Health and Medical support (idea)

[nibel]

This topic is destinated mostly to those of us who live fulltime and/or think about hormone therapy, or at least to those who are out of the closet (at some degree). I was wondering if there is any place where you can find health professionals not only supportive (or care less - usually the case right?) about the "cause" but also that are part of it. For instance, a crossdresser psycologyst (or it would be therapyst? - language barrier problem), a transexual endocrinologyst, and so on...

Maybe for the psycologyst that could lead for biased conclusions towards the cause, but for the other professions like medic, nurses, dentists (...) I can see no fault. (Imo, even with the psycologyst I don't think its a problem, since if I would to see one I would like one that way, but thats just me.)

I think it would be good bothways for the professional and the patient since both could feel more confortable at their work and consult, respectively. But the only thing I don't know is if this exist already or not, and if it would be accepted by the community.

I had this idea, of a dedicated clinic to tg people, where tg people does the attending too, after I spent some time thinking about my job and all those hiding and purging and the usual stuff. Maybe if I had not worries about being myself at my job, a great burden would fall of my shoulders, freeing some space for other worries.




kisses,

Nibel

[Phyliss]

What a novel idea that would be. A medical center owned, operated, and staffed by CD/TV/TG/TS, in short all those people who "know and understand" from first hand knowlege all of the difficulties and problems "WE" have.
The only problem I can see is, if I go to one of their "shrinks" the conversation would turn to comments about the lastest purchases and where the best sales are. Comparing nail polish, and makeup tips. At $125 an hour for this kind of "couch time" I'd wonder if I was getting my money's worth.
Still, I think the idea is kinda cool. Don't know if such a place exists.

[Christina Nicole]

Bad idea for, briefly, two reasons.

How would one get an unbiased evaluation and appraisal from someone who "is dedicated to the cause." What's the point in consulting someone otherwise? I know a therapist who'll give anyone the OK to start HRT. It's not that hard to find... TG evangelists already.
If one is too afraid to talk things over with a non-TG doctor, how would that same person face the rest of the world? Talking to a doctor is a baby step compared to transitioning.


Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Amanda Jane]

Opps, turns out that once again you are standing on the tracks telling the train not to leave, when its pulled out of the station and done crossed the state line already.

There are several, at least in places like NYC, DC, SF, many colleges have such programs. They have been around for years. Like this one at the UofM

The University of Michigan Health System Comprehensive Gender Services Program (UMHS-CGSP) is an academic, multidisciplinary program. This program provides comprehensive health care services for individuals who are transgendered and in need of gender-related care, including endocrinological, surgical, mental and general health care services. UMHS-CGSP is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Inc, and operates under strict standards of ethics and human rights.

The University of Michigan Health System Comprehensive Gender Services Program (UMHS-CGSP) acknowledges that gender identity exists within a broad spectrum. Individuals having diverse expressions of gender and sexuality may have unique needs requiring experienced and supportive health care specialists and services. Therefore, the UMHS-CGSP is committed to providing comprehensive individualized health care services for individuals and their families who are in need of gender-related information and health care.

* Individuals with gender questions and concerns
* Crossdressers
* Transgenderists
* Transsexuals
* Partners and family members
* Persons seeking non-judgmental health care

Services provided include medical and mental health care, speech/voice therapy, hormonal, surgical and enhancement specialties. The Program uses a multidisciplinary team approach to assure coordinated and comprehensive care.

Or any of these

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Centre
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/tg/tg.html
In addition to a primary care clinic offering medical and psychiatric services to all Asian and Pacific Islander people affected or infected by HIV, APIWC offers two social/support programs for Asian/Pacific Islander transgender people, transgender-specific educational materials, and research on HIV prevention in transgender communities.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (CLCHC)
http://www.callen-lorde.org/v_tour.php?svc=transgender
Medical centre that specifically serves the LGBT community. Offers a wide range of health services to trans people, including general primary health care, prescription and monitoring of hormones, counseling, education, assistance with legal forms (e.g., name change), and referrals to gender-transition surgeons. They also offer gynecological care and mammography services that are described as "trans-affirmative".

