First day at therapist

[Aprilrain]

Well not much to report . Just told her about myself and what was going on inside. Gave her my history. Basically I rambled on for an hour shaking and with a dry mouth. When I left I felt like a raw nerve and wondered if I wasn't making a mistake by telling someone I don't know my most personal thoughts and feeling. Anyway I see her again next week.:straightface:

[CaptLex]

Well not much to report . Just told her about myself and what was going on inside. Gave her my history. Basically I rambled on for an hour shaking and with a dry mouth. When I left I felt like a raw nerve and wondered if I wasn't making a mistake by telling someone I don't know my most personal thoughts and feeling. Anyway I see her again next week.:straightface:
Sounds like my first visit . . . I told him I'm not the type that likes to talk, especially about myself and before I knew it, I had also rambled on for an hour. That's when I knew I had found the right one. For the first couple of months I was always nervous about seeing him, even though he's a very cool guy. I was always playing with my rings and my buttons, and chewing my fingers - he must have thought I was a complete nervous tic. I just felt like he was judging me somehow, I guess (he wasn't, it was just in my mind). It's gotten a lot better now, and I don't feel that way - it's just like a calm conversation with a friend. I hope therapy helps you. :hugs:

[Calliope]

Wishing you well. Funny, blabbing to a total stranger, sometimes the experience of verbalizing your thoughts can really give you focus. There's self-therapy running concurrently, if ya catch my drift. Good luck, you'll loosen up.

[Kimberley]

This is pretty much normal. If your therapist is anything like mine the course will now look at other avenues in your life and you will begin to see their effects on you as a whole person who is maybe a little fractured.

Being TG cant be treated, only the other behaviours and opinions you hold can be looked at.

It takes time but is worth it.

Kimberley

[Sarahgurl371]

Fun isn't it????? I felt the same way. Also wondered like you if I should be saying these things to a stranger.

[Aprilrain]

It feels good knowing others have been there too.

[AmberTG]

I found that talking to a total stranger, my therapist, was such a release for me, I finally had someone to talk to about things I couldn't talk to anyone about. It feels like a big weight has been lifted off my life, there are still little weights but those are the ones we talk about. I hope you'll find your time with your therapist as useful as I have with mine.
Interesting how, once you start talking, it all just comes out and all of a sudden, an hour has gone by without you even being aware of it.

[Sharon]

Being TG cant be treated, only the other behaviours and opinions you hold can be looked at.

It takes time but is worth it.



It can't be cured, but it's good to just be able to talk to someone about things, especially if you have no other outlet to do so, or at least an unbiased outlet(friends tend to tell you what you want to hear). A good therapist, in my opinion, isn't there to try to tell you what you are or aren't, but is there to help guide your thoughts in taking perspective and considering other avenues than what you may have in mind.

Good luck with your sessions, April, and do be patient! Kimberley is correct in that it takes time --an hour session goes by all too quickly sometimes.:happy:

[Cathy Love]

I was the same when I saw mine for the first time. Rambled on for about an hour and then just made another appointment. He didn't say much, I did most of the talking . I left wondering how come he didn't say much and that maybe I just sounded like a cliché.

Second meeting was much better as at the end he said he that his diagnoses was “definitely trans….”. And I left in much better form as it meant I wasn’t completely mad.

Later,

[rickie121x]

Many many years ago I went to a therapist for the reason to cure my need to crossdress. I was sad, but serious - as I believed that it was interfering with my ability to have a good life.

In a few months, I was assigned to a group therapy bunch.... Actually that was fun, I liked the experience - and it went on for two years.

Then one day, it came to me that crossdressing was an OK thing for me - for me to do - and if it were a problem, then it was some one else's problem. (Not entirely true, but close enough.)

I walked out and felt complete - and other than a few embarrassing moments, all has been well with me. Apparently therapy worked just fine.

