being able to stick with what you are feeling. My prayers are with yo.

[Becky Blue]

Best of luck on your journey, at least you sound a lot less stressed than you were in your OP.. so hopefully its working