Referred counselor to this site!

[Lana Mae]

I of course speak about this amazing forum with my counselor! She asked what the site was called as she has another client who has just started her journey and the counselor thinks our forum is a wonderful place for learning and growing! Always good to help someone else! Hugs Lana Mae

[Sidney]

I have also talked to my counselor about this site. Gave her link and she says she is going to be visiting soon.

[Stephanie Julianna]

When I read your thread I was not sure if I wanted to comment. I wasn't even sure if you were breaking a confidence that this site provides for us. Then the more I thought about it the more I believe that for a professional, like your counselor, this site can be a real education for her and others. The site has attracted some of the most thoughtful and intelligent members of the many that are out their trying to serve our community. It would even be interesting if she posted questions in a thread here. I for one would give her honest answers if I believe it can help others struggling with their gender issues. However, I should not be the only one here that feels that way. So how do others here feel about this?

[Lana Mae]

Yendis-It gives the counselor another tool to work with! The info here(and the counselor thinks I am probably right) likely goes beyond any the professional and scientific community knows!
Stephanie-I gave it to her to give to another girl who is just starting her journey, to help the girl learn and grow! I am relatively sure the counselor will look at the site but not sure how involved she will become! Hopefully it will help the other girl(client)!
Thanks for your responses!
Hugs Lana Mae

[CarlaWestin]

Hmm? This site is for support for loved ones. I'm not exactly comfortable with some kind of for hire professional studying our behaviour or scrutinizing our lives.
Your heart is in the right place and recommending this site to sisters and loved ones for support is a nice gesture. But, a therapist studying us is unwanted and discouraged.

[Pat]

This particular forum (Crossdressers) on this site (Crossdressers.com) is public and anyone can read it. Some forums on this site are for registered members only, so a person has to agree to certain rules, one of which forbids using this site as a research tool. The staff takes that particular rule very seriously and folks who break it get banned for life. That said, what gets posted on this site is interesting in terms of reading people's experiences but most of what's on here is opinion and unverified -- not really a goldmine for research. ;)

[Lana Mae]

Carla-I do not see her "studying" us! She might look at the site but do not think she will go much beyond that! She is very much concerned for people's privacy! Thanks! Yes, my heart was in the right place!
Pat-Thanks for the clarification! Though unverified, the sum total of the knowledge here is greater than any research, as the research is often discussed here as well!
Thanks for your responses!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Sami Brown]

I see it being okay for a professional to be familiar with the site so that she can recommend it as a potential resource for a client. This is different than what concerns some here, which is the use of the site for research.

I find this site to be helpful on my own journey of discovery, and I feel that if I knew of it sooner, I would probably be much further along that journey than I am now. I don't see any problem with a counselor who refers her crossdressing clients to this site if she thinks it will help them on their journeys.

Sami

[Tracii G]

There have been many join here then start asking loaded questions that are obviously searching for data.
Its easy to spot them and they always end up getting banned post haste.
Personally a professional using the site for a client is not a bad idea.

[Lana Mae]

Thanks Sami and Tracii for your responses!
Hugs Lana Mae

[kimdl93]

Back when I consulted with a gender therapist, I learned that she was quite familiar with this forum and several others of a somewhat similar content. She viewed it as an outlet for socializing with peers. I think that remains its highest and best use.

[NicoleScott]

I'm surprised that a counselor experienced in gender issues doesn't already know about this site.

[Krisi]

So you've turned us into a science project?

[Lana Mae]

Kim-I learned so much here! It is great for meeting and sharing with others! Socialization is also one of its greater aspects!
Nicole-I am more surprised that none of the other clients she has has not mentioned it! Maybe they don't know about it either!
Krisi-I am not going to qualify that with a response! LOL
Thanks for your comments!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Jaylyn]

I see nothing wrong with her referring other girls to the site. I feel I've been gaining insight into my own dressing just by reading others experiences on here. Those who've been to specialists. Such as Lana always tells us what the expert tells them so I figure I'm getting free advice sometimes. I also have found out that I'm not the only CD that has these crazy dressing feelings and thoughts. It's comforting to know there are others that are as screwed up in the head as me.... Lol
Really I have had many of the same feelings inside that many of the other girls have about dressing so every one is at least on the same planet with this thing we call CDing. All at different points on the spectrum though.