Rickie :doll:

[princessmichelle]

I dont know which scares me more: that I'll get a diagnosis of being trans, or that I'll get a diagnosis of not being trans.

If I am really trans and it would be advisable to go full time, well, that would be a challenge to say the least.

But when my therapist said that that was not her initial impression, I was heartbroken. Not good either.

I really wish I was female, and have for a long time, but...:eek:

PM

[Felix]

Well done April ya a brave gal. Good luck to you all here ya all brave and strong in your convictions xx :hugs: Felix

[Sarahgurl371]

I dont know which scares me more: that I'll get a diagnosis of being trans, or that I'll get a diagnosis of not being trans.

PM

While I agree with Sharon that a good therapist shouldn't lead you in a direction, simply help guide you where you will go. The idea of the "diagnosis" was an important one. This is all so confusing, and serious. I sought an objective opinion as to my situation based on the facts, and the fact that maybe I cannot see the forest thru the trees.

So I understand Michelle's quote above. For me it was, "Gender Dysphoric, Transgendered, Probable Transsexual". The first time he said any of those words, it scared the shit out of me. For what its worth, the "diagnosis" hasn't really helped much. It hasn't made this all any easier. It doesn't change my life. It hasn't changed my direction. It hasn't lessoned the fear. Now I doubt the "professional". Its hard to own up to this all.

They say it takes time. How much time does it take to erase 25 years of self hatred?

Are we sure there is no cure???

[Scotty]

I am going to schedule for the week after for my HRT approval, a year late but I can still go back and get the official word. I got an email back from Ann Lawrence in Seattle and will likely schedule tomorrow for next week.

I'm anxiously awaiting going, I have no fears of that. In fact she may be the first "Stranger" to see me in full femme or I may go in partial femme, not sure yet....

I read on her site where those already on HRT can get a reduced time-line for approval.....I hope that's me.

Now I do have one question - not sure anyone here can answer it.

The docs say that your informatio nis private except to law enforcement in the event of whatever.

Lets say you go in and want ot buy a gun and you fill out this form that asks you if you've ever seen a psychologist for any "Disorder"...

Or even for a security clearance.

Where does that fall in?

This is something that WILL affect me.....

[CaptLex]

Lets say you go in and want ot buy a gun and you fill out this form that asks you if you've ever seen a psychologist for any "Disorder"... Or even for a security clearance. Where does that fall in? This is something that WILL affect me.....
I have no idea what's required to be cleared for a weapon in any state or country, but I would think they're looking for anyone who has a history of violence or a mental condition that could make them violent (schizophrenia, for example). Being trans is not a disorder that would cause you to be a menace or threat to anyone. Well, it's not even really a disorder (just my opinion), but the mental professionals have to classify it that way for several reasons. Personally, I wouldn't mention it in that case. Just my :2c:

[Kieron Andrew]

Personally, I wouldn't mention it in that case. Just my :2c:
what he said

[JeanneF]

Lets say you go in and want ot buy a gun and you fill out this form that asks you if you've ever seen a psychologist for any "Disorder"...

Or even for a security clearance.

For buying a gun or something, I wouldn't disclose it. They don't access your medical records when you're buying a gun.

However, for a security clearance, you may want to disclose this to the investigators. Most likely, they'll either access your records or talk to someone who will tell them that you're transgendered. Security clearance investigations are pretty invasive. Pretty much the rule of thumb with clearances is to disclose anything that you think they may find out...in most cases, it's much better for them to know something going in, than to discover an "issue" somewhere.

[AmberTG]

With a security clearance investigation, if they find something that you did not disclose that there's any kind of record of, they're going to wonder what else you might be hiding, it could get you denied if you didn't disclose it and they find it.
For something as common as buying a gun,I wouldn't bother to tell them, it's not important, they're way more concerned about if you have a felony record or a restraining order against you, things that would make you a potental danger to the public. It's against the law in the U.S. for a felon to possess any firearm. My old boss had to hunt with a bow because of that.