Therapists

So, with my original therapist, I got 2 sessions in, and then she had to cancel and never called back to reschedule ( I did try to get back in touch with her to reschedule, but it never happened.) Well, after calling some resources through an employee assistance program, I was able to get in touch with another therapist much closer to home and have my first appt with her on Tuesday. I'm really looking forward to resuming sessions, but am understandably (I think so) apprehensive that I may end up with a repeat performance.

I guess I'll just have to see how it goes.

While I'm there, what are some questions that I should be asking the therapist to make sure that this is ultimately a good fit?

Thanks

Hi Skylance,

I'm sure there have been many threads on that over the years, but here goes some things to check out, not all questions for the therapist:

1. how do you feel about them? a) do you feel accepted, b) do you feel at all judged or uncomfortable with them?

2. how many trans clients have they worked with, for how long, with what results?

3. what is their opinion on transgender?

4. what is their availability and commitment to N sessions / a year / several years?

5. what do you want from the sessions? how will know you when you've got those things?

xxx Pam

I found my therapist by doing a search for transgender or gender dysphoria on psychologytoday.com and it was one of the the best things I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t even bother starting a first session unless you verify that you’re seeing a specialist. I’ve gone through the alternative with a generalist and it was very awkward.

I found my therapist like Katrina did and had a similar positive experience.

Similar to Katrina & Anne I found several therapists specializing in transgender/crossdressing/gender dysphoria through psychologytoday.com, checked them against my insurance and then did a little more online research, narrowed the choices down to one of them and she has been great, I have been seeing her for about six months so far...

We're into my favorite subject. YES to therapy! YES to a gender specialist! But: I have been misled, misadvised, pandered to my less courageous and self-helpful impulses, by several therapists who claimed on the psychology today site to be transgender specialists. A couple of things to know: the three areas the therapist lists FIRST in their list of competencies are the ones they really are claiming. The rest, they're just fishing for clients. You can find out by going to trans support groups, pride groups, etc, to figure out who the real experts are. Don't hire someone who tells you they know what they're doing without finding out in advance. This alone cost me most of a decade. Then finding the right gender specialist saved my life and enabled me to finally be who I am. it's a really important decision!

e.a.