After some non-CD trauma over the last few years, I finally sought out some therapy early in 2021. We discussed the other issues that had been extremely traumatic and had made some headway, but it was clear that there would be very limited success without discussing my "other wardrobe". It took probably four of five sessions before I was able to allow myself to be vulnerable enough to discuss the fact that "half my wardrobe was from the woman's department". That revelation took her completely by surprise but she did make me feel safe to discuss it fairly freely. I have felt all along that my inclinations to choose my clothes from the "wrong" department were mostly a result of some relational issues that had made it to PTSD level. Once the door had been opened, I've had no inclination to even want to close it.
One thing that came out of the early revelation of my style choices was that I had one item that seemed to represent myself to myself. That item was a string of faux pearls. I ended up wearing the pearls during an early session, but it made me feel too vulnerable at that point. At my last session, I put the pearls on in my car before I got to the appointment.
Early in the session, she mentioned the pearls and asked if there was "anything else". I pointed to my pink socks and awkwardly admitted that I was wearing a bra and panties. It felt like an appropriate answer to a direct question, but at the same time seemed like TMI. It didn't occur to me to say it at the time, but other than my button up shirt, everything I was wearing was marketed as "women's clothes". Ultimately, it was not particularly awkward and we talked openly about how I felt about my wardrobe.
We revisited some of the other issues that had brought me to therapy in the first place to make sure they'd been dealt with sufficiently. Overall, they had. Now, I'm ready to deal with the personal issues of being a closeted crossdresser and how it complicates everything.
I'm relating all this just to get to a few questions.
1. I am much more comfortable with a female therapist than I can imagine being with a male therapist. Does that hold true for anyone else?
2. I've read her on the forum of others who've gone to therapy sessions dressed. My style is man-in-a-dress with no inclination to appear to be a woman and I'm sure I'd go in androgynous mode. Does anyone else have experience in that situation?
3. I've been going to my therapist for about 5 months and it is getting to be expensive. How long have others been in therapy before the issues were dealt with adequately?
EDIT: My third question did not make it into my original post. I did want to point out that I have a Medicare supplement that will pay if I use a Licensed Social Worker but not for a Licensed Professional Counsellor. I did not realize that when I started with my LPC and really did not want to go back through the most vulnerable issues with someone else. If anyone else is on Medicare, you might check before getting into this situation.