Dimensions - Castro-Mission Health Center
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/chn/HlthCtrs/castro-mission.htm
Comprehensive health care clinic for LGBT and questioning youth aged 12 to 25, open four hours per week at the Castro-Mission Health Center. Trans-specific services include hormone assessment, prescription, and maintenance.

Fenway Community Health
http://www.fenwayhealth.org
Large LGBT health center affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Offers wide range of health research programs and health care, including primary care, HIV/AIDS services, OB/GYN care, podiatry, nutritional counseling, mental health and addiction services, complementary therapies (chiropractic, massage, acupuncture), violence prevention and services for survivors, health promotion, and parenting/family services.

Gender Dysphoria Program of Central Ohio (GDPCO)
http://www.genderprogram.com/contact.html
Private fee-for-service program for people who wish to undergo gender transition (with or without hormones and/or surgery). Individual counseling, group support, and assessment/referrals for hormones and surgery are offered.

Gender Identity Clinic of New England (GICNE)
http://www.gicne.org
Private, fee-for service counseling for people with gender concerns, and assessments of transsexuals to determine readiness for hormones and surgery.

Gender Identity Project - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
http://www.gaycenter.org/programs/mhss/gip.html
Free and confidential addiction counseling, HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention services, one-on-one peer support and support groups, information and referrals to transgender specialist services, community health education, and education/sensitivity training for health professionals. Transgender legal clinic one night a month to help transgender people with legal change of name and identification.

Green Mountain Gender Clinic
http://hometown.aol.com/grnmtclin
Formed by specialists in transgender medicine to coordinate services for transsexuals undergoing gender transition. Offers all the services listed in the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Standards of Care (assessment/diagnosis, counseling, endocrinology, surgery, and post-transition followup).

Ingersoll Gender Centre
http://www.ingersollcenter.org
Runs peer support groups, organizes social events, and maintains a clearinghouse of information for transgender people, family members, and other service providers. Contracted therapists offer fee-for-service assessment, counseling, and exploration of options relating to transition and crossdressing.

LA Gay & Lesbian Centre (LAGLC)
http://www.laglc.org
Wide range of educational, social, and health programs for LGBT people. LAGLA's Lambda Medical Group offers crisis intervention, intake/assessment, and counseling for individuals, couples, and families; addictions counseling; services for survivors of same-sex relationship abuse and for same-sex abusers; sexual health and prevention, testing, and treatment of STDs; and HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and care services. Residential services offer homeless lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender youth safe emergency and short-term housing, meals, employment training, and intensive support, and a legal clinic provides assistance at no charge.

LA Gender Center (LAGC)
http://www.lagendercenter.com
Group practice of six mental health professionals offering individual/group/couples psychotherapy on issues relating to gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual dysfunction, as well as psychopharmacology and assessment of co-existing mental illness.

Lyon-Martin Women's Health Services
http://www.sfccc.org/clinics/lmwhs.htm
Women's health center in San Francisco with strong lesbian focus, providing primary care, gynecology, HIV/AIDS care, cancer screening, support groups, community forums, addictions programs, and outreach to homeless women. Explicitly includes trans women and offers hormone assessment/prescription for those undergoing gender transition.

Positive Health Project
http://www.7sign.com/positive/transgender.html
Support, education, and advocacy to people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The Transgender Initiative employs transgender people to design and conduct outreach services to transgender sex workers and transgender people who inject illicit drugs/hormones, create and distribute peer education materials, run peer support groups, and staff the needle exchange for transgender-exclusive dedicated hours.

Prevention Point Philadelphia
http://www.critpath.org/ppp
Through education, outreach and advocacy, PPP addresses the health and social service needs of drug users and sex workers by providing culturally-sensitive, non-judgmental prevention and care services. A new transgender component provides outreach, referrals, health information, and support to trans people who are at risk for HIV and/or Hepatitis C.

Proyecto Contra SIDA por Vida
http://www.pcpv.org/tg.html
Latino/a organization in San Francisco dedicated to the prevention of HIV infection through community empowerment. The Transgender Program provides outreach, peer support, counseling, and advocacy to transgender Latino/a people and organizes social and educational transgender community events.

Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center
http://www.tarcsf.org
Emergency and long-term housing, medical care, counseling and peer support, and nutrition supplements to people living in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Many transgender people live and/or work on the streets in the Tenderloin; as part of its mandate to provide services to all members of the Tenderloin, transgender people are explicitly welcomed as service users, staff, and volunteers, and a transgender support group meets daily.

Transgender Clinic - Tom Waddell Health Center
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/chn/HlthCtrs/transgender.htm
Comprehensive range of primary care services, including hormone assessment, prescription, and maintenance; urgent care; nutrition assistance; acupuncture; smoking cessation; and a peer support group supervised by a staff social worker.

Transgender Counseling Program - San Diego LGBT Community Center
http://www.thecentersd.org/pr_02b.htm
Counseling specifically for transgender people, including assessments for gender transition.

Transgender Health Services - University of Minnesota Program in Human Sexuality
http://www.med.umn.edu/fp/phs/tgs.htm
One of the first American transgender HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and education programs (running for 11 years), the centre also offers individual and group therapy for transgender people of all ages, education seminars for transgender people and service providers, and hormone assessment/management.

Us Helping Us
http://www.ushelpingus.com
HIV/AIDS prevention and support services for Black gay and bisexual men, and Black transgender people of all sexual orientations. In addition to general services for gay and bisexual men and transgender people who are HIV+ (e.g., health education, discussion groups, case management, psychotherapy, and massage), UHU offers a bi-weekly peer support group for Black transgender people and a drop-in centre for Black and Latino transgender people. UHU will be assisting the Whitman-Walker Clinic with their new transgender health program.

Verbena Health Clinic (formerly Sappho's Health Services)
http://www.geocities.com/sappho_health
Runs three hours per week at the Country Doctor Community Clinic in Seattle. Offers a full range of naturopathic and allopathic medicine to lesbians, bisexual women, and trans people (both MTF and FTM). Services include primary health care, OB/GYN care, STD exams, breast exams, mental health care, peer support, advocacy, and education. All staff openly self-identify as LGBT.

Whitman-Walker Clinic & Lambda Health Centre
http://www.wwc.org
Range of health programs for LGBT people, including mental health and addiction treatment services and HIV/AIDS prevention, outreach, and education. WWC facilitates a support/therapy group for partners of transgender people and is planning to expand programs at two of its health care sites to include trans hormone assessment and maintenance.


But hey, what would they know?

[Marcie Sexton]

That would be the perfect setting for all of us...

They have all been there and done that, and could give an honest assessment of what we have to look forward to...both the good, bad and ugly part of life we would have to deal with.

I personally would love to sit down and talk with a Tg who has transitioned. Transitioning is like so many other things with the unknown factors involved...Who better to reflect and inform than those who have been there and done that...

We all deserve the knowledge to make that informed decision. Not a clinical knowledge which tend to be just that, but knowledge from someone who is living it...

[Amanda Jane]

most of those places host support groups and/or peer-to-peer councling stuff

[nibel]

Let me tell you why I thought about that more deeply... First, I'm nowhere near transitioning, I'm still in the closet and don't know yet if I want to stay in there, go out, or lock it and throw in the ocean. Ok, that's another story.

But! I'm an undergraduate medical student, and now I have the option to specialize in one or two areas like every doctor should do, and I was thinking if I should take the turn to a place where I can help our community (endocrynology maybe) or if I stay quiet and keep to saving people who doesn't care about us. The only practical difference to me is the possibility to be more confortable at my job, since a life is a life and my job is to save it doesn't mather who.

Anyway, I thought I could create (or use an existing) environment that not only benefits me but everybody else too, giving the people a place to work for decent wages and a more receptive environment to the patient.

It may be hard for you to understand, but the situation here is quite different from united states. If there is bad, here is hell... literaly. The only "sucessful" tg we hear about only are able to feed themselves with prostitution, and the few that tries to get a normal job only are able to do minor jobs, mostly estetic treatment, because they left their studies early (some of them haven't finish even high school!) or because they are just discriminated.

I haven't heard any case of sucessful person, like engineers, doctors, lawyers and other graduated people that kept their jobs and their life standard after the transition. That's less of a problem to the crossdress, more to the transexual, but both share some degree of the problem I think.