[CONSUELO]

I always thought that this site was a forum for cross dressers and transgender people and those who love them to come for information and support if wanted.
That said, any person can enter this site and browse as much as they want. It is not private and people can see the pictures that are posted. If they join they can look at our profiles etc. etc. If a therapist decides that this is a good place to "study" a larger population of cross dressers, I don't see how that can be prevented. What would be the ethical dilemma if someone did that?

[Micki_Finn]

I’ll admit that when I read the thread title, I had the same visceral reactions as a lot of the ladies here “I don’t want to be a guinea pig!” But after reading your actual post, you’re just talking about passing along a resource that your counselor can then spread to her other patients. I’d say Lana did her good deed for the day.

[ClosetED]

Thank you Lana Mae for sharing this wonderful site with others who are interested. All who wish to learn are welcome. Those who come to seek thrills or present false information are usually found out quickly and banned.
My first counselor was a LICSW who had a friend who was a CDer, but otherwise he knew little. A specialized gender therapist is more likely to know about this site, but many here start with a general therapist or family counselor.
As to research, when any of us post a question thread, that is research. It is just anecdotal evidence from a biased subset of CDers and TSers. (Yes, labels-I know)
But there are very few randomized controlled studies on the TG spectrum, and CDers are more reticent than TSers. I personally think more public knowledge of us would reduce social anxiety and make our lives better. There are no major public figures for CDing, but several for TS, so the public thinks we are all TS.
If a researcher wanted to do a valid study, they could come here a post a message about how to contact them for the research purpose. It would not be done here. If they wanted to better understand the TG spectrum, this site is a great place to learn. I have used the site to ask questions about those GGs who love CDing or are very accepting. They seem rare and I wonder what is special about them that make us so dearly wish to have one in our lives. So I ask (aka research) and draw my own thoughts. I do not plan to publish, but share here (I find many had a very tough life event and came out on top, so a minor thing like CDing is nothing compared to the devotion we offer in return for acceptance).
This site is special and we work hard to keep it clean and respectable, so those seeking knowledge aren't given the wrong impression. But I hope we are welcoming of all who desire knowledge and sharing.
Hugs, Ellen

[Lana Mae]

Jaylyn-I am always glad to share especially when it helps someone else!
Consuelo-Technically, invasion of privacy!
Micki-Thank you! You got it!
Ed-Well said!
Thanks for your comments!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Tracii G]

I always thought you had to sign up to actually see the pics.

[Teresa]

Lana,
The point is your counsellor could have checked the forum out anyway as a visitor , no one can stop her. Also no one can stop her becoming a member , we may already have counsellors as members just to get more information and update for clients anyway . It is a help forum , counsellors possibly also find it helpful and informative , we are their source of information they don't have all the answers .

I have to admit I don't understand Krisi's reply , no one mentioned a science project and us becoming guinea pigs .

[Sarasometimes]

There are rules preventing this forum from being used for research which could prevent that but in reality it is very easy to join here and present yourself however you wish. I always have viewed anything on the world wide web as pretty much public knowledge and whatever I post I try to always keep that in mind. The moderators can only do so much and they really do a great job here but it is public space.

I don't see how Lana has in any way endangered or exposed us to being in some study anymore than we were before! Now if I'm wrong what is the real harm? Maybe I'm missing something.

[Lana Mae]

Tracii-Photos are for members only!
Teresa-You and I both know that there are people here who love taking a negative attitude toward everything! Enough said!
Sara-See my response to Teresa!
Thanks for your comments!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Krisi]

............. I have to admit I don't understand Krisi's reply , no one mentioned a science project and us becoming guinea pigs .

Teresa, I'm a bit surprised you don't understand my reply and I'm surprised you would post it here instead of just asking in a PM.

I participate here both to learn about crossdressing and to share what I've learned with others. It bothers me somewhat that outsiders could be using this site to study us like hamsters in a glass cage. If it doesn't bother you, that's fine, we all come here from different places, both physically and mentally.

I hope this clears it up. If not, please PM me.