Do gender therapists help?

Thanks everyone for the input and support!

I'm going to go ahead and try it...I guess I'm just in an experimental mood :D
Maybe some of yall sitting on the fence should try it too so we can compare notes XD
Oh if anyone has any south bay referrals, please let me know!

Charlotte,
I've had a couple visits to a gender therapist. I went primarily at the urging of my wife after coming out to her. My wife was disappointed because instead of "curing" me, we talked through many issues and I came away feeling much better about my CDing. I was able to get past the guilt and shame that I had felt most of my life with regards to the dressing.

In reality, I could have reached the same acceptance on my own, but I found it helpful to get a professional viewpoint. As has been said, you already have the answers within you, the therapist will only guide you to your answers.

One last thought. Take time to carefully research potential therapists. Find one that is familiar with gender issues. Good Luck.

Jaydee

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Originally Posted by Jaydee

Charlotte,
I've had a couple visits to a gender therapist. I went primarily at the urging of my wife after coming out to her. My wife was disappointed because instead of "curing" me, we talked through many issues and I came away feeling much better about my CDing. I was able to get past the guilt and shame that I had felt most of my life with regards to the dressing.

In reality, I could have reached the same acceptance on my own, but I found it helpful to get a professional viewpoint. As has been said, you already have the answers within you, the therapist will only guide you to your answers.

One last thought. Take time to carefully research potential therapists. Find one that is familiar with gender issues. Good Luck.

Jaydee

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Between you & your wife, I hope it"s not a deal breaker. :worried:
Make future plans now. Figure out what your priorities are, who you will be in retirement age and grapple with the reality of today. .

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Originally Posted by Bree_K

If you are happy with who you are, you probably don't need a therapist. If you aren't, or if you think there might be more to it than simply crossdressing, a qualified therapist that is educated on the subject of gender identity could very much help you.

I wasn't happy, and deep down I knew there was more to me than crossdressing or being gay. I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of my therapist (but I was lucky to find a very VERY good one).

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This was my situation too, and seeing a therapist (one who really knows about and has experience with transgenderism) has been wonderful for me. If you're in a situation such as the one Bree K describes, it's probably a good idea for you.

I basically became my own gender therapist way back when there simply weren't many around. It took me many years to figure myself out, and what caused my desire to dress and want to feel female. I suppose that if I had met someone like myself when I was a teen, it would have saved me a lot of grief. But the facts at the time were, I was simply terrified of telling anyone because of the stigma against anyone who crossed the gender lines. Today it would be another story, especially because of the online communities available. Whether that would cause more confusion or help, I'll never know. But by the time I met a real gender therapist, I already knew as much or more than they did.

I see one and as a hetero CD she has helped immensely. The toughest part for me was finding someone who really know this subject and all of its variations. I taught about 5 different therapists while I paid them for thier time. You need to interview them on day one and make them tell you thier background, experience and training.
Once I found the right one it made the search all worth it. Good ones will help you find answers to how you need to handle this part of your personality. They should avoid labels. I get "homework" to better understand my needs. She sees me dressed sometimes. This has given her insight as to how I am when dressed...This is not for everyone but for me it has really helped. I think if you have societal obligations and not free rein this may be very helpful. Good luck and make surethey KNOW thier stuff!!!