Anyway, after a life of battle into getting a graduation, phd, doctor degree, masters degree and so on, I don't think that should be thrown into the garbage can just because the person are trying to be his/herself. And also, that could include some kind of plan to let those people who could not complete their studies to get a chance to do so.

Well, I guess it's just my utopy right now. (Btw, I haven't seen all the sites yet, if i find something interesting I'll comment later).

Edit:

Just a small add: The big differential between what I'm saying and the existing groups is that I want the staff personnel to be TG too, in all degrees of the chain. Not "normal" people, but people who lives on our shoes.

[Phyliss]

Amanda Jane, Thank you very much for "opening my eyes" I did not realize that there were so many places available. I guess I should appologize for my somewhat crude and unfeeling comments earlier. If I upset anybody, that wasn't my intention. It was early in the morning and I only had one cup of weak coffee.

[Melanie R]

Where do you live? There are TG clinics in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Houston that I know about.

[Christina Nicole]

Most of those TG clinics are what I referred to earlier as TG evangelists. I never said they don't exist or that they are not strongly pro-transgender. I am TS. I've been there and done that. Transitioning is the wrong decision for me, but the journey was illuminating. I've been to one of those types of clinics and telephoned another. Both were pretty darned similar, they will do whatever they can to help you transition. That's despite whether or not transitioning is the right thing.

The entire TG business is becoming a crock. Anyone who has the slightest thought that they might want to live as the opposite sex can get though the process. These people don't set the bar very high -- it would be bad for business. Unfortunately, too many people, with a little help from a friendly staff, become convinced he or she is transsexual, and start the journey to transitioning. The sad part for these unfortunates is that they find too late that transitioning or life as the opposite sex was not the bed of roses she or he thought it was and ends up another TG suicide victim, and I know more of them than I want to know.

Far far too many TSs commit suicide during transition. I mostly blame the inadequate process for these deaths. Anyone can study a couple of web sites for a few weekends and know the "right" things to say to a therapist who is a TG advocate. Of course the further one goes in the process, the more money they make. It's not in the "clinic's" self interest to do a proper evaluation.

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Amanda Jane]

Do you know that the medical field of gynecology has been overrun by women over the last 20 years? Seems that women are more comfortable with another woman in dealing with "down there" then they are with some guy who's knowledge is only second-hand at best. Are they 'evangelical' about women's health issues? I bet.

What is wrong with having people who believe in what they do, who are committed to it?

Do you think that people are just walking down the street and see a TG health center and say "Gee, maybe I should get a sex change." They only come to that point after years of painful self discovery. For many its a bad choice. No doubt one of many bad choices they made in life. So it goes.

And no one is forcing you to have one, why should you care? You were able to make an intelligent decision based on your own life, needs, why not afford to others the same liberties that you had?

As for success stories,

Rachel L. Hill transitioned as a vice president in charge of mortgages at Bank of America, now runs her own company WIllow Street Mortgage.

Joan Roughgarden, a professor of biology at Stanford University transitioned in 1998.

Susan Stryker, Stanford PhD in history, first curator of the GLBT History Center, award wining producer who spent nine years uncovering the Compton's Cafeteria saga and making it into a documentary called Screaming Queens.

Those are the one I personally know. There are others. Is is perfect? No. Is progress being made. Yes.

Fifty-seven employers, including Aetna, American Airlines, J. P. Morgan Chase, Nike, and Lucent include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies. Thirteen such companies earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index in 2002.

Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For she that gets hurt
Will be she who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

[MarieTS]

Dear Amanda Jane: I want to thank you not only for the extrensive list of resurces you provided in your first post, but even more so for reading my mind and crafting your thorough, well reasoned second response. You took the words right out of my mouth and out of my heart.
U go girl! :hugs:

[lowlavalentine]

There are certainly lots of cd/tg physicians out there. I happen to be one of them. But you'd never know it at work where I appear pretty mainstream male. Too bad really, but outside a dedicated tg clinic I'm not sure that society is ready for xdressing MD's, at least not in a small town setting. I've had a few tg patients in my practice over the years, although that was more or less by accident. I was quite sympathetic to their cause, as you might imagine, and they got excellent customer service